When the clock strikes zero in the fourth quarter of the Tennessee Titans’ upcoming game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, that will mark the end of Tennessee’s horrific 2023 campaign.
While a disaster overall, the good news is the Titans may have found their signal-caller of the future in Will Levis, who has easily been the team’s biggest bright spot.
What has gone on around him has been a different story, though.
The Titans have a tall task in fixing the offensive line in front of him and adding weapons for him to throw to. Thankfully, Tennessee will be loaded with cap space and a high draft pick to get that done.
But before we can start looking ahead to the offseason, the Titans have one more game on their schedule against the Jaguars, a team that can punch its ticket to the postseason with a win.
Here are the biggest questions for Week 18.
Does Will Levis play?
After suffering a foot injury last week, the Titans shouldn’t even think about putting Levis behind this putrid offensive line again this season. Thankfully, he’s on course to sit out the season finale against the Jaguars after not practicing at all on Wednesday.
With Levis likely to sit, I would rather see Malik Willis get the football because more can be gained by starting him — and he gives the Titans a better chance to lose — but head coach Mike Vrabel already stated Ryan Tannehill will get the nod under center.
Who finishes strong?
This question really has more to do with the younger guys on the roster who either aren’t guaranteed a role next season, or an offseason roster spot entirely.
The biggest name to come to mind is wide receiver Treylon Burks, who is in the midst of a horrendous sophomore campaign. Granted, there’s nothing he can do to change his outlook for next season, but a sign of life would be nice.
Rookie Peter Skoronski could use a strong finish, also, after playing poorly down the stretch. However, regardless of how he plays in Week 18, I’m not worried about Skor just yet.
Two players who are looking to build on positive play from the last few weeks are linebacker Otis Reese and right tackle Dillon Radunz.
Reese has started the last two games and could put himself in the running for the No. 3 linebacker spot next offseason. He recently received a shoutout from NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger after catching his eye in Week 17.
Radunz, who will be entering the final year of his rookie deal in 2024, has been good over his last six games, allowing just 13 pressures in that span. Adding to that, he hasn’t given up a sack in four straight contests.
Radunz is far from locked into any spot upfront in 2024, but he’s quickly making the case he deserves to be considered as a real competitor for any starting job that’s up for grabs.
On top of individual performances, it would be nice to see this team show some fight in Week 18 after the no-show last week, although that doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things.
Show some fight, Titans, just don’t win (more on that shortly).
Can Titans play spoiler?
If the Titans can upset the Jags, they will ruin Jacksonville’s bid to win the AFC South, leaving it to the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans, who play against one another on Saturday.
There is also an avenue where a Jags loss could lead to them missing the playoffs entirely. That would happen if the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens, a team that is resting its starters.
What draft pick do Titans end up with?
The Titans enter Week 18 with the No. 7 pick, per Tankathon, but they do have an opportunity to move to as high as No. 4 or as low as No. 8.
If the Titans want a chance at the highest draft pick possible, they first have to lose to the Jaguars. From there, they’ll need some help if they want to get to No. 4.
The New York Giants have to beat the Philadelphia Eagles, the Arizona Cardinals have to knock off the Seattle Seahawks AND the Los Angeles Chargers have to topple the Kansas City Chiefs.
The good news is, the Eagles may rest their starters and the Chiefs are already set to do that. The Seahawks will have all hands on deck as they try to secure a playoff spot, but the Cardinals are certainly capable of winning.
Should the Titans lose, they’ll move up one spot in the draft order for each of the aforementioned teams that win. If Tennessee emerges victorious and the New York Jets (at New England Patriots) lose, the Titans would fall to No. 8.
While it might not seem like a ton, a spot in either direction could be the difference between the Titans landing one of the top left tackles in this year’s class, something they desperately need to do.
Will Trevor Lawrence play?
The Titans’ chances of losing and getting a higher pick will be much better if Lawrence suits up, which remains an uncertainty at this point after the former No. 1 overall pick missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury.
However, it’s hard to imagine Lawrence sitting out for a game that will determine the Jaguars’ playoff fate. He will at least give it a go.
A good sign for Lawrence’s availability was the fact that he was able to get in a limited session on Wednesday, which is more participation than he had all last week.
If you’re pulling for the Titans to lose in order to help their draft situation, you want Lawrence on the field on Sunday.
