Lions-Titans preview: Tennessee spiraling, selling off at midseason

The Lions are going from facing an undefeated division rival on the road to a last-place AFC team at home.

Detroit will welcome the Titans to Ford Field on Sunday in a matchup of franchises heading in opposite directions.

While the Lions are 5-1 and fresh off of taking down the Vikings on the road, the Titans are 1-5 and seemingly unraveling.

The team could be without starting quarterback Will Levis due to injury and lost 34-10 to Buffalo on Sunday without him. After that, the team traded star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs this week, perhaps signaling its intention to sell off valuable players for draft picks in this lost season.

Here’s a look at the Lions’ opponent this week:

Quarterback questions

Will Levis earned the Titans quarterback job with a strong finish to the 2023 season but hadn’t exactly dazzled through five games in 2024. Now, it’s doubtful that he’ll even suit up on Sunday at Ford Field due to a shoulder injury; ESPN reported that Levis is considered a “long shot” to play vs. the Lions.

Enter Mason Rudolph, who signed with the Titans in the offseason after four seasons with the Steelers. Rudolph has played in 23 games with 14 starts in his five-season career with two teams. He’s completed 63.1 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

The Titans lost, 34-10, in Rudolph’s first start on Sunday vs. Buffalo. But his 25-for-40 for 215 yards with one touchdown and one interception wasn’t terrible.

Selling season

The first of Tennessee’s valuable trade assets went out the door this week, when Hopkins, the former All-Pro receiver, was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs.

And he’s not the only one. The Titans completed another trade on Wednesday: linebacker Ernest Jones IV to Seattle for linebacker Jerome Baker and a pick.

The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 5. It’s clear the Titans’ players with trade value are available, which will likely have an effect on a franchise that’s already struggling.

Trouble finishing

In their most recent loss, the Titans gave up 34 straight points to the Bills and didn’t score after the 11:31 mark of the second quarter.

But that was hardly the first time the Titans have faded late this season.

Under first-year coach Brian Callahan, the Titans have been shut out in the fourth quarter five times in six games. The team has been leading or tied at halftime in five of their six games, but then been outscored 94-43 in the second half to lose all but one of those contests.

So even if the Titans hang around for a bit on Sunday at Ford Field, history tells us the Lions will be able to pull away.

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