NASHVILLE – Will Levis beat himself up after Sunday's loss to the Bears, saying after the game he felt like he let his team down and cost the Titans a chance for a season-opening win.
But the Titans quarterback is back up and ready to compete.
Another challenge is on the horizon, this Sunday against the Jets, and Levis is upbeat.
"There have been times where a game like that would have lingered for days, weeks, and really just kept getting to me," Levis said of the loss to the Bears. "But I didn't lose sleep Sunday night. I know that I'm a good quarterback in this league, and obviously there's a lot of things to get better on. But watching that tape, I still have that confidence and knowing it's a fluke play that I can definitely learn from.
"I still have all the confidence in the world in this team and everything. Just have to come to work the same way regardless of what happens."
Levis finished the Week 1 contest 19-of-32 for 127 yards and a touchdown, but with two interceptions, and a passer rating of 52.5. He also lost the football when he was sacked.
The "fluke play" Levis was referring was his fourth quarter interception, when he tried to throw the ball away to avoid a sack, but it was intercepted and returned for a Bears touchdown.
Coach Brian Callahan said he's liked the way Levis has handled himself since Sunday.
"I'd say so far, Will has handled it great," Callahan said. "Even after the game he was in a really, really good place, understood the mistakes, understood what he had to correct and was ready to kind of move forward. I think you got to be mentally tough in this league to play football. And then even tougher to be a quarterback in the league, because it's always going to be on you whether you're deserving of it or not. It's always on you whether you win or lose. That's a pretty heavy crown to bear sometimes. But Will's about as tough as they come, and he's more than up to the challenge to be able to handle that type of thing. And that part to me was really encouraging, when he came in on Monday and was open, honest, critical of his performance and ready to get ready for the next game."
Levis said the key leading up to Sunday's home opener is staying positive.
Levis had six touchdowns (5 pass, 1 rush) vs just one interception in four home starts last season.
"It's easy to groan and get down and complain after a tough game like (Sunday)," Levis said. "But I've been really impressed with how the guys have come into the building the last couple of days, flushed it, instilling confidence in me, letting me know that they still have my back, which is great to feel as a quarterback, especially with the tough ending to that game.
"I am just happy we all have that right mindset and we are all coming in working in a professional manner, getting ready to get a win Sunday."
