AFC Game Of The WeekÂ
Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots
Titans: There were many shockers in the NFL in week 11. As I said on the radio on Monday night, there were some division winners who just ran into brick walls on Sunday. They were one of them. Here’s the thing I always say about this league and game in general (I’m applying this to college as well): It will never matter an opponent’s record. Just because you may feel you are the superior team, that doesn’t mean you still can’t show up. That’s exactly what happened to them. The Houston Texans came into Nashville and punched the Tennessee Titans in the mouth, plain and simple. Another thing I say more often now in my breakdowns is nobody wants to claim the title as the best team in the AFC! Each week, it’s something different. Now, let’s get into what exactly went wrong for the Titans on Sunday. Though Derrick Henry is out, their identity doesn’t change. This is a power-running football team and they still need to pound the rock as often as they can because that will in turn help the passing game open up. There’s no excuse for Ryan Tannehill to throw the football 52 times as he did on Sunday. Prior to the loss, the Titans were winning games with defense. I was impressed with how they beat the Los Angeles Rams in week nine because they were able to get Matthew Stafford off his rhythm in that one. The following week against the Saints, they needed defense again to close the game out. They will look to bounce back on Sunday in Foxboro.
Patriots: They’re back! Like they never left! So many thought this wouldn’t be a playoff team in 2021 yet alone compete in their division. At this moment, they sit in first place in the AFC East, a division that was already given to the Buffalo Bills with a giant, red bow on the top. Not so fast as Lee Corso would say! Bill Belichick continues to show why he’s still the top coach in this league and he’s guided this team to a five-game winning streak. They are the hottest team in the league right now. The other day, I spoke about what’s made the Patriots different this year compared to last year. The obvious point is key guys who opted out from playing due to COVID-19 are back and that makes such a difference. When I watch the Patriots offense, it takes me back to 2001 all over again as I’ve said on the website, Monday Evening Quarterback and many of the other shows I contribute for. They do more than enough to push the football down the field and it shows. They don’t need Mac Jones to drop back in the pocket and throw the ball 40 times a game. All they ask of him is to control the clock, hand the ball off and not turn the ball over most importantly. The defense has been one of the best all season long. They play opportunistic defense which means they can’t make you one-dimensional and make you work with a long field. This is a team I wouldn’t want to see come January because they have the formula to beat teams. They’re back home on Sunday.
Titans X-Factor: Denico Autry– His motor speaks for itself. Whether he’s lined up on the edge or inside, he will find a way to that quarterback. Denico will travel with the quarterback. It doesn’t matter if he’s moving to another side of the pocket, he never lets up on the play. Those are the type of guys that you want to play with. His quickness and power are something to watch when he’s rushing the passer.
Patriots X-Factor: Hunter Henry– He’s the perfect fit for this New England offense. Actually, he leads the team in touchdowns this year. When Mac has needed a pass to get over the middle or even in the red area of the field, Hunter is usually targeted. It’s his body control, wide catch radius, and footwork that stand out to me. I see the Titans loading up the box to stop the run. Watch Hunter sneak behind coverage to make a play.
Final Thoughts: When these two last met, it was in the 2019 Wild Card round of the playoffs. Derrick Henry ran all over a New England defense that was dominant for most of that year. This was also Tom Brady’s final game wearing a Patriot uniform. Sunday will mark the third meeting between Mike Vrabel and Bill Belichick. Remember, Mike was a key component to those Patriots teams that won three Super Bowls in four years. I need to see the Titans get back to their identity which is running the ball. It’s unacceptable for Tannehill to try and take a game over with his arm because he’s just not that guy. I’m expecting a heavy dose of the running game from New England. They will dominate the line of scrimmage and run the ball down the throats of the Tennessee defense. Which Tennessee team shows up? Will it be the one who dominated the Rams? Or, will we see the group who dropped the ball to the Texans in week 11? New England is simply clicking on all cylinders right now.
Prediction: Patriots 24, Titans 16
