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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mike Moraitis

What Titans said about Will Levis, Week 8 win over Falcons

The Tennessee Titans earned a much-needed win in Week 8 with a 28-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons that saw rookie quarterback Will Levis absolutely shine in his NFL debut.

Levis completed 19 of his 29 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns, but it’s not like he was dinking and dunking his way through the game. In fact, Tennessee’s rookie signal-caller completed three long touchdown passes.

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“This is a dream come true, for sure,” Levis said, per Paul Kuharsky. “I’ve got 12 minutes to celebrate it before we’re on to Pittsburgh, as [head coach Mike] Vrabel said… I’ve been dreaming of this moment as a kid my entire life. Even just to touch the field in a NFL game, let alone get a win, is incredible.”

Now a look at what the Titans had to say about Levis and their Week 8 win over the Falcons that improved their record to 3-4 prior to a three-game road trip.

HC Mike Vrabel

Syndication: The Tennessean

On the win:

“I think you can build off a win,” Vrabel said, per Jim Wyatt. “Now we have to recover, we have to get back, and go on the road to Pittsburgh. We know how hard that is to win, at night, on a short week. But I am excited. I am excited that we won.”


QB Will Levis

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

On fans booing Malik Willis:

“That left a sour taste in all of our mouths hearing those boos when he was coming on the field,” Levis said, per Jim Wyatt. “We’ve got to know that he’s going to be a big part of us going forward to win games, so let’s just come correct next time as fans and treat him correctly.

On his command of the offense:

“I was just going off my rules and what was asked of me at the position,” Levis said of checking out of plays, per John Glennon of Nashville Post. “I think that I have to thank coach Kelly and coach London for preparing these last couple of weeks. I thought the game plan was just really fitting for what we were going against and for it being my first start and everything. We have multiple ways we can open up the playbook and we showed some of that today, but props to them for putting me in position to succeed.”

On staying poised:

“The last couple of weeks, I think there were certain days where I was kind of feeling the butterflies a little bit,” he explained, per Terry McCormick of Titan Insider. “But, really just confidence and keeping it neutral, just head space and everything. I didn’t really have any of those (nervous) feelings today, so that was good.”


RB Derrick Henry

Syndication: The Tennessean

On Levis:

“He was ballin’, huh?,” Henry said. “He was playing out of his mind. It was good to see, because he works so hard. I could tell he was locked in, and we were excited to see it come together for him and the offense.”

On fans booing Willis:

“I understand fans are frustrated when we lose and it’s not going the way we all planned, but we’re all frustrated,” Henry said, per Wyatt. “We’re all a family, so it doesn’t help being booed when you’re just trying to go in there and make a play… I just feel like (the booing) isn’t needed for somebody that just came in to help us win. Malik is a great kid and a great person and he’ll do anything to help this organization win.”


WR DeAndre Hopkins

Syndication: The Tennessean

On Levis:

“He’s a very talented quarterback, confident,” Hopkins said of Levis. “He plays the game like he’s been here. (OC) Tim Kelly and those guys did a great job getting him prepared today.”

On fans booing Willis:

“For Titans fans, us in the locker room, we don’t appreciate the boos for Malik,” said Hopkins. “He’s on this team and he’s part of us. That’s not something I expected coming here, and I don’t think that’s very fair.”


OLB Harold Landry

Syndication: The Tennessean

DB Elijah Molden

Syndication: The Tennessean
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