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BBNFL Week 18: Will Levis provides one last meme to end the season

On3 imageby:Adam Stratton•01/06/25•

AdamStrattonKSR

bbnfl-week-18-will-levis-provides-one-last-meme-to-end-the-season
Photo by Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Image

Putting together a must-see highlight package in your first year as an NFL starting quarterback is the stuff of dreams for kids launching footballs in their backyard. Having fans across all teams reacting in amazement at what you did on the field is the stuff of legends. Unfortunately, in Will Levis‘s first year as the Tennessee Titans’ signal caller, the lowlights outweighed the highlights, and attention garnered from around the league was not always admiration-based. Week 18 featured all of the above for the former Kentucky QB.

As a courtesy to Levis, the Titans coaching staff gave him the start before, presumably, the team parts ways with him in the offseason. On paper, he didn’t play poorly, passing for 175 yards and a touchdown, but watching the film paints a different, albeit familiar story.

Week 18 is incentive week for many players trying to reach the statistical milestones that trigger financial performance bonuses. Levis did his part to make that happen for wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who needed just 59 yards to reach 1,000 yards for the season and earn a big money incentive.

After the pass that crossed this milestone for Ridley, Levis celebrated on his receiver’s behalf, giving the ole “make it rain” hand gesture. But then on the very next play, Levis fumbled the handoff to another former Wildcat, Bryce Oliver, and the Texans ran the recovery back for a touchdown.

Fitting seemed to be the most used adjective to describe the situation. To be fair to Will, he was celebrating for his teammate (good leader), and the fumble wasn’t really his fault, but visuals like this have haunted him all year.

Levis even caught strays when he wasn’t part of the play. Houston QB Dusty Mills found himself in a precarious body position after diving for the goal line, and Barstool jokingly claimed it was Will Levis’s impact on the game.

However, to fully round out the Will Levis experience, he fittingly capped off the Titans season with a 49-yard touchdown bomb. The pass appeared to be thrown to no one in particular as two Titans receivers were in the area, but the heave came off his back foot from his own 40-yard line and landed in the hands of rookie wideout Tay Martin to give him his first career score. Unbelievable athleticism. Uncanny arm strength. Questionable decision-making. Levis is a go big or go home type of guy and on this play, anyway, he went big.

After the game, Levis said, “I’m not focused on what my career looks like anywhere else. I’m focused on what it looks like here.”

With the loss to the Texans, Tennessee secured the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and already mocks have either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders slated as the potential top selection, further hinting the future for Will Levis is uncertain at best.

Good luck to him next year, wherever he lands.

Ray Davis helps Bills set league record with touchdown reception

The Buffalo Bills already wrapped up a playoff spot so Week 18 featured a lot of backups. One of those backups was Ray Davis, who toted the ball a season-high 15 times in the Bills’ fairly meaningless loss to the Patriots. Davis gained 64 yards on the ground but also caught a touchdown pass of significance.

With Davis’s TD grab, the Bills became the first team in NFL history to record at least 30 rushing and 30 receiving touchdowns in a single season. If you’re counting, Ray Davis had six of those, but that’s not all.

Davis finished the season 4th among all running backs (minimum 100 rushes) in missed tackles forced per attempt (0.24). While his yards per carry (3.91) may lead one to think he was inefficient, Davis saw stacked boxes (defined by eight or more defenders) on 41.6% of his attempts, the 2nd highest rate among any RB.

In short, Davis had a tremendous rookie season and it’s not over. He will now work to help take the Bills deep into the playoffs.

Other BBNFL Notes:

  • Austin Eckler came off Injured Reserve which displaced playing time for Chris Rodriguez, who had been playing well for the Commanders. Hopefully, we see C-Rod get some action in the playoffs.
  • Darian Kinnard played the most snaps of his career (68) in the Eagles’ Week 18 matchup. With several starters sitting out for Philly, the oft-inactivated lineman got the start and played every snap at right tackle.
  • Za’Darius Smith made the Detroit Lions feel good about his mid-season acquisition. He had a big sack against Minnesota to help his team get the win and clinch first place (and a bye) in the NFC playoffs.

BBNFL snap counts and stats for Week 18

(ST): Special Teams snaps; player did not play on offense or defense.

PlayerPOSSnapsStats
Brandin Echols (NYJ)DB683 tackles
Darian Kinnard (PHI)OL682 pressures allowed
Landon Young (NO)OL662 pressures allowed
Carrington Valentine (GB)DB622 tackles, 1 assist
Dru Phillips (NYG)DB474 tackles
Josh Paschal (DET)DL463 QB pressures
Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG)WR3911 targets, 10 rec, 43 yards
Za’Darius Smith (DET)LB385 QB pressures, 1 sack, 2 tackles
Will Levis (TEN)QB369/17 passing, 175 yards, 1 TD, 4 rushes, 8 yards, 1 lost fumble
Ray Davis (BUF)RB3515 rushes, 64 yards, 2 rec, 1 yard, TD
Bud Dupree (LAC)LB262 QB pressures, 1 assist
Bryce Oliver (TEN)WR201 target, 1 rec, 15 yards
Chris Rodriguez (WAS)RB10 rushes
Luke Fortner (JAX)C5 (ST)
Josh Hines-Allen (JAX)LBInactive
Lonnie Johnson Jr. (CAR)DBInactive
Trevin Wallace (CAR)LBInactive

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2025-01-07