The Tennessee Titans notched their first victory of the 2024 NFL season with a 31-12 triumph over the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph stepped in for an injured Will Levis and led the Titans to the win, guiding seven scoring drives in a crucial performance.
Levis, the Titans’ starter, exited the game early in the first quarter after a hard fall on his right throwing shoulder. The injury occurred as Levis scrambled for a first down on Tennessee’s second drive, attempting to dive for extra yardage. He threw only four passes before the injury, one of which was intercepted, and did not return to the game despite remaining on the sideline with his helmet.
In his absence, Rudolph took over and managed the offense effectively, throwing for 85 yards and completing 9 of 17 passes. Though Rudolph did not light up the stat sheet, he orchestrated multiple scoring drives and kept the Titans in control throughout the game. Tennessee leaned on its ground game, with Tony Pollard rushing for 88 yards on 22 carries, including a 4-yard touchdown. Rookie running back Tyjae Spears added a highlight play, taking a direct snap and rushing 7 yards into the end zone for another touchdown.
The Titans’ special teams were also instrumental in the victory, as veteran kicker Nick Folk was nearly flawless, converting five field goals from 53, 52, 47, 51, and 29 yards out. His reliable kicking helped extend Tennessee’s lead and provide much-needed cushion for a team searching for its first win.
On the Dolphins’ side, Tyler Huntley made his first start after being signed from Baltimore’s practice squad just a few weeks earlier. With starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa still on injured reserve due to a concussion and backup Skylar Thompson sidelined with rib injuries, Huntley struggled to find rhythm. He threw for 96 yards and rushed for a 1-yard touchdown late in the game, which brought Miami within 10 points with just over three minutes remaining. However, the Dolphins’ comeback hopes were dashed after Huntley was intercepted on a two-point conversion attempt, and Miami failed to recover an onside kick.
To make matters worse for Miami, Huntley was penalized for intentional grounding in the end zone during the team’s final drive, resulting in a safety that extended Tennessee’s lead to 31-12. The Dolphins’ offense, missing the playmaking ability of Tagovailoa, continued to struggle, with star receiver Tyreek Hill being held to just 23 yards on four catches. This marked the third straight game Hill was limited to under 50 yards receiving.
The Titans’ defense, led by a strong performance from their secondary, also kept Miami’s passing attack in check. DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee’s top receiving threat, was quiet with just two catches for 31 yards, but it was enough as the Titans leaned on their defense and running game to secure the win.
With this victory, the Titans (1-3) breathed new life into their season, while the Dolphins (1-3) are left searching for answers as they continue to deal with significant injuries at quarterback. Tennessee’s ability to adapt to adversity with Levis’ injury and Rudolph’s steady performance will be a storyline to watch as they move forward.
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