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Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB

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Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB
Sport

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Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB

2024-09-20 05:57 Last Updated At:06:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Brian Callahan has seen winless starts finish with winning records in the NFL, so the first-year Tennessee coach has reminded his Titans that the season is long enough to rewarded those who fix mistakes quickly.

They better respond to avoid the franchise's worst start to a season since losing the first six in 2009.

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Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) fumbles the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Brian Callahan has seen winless starts finish with winning records in the NFL, so the first-year Tennessee coach has reminded his Titans that the season is long enough to rewarded those who fix mistakes quickly.

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) greets fans as he leaves the field after defeting Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) greets fans as he leaves the field after defeting Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson (45) celebrate as intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson (45) celebrate as intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III (58) celebrates after sacking New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) in the first half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III (58) celebrates after sacking New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) in the first half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) celebrates with fans as he leaves the field after defeating the Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) celebrates with fans as he leaves the field after defeating the Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan speaks with Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan speaks with Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB

Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB

Injured Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love looks on as head coach Matt LaFleur walks by during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Injured Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love looks on as head coach Matt LaFleur walks by during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB

Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB

Callahan helped Cincinnati earn winning records each of the past two seasons after dropping the first two games. Houston won the AFC South last season, bouncing back from an 0-2 start. The Titans see their stingy defense and early leads as proof they easily could be undefeated. Untimely mistakes, including second-year quarterback Will Levis turning the ball over too much, are why they are winless with Green Bay visiting Sunday.

“We’ve got a lot of guys that have played a lot of football," Titans safety Amani Hooker said of Callahan's message. "So we’re able to understand what it’s going to take to win.”

What the Titans don't know is whether they'll face Jordan Love or recent teammate Malik Willis at quarterback. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur, who spent the 2018 season as Tennessee's offensive coordinator under Mike Vrabel, said Love's status will be decided Sunday when the Packers (1-1) have to hand in their list of inactive players.

The Packers ran their way to a 16-10 win over Indianapolis to ease Willis into his first start with a team he joined at the end of August. Love is testing a brace to protect his injured left medial collateral ligament injured in the Packers' opening loss. He said the brace affects his mobility, which is a huge part of his game.

“You’d love to be able to just sit in the pocket and be a pocket-passer, but it’s just not realistic," Love said. “There’s things that happen in the pocket where you’ve got to get out of there, avoid pressure, and sometimes you’ve got to move the sticks with your legs.”

The Titans have lost their first two games by the exact 24-17 score, the most recent to the Jets. Two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said it doesn't matter who Green Bay starts at quarterback with Tennessee preparing to face both Love and Willis.

“We just have to prepare to win,” Simmons said.

The Packers lead the NFL with 21 “explosive plays” of a run of at least 12 yards or a pass of 16 yards or more. That won't be as easy against the Titans, who have allowed a league-low 413 total yards and an average of 114 yards passing. The Titans aren't as easy to prepare for with new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson with only two games on tape.

“He’s an experienced guy in this league, and then when you couple that with really good players, you have a chance to be a really good defense," LaFleur said. "And they do all the little things the right way, in terms of the effort and physicality that they play with.”

Green Bay leads the league in averaging 212 yards rushing after using that run-heavy approach last week for 261 yards on the ground.

The Packers have several Tennessee ties in addition to Willis and LaFleur. Green Bay claimed rookie kicker Brayden Narveson off waivers from the Titans after he went 6 of 7 in the preseason with a long field goal of 59 yards. Narveson is 6 of 8 for the Packers, though he has missed a kick in each of the first two games.

As for Willis, he has no hard feelings toward the Titans, who traded him once deciding Mason Rudolph would back up Levis. Willis started three games as a rookie for the Titans after they traded up in the third round to draft him out of Liberty in 2022.

“They took a shot on me,” Willis said.

Josh Jacobs has 48 carries to tie San Francisco’s Jordan Mason for the NFL lead. Jacobs had 32 of those against the Colts, just one off his career high. But he is the only Packer with more than nine rushes so far even as Green Bay has mixed in rushing attempts by wide receivers Jayden Reed and Bo Melton.

The Packers have AJ Dillon and rookie MarShawn Lloyd on injured reserve, which has forced them to rely more on Jacobs. Dillon is out for the entire season with a neck issue, while Lloyd will miss at least Green Bay’s next four games with an ankle injury.

The Packers have five interceptions and six total takeaways this season to lead the NFL in both categories. The Titans have committed five turnovers already to match the Denver Broncos for the most of any NFL team — all by Levis, which the Packers have noticed.

“We just hope he gives us some more this week,” Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon said.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) fumbles the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) fumbles the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) greets fans as he leaves the field after defeting Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) greets fans as he leaves the field after defeting Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson (45) celebrate as intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers linebacker Eric Wilson (45) celebrate as intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III (58) celebrates after sacking New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) in the first half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III (58) celebrates after sacking New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) in the first half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) celebrates with fans as he leaves the field after defeating the Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (2) celebrates with fans as he leaves the field after defeating the Indianapolis Colts in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan speaks with Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan speaks with Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB

Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB

Injured Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love looks on as head coach Matt LaFleur walks by during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Injured Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love looks on as head coach Matt LaFleur walks by during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB

Titans trying to avoid worst start since 2009 with Packers hoping Jordan Love is back at QB

BERGAMO, Italy (AP) — The first save was great. The second was even better.

David Raya came to Arsenal's rescue in the Champions League on Thursday with a double save from a penalty that was celebrated by his teammates as wildly as a goal being scored.

It preserved a 0-0 draw with Atalanta in the opening round of matches in the revamped tournament, and provided a further demonstration of the shot-stopping qualities of a goalkeeper more renowned for his ability with the ball at his feet.

The Spain international dived to his right to block the 51st-minute spot kick taken by Mateo Retegui, after Thomas Partey tripped Ederson. Raya quickly got to his feet, scrambled across his line and then used his left arm to claw away a header from Retegui off the goal line after the ball had rebounded out to the Italy striker.

“I was lucky to go the right way and save it,” Raya said. “I was unlucky to put the rebound straight to him but I was quick enough to get up and save the rebound. It is fantastic to be able to keep the clean sheet and to help the team at least get a point.”

Raya gave a big roar and was mobbed by Arsenal's players in the goalmouth. The goalkeeper performed a similar scrambling save on the goal line in the Premier League this season at Aston Villa to deny Ollie Watkins, before Arsenal went on to score twice in the second half for a 2-0 win.

There were no late goals this time for Mikel Arteta's team, whose creativity and attacking spark has been hit by an ankle injury sustained by captain Martin Odegaard while playing for Norway during the recent international break.

Odegaard has “significant” ankle ligament damage that will keep him out of action for “a while,” Arteta said before the Atalanta game.

Without its attacking midfielder, Arsenal underwhelmed before grabbing a goal from a corner in a 1-0 win over north London rival Tottenham on Sunday and was kept goalless by Atalanta, managing only two shots on target in Bergamo.

Manchester City is up next for Arsenal on Sunday in a meeting between the two favorites for the Premier League title.

With its attacking strength damaged, Arsenal might have to rely on a strong defensive performance to keep City at bay — like the team did last season in a 0-0 draw at Etihad Stadium.

With Raya in such great form, it could happen again.

“I’m in a good way now,” said Raya, who joined Arsenal from Brentford at the start of last season and took the goalkeeper jersey from Aaron Ramsdale in a big call by Arteta. “I have things to improve, as always, but of course I’m in a good place right now.”

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said Raya has “gone to the next level.”

“There was massive pressure on him," Rice said. “He was our No. 1 last season and obviously now he is fully No. 1 — there are no questions about that anymore. He's really focused and that's three games this season he has made crucial saves for us.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya, centre, makes a save during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya, centre, makes a save during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya applauds after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya applauds after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya claims the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Arsenal's goalkeeper David Raya claims the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in London, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Arsenal's Raheem Sterling, centre left, and Atalanta's Juan Cuadrado challenge for the ball during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Arsenal's Raheem Sterling, centre left, and Atalanta's Juan Cuadrado challenge for the ball during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta, right, and Ben White talk during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta, right, and Ben White talk during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Atalanta's Mateo Retegui, right, misses to score a penalty during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Atalanta's Mateo Retegui, right, misses to score a penalty during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Atalanta's Mateo Retegui, right, misses to score a penalty during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

Atalanta's Mateo Retegui, right, misses to score a penalty during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Arsenal at the Bergamo's stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (Spada/LaPresse via AP)

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