What we learned: Best and worst from Patriots’ 31-13 win over Titans
NASHVILLE Mike Vrabel gets to leave Tennessee happy Closer than anticipated through the first half the Patriots decisively beat the Titans - in Vrabel s return to Tennessee just months after getting fired This one must have hurt for Titans fans seeing their former head coach sporting his familiar navy blue vest on the opposing sideline coaching his new squad in a blowout win while their own squad still looks aimless Sunday s matchup was viewed as a feasible trap championship for the Patriots entering their third straight road battle against an interim head coach The Titans already fired Vrabel s replacement Brian Callahan just weeks into his tenure as head coach The Patriots are now - on the season Vrabel has now won more games in one season as Patriots head coach than the Titans have won since they fired him following the season Related Articles Patriots long-time defensive starter among surprise inactives as healthy scratch Patriots add running back speedy cornerback to functioning roster Why the Patriots believe they re on to something bigger than a surprise playoff bid things we re watching in Patriots Week matchup with Titans Patriots-Titans preview How Mike Vrabel can exact revenge at Tennessee The Titans and Patriots began the battle exchanging field goals to start out with a - tied amount The Titans picked up majority of their yardage on a completion to rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor when cornerback Carlton Davis III slipped in coverage The Patriots got out to a hot start running the ball but sputtered out in the end zone on their ensuing drive The Titans needed just three plays to number on their second series Quarterback Cam Ward hit rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike for a -yard touchdown with Marcus Jones in coverage and Craig Woodson deep at safety to take a - lead The Patriots and Titans exchanged punts before Drake Maye led his offense on a -play -yard drive that culminated with a spectacular -yard touchdown catch from tight end Austin Hooper to net the tournament at - Hooper reached over Titans cornerback L Jarius Sneed for the catch and held on while getting both feed in bounds through contact The Titans responded by taking a - lead on a -yard field goal from kicker and former Patriot Joey Slye into the wind It took less than a minute for Maye to drive the Patriots down the field for another touchdown hitting Boutte in stride in the end zone on a -yard connection Boutte not to be outdone by Hooper caught it with his fingertips The Titans didn t make a strong effort to outcome with seconds left in the first half despite having three timeouts and let time expire The Patriots came out of the half and extended their lead to - on a -yard touchdown run from running back Rhamondre Stevenson It wasn t without chosen drama however Maye hit his head hard against the turf on a -yard scramble He missed three plays while getting checked for a concussion then returned to the drive The Patriots went for it on fourth-and- in the red zone and Maye s pass was behind DeMario Douglas but the slot receiver hauled in the first-down conversion with one hand to keep the drive alive On the very next play from scrimmage Ward had the ball fly out of his hand on a dropback It was easily scooped up by K Lavon Chaisson for a touchdown as the Patriots took a - lead Jones closed out the match by intercepting Ward BEST QB Drake Maye If Maye was playing in more high-profile games he d be a bigger MVP candidate He went -of- for yards with two touchdowns and rushed eight times for yards OLB K Lavon Chaisson The Patriots starting pass rusher registered two sacks and recovered Ward s fumble for a touchdown RB Rhamondre Stevenson It was an encouraging bounce-back meeting for Stevenson who took on the bulk of the carries rushing times for yards with a touchdown WORST CB Marcus Jones Jones has had a great season out of the slot but he allowed a long touchdown to Dike before the contest got away from the Titans He did make up for it with a late interception LG Jared Wilson The O-line as a whole blocked well but Wilson allowed three sacks on the afternoon Patriots first-half defense Ward only had one incompletion in the first half as the Patriots couldn t stop the rookie quarterback It was a altogether different story in the second half with Zak Kuhr s unit shutting down the Titans WHAT WE LEARNED The Patriots went heavy to start the encounter with outside linebacker Harold Landry defensive tackles Milton Williams Christian Barmore and Khyiris Tonga linebackers Robert Spillane Jahlani Tavai and Jack Gibbens cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis and safeties Craig Woodson and Kyle Dugger on the field Rookie wide receiver Efton Chism saw his first extended snaps on offense He impressed early as a blocker The Patriots were much more effective early in the run match and rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson was rarely on the field with just two snaps in the squad s first three drives He received just two carries for yards Joshua Dobbs was -of- with a -yard completion while briefly relieving Maye He presented chosen escapability on his one dropback Third-string running back Terrell Jennings got chosen work at the end of the challenge after it had gotten out of hand He ran with particular violence in the final minutes of action The Patriots were able to bring various pressure against Ward Milton Williams and Harold Landry also registered sacks No turnovers for the Patriots who have become adept at protecting the football That five-turnover tournament against the Steelers feels like ages ago at this point
