Titans' Taylor Lewan thanks Chandler Jones for 'kicking my ass' in Week 1: 'It'll force me to get better'

Lewan is ready to learn from what Jones taught him on Sunday

Maybe someone should reach out to Ed and Lorraine Warren from "The Conjuring" movie because Chandler Jones was a man possessed on Sunday. Following an offseason of question marks regarding his future with the Arizona Cardinals -- fueled by contract concerns and frustrations -- and returning from a season-ending injury suffered in 2020, Jones wasn't simply back to prime form when the Tennessee Titans walked onto the field in Week 1. The two-time All-Pro pass-rusher was literally the best defensive player in the entire league, going on to sack quarterback Ryan Tannehill a total of five (!!) times on the day, hitting him a total of six times overall and forcing two fumbles, brutalizing left tackle Taylor Lewan in the process.

It was a master class in how to rush an NFL passer and Lewan, who himself is no slouch in usually being able to prevent such an onslaught, had no choice but to admit to what the football world witnessed in real time: Jones took him and the Titans to the woodshed. 

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"Got my ass kicked today, no way around that," said the three-time Pro Bowler after the 38-13 loss at Nissan Stadium, via Twitter. 

And, to his credit, Lewan is also looking to learn from his worst day as a pro, as opposed to sulking in it. 

"I let the team and the fans down," he added. "Thank you, [Chandler Jones], for exposing me. It will only force me to get better."

To put things in perspective here, Jones got more sacks in Week 1 than several other NFL teams combined. His tally of five sacks is already nearly one-third of his career best total (17) racked up in 2017, and he accomplished it after having not taken a snap of meaningful football since October 2020. It raises his career sack tally to 102 and launches him toward a potential seventh double-digit sack season, even if he does cool at some point going forward. Needless to say, it's unlikely he'll finish on his current pace of 85 sacks in 2021, but the message has been sent.

Jones remains one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, and pressure is now on the Cardinals front office to make sure he's a happy and well-paid man. And you can bet safety Budda Baker would like to see that happen. 

"It was one for the ages," Baker said of Jones' performance, via the team's official site.

Lewan and Tannehill agree wholeheartedly.