Coming off their best defensive performance of the season against Green Bay, the Patriots have a prime chance to chase that impressive showing with another one.
The Tennessee Titans are the 30th ranked offense in the NFL in terms of yards per game (288) and have the 30th ranked passing offense (178 yards per game). They are 29th in scoring (16.8 points per game). And they haven’t gone against the most potent defensive opponents so far, either.
Only twice all season has Tennessee scored more than 20 points – a Sept. 30 win over the Eagles and Monday night against Dallas, which they won 28-14.
Against the Packers, the Patriots showed the kind of rush discipline they’ll definitely need to have against a quarterback like Marcus Mariota, who’s about a Double-A version of Aaron Rodgers in terms of mobility, being able to throw on the run and extend plays.
The issue with Mariota as opposed to Rodgers, though, is patience and accuracy. Which is a big deal for quarterbacks, generally.
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When trouble emerges for a player of Rodgers’ ilk, he buys time with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield. Mariota will generally hang in for just a minute, then the bell goes off and he scrambles or blindly wanders into trouble.
New England Patriots
That’s how a player like Rodgers – a patient decision-maker and a master of pre-snap reads – can become a Hall of Famer and a player like Mariota can be a middling NFL starter with physical tools that make folks tend to say, “He’s thisclose to figuring it out.”
When the Patriots hosted Tennessee in the playoffs last year (35-14) they sacked Mariota eight times. He was their leading rusher with 37 yards.
Two problems for Mariota are inaccuracy and a lack of potent offensive talent around him. His leading wide receiver is Corey Davis (36 catches, 451 yards). The Patriots will put Stephon Gilmore on him and – if Gilmore’s form holds true – it’s goodbye Corey Davis.
That leaves Taywan Taylor, coming in with a foot injury and 21 catches on the year, and Tajae Sharpe and his 13 catches as the outside threats. Sharpe is also questionable with an ankle.
Dion Lewis is the hub of the Titans offense. He’s carried 92 times for 339 yards and a touchdown and caught 33 for 259 and another touchdown. He’s a pain in the ass but the Patriots have intimate knowledge of him.
In short (HA! Pun intended), tackling Lewis is like trying to grab a rabbit. Surround. Limit options. Approach slowwwwwwwwly. Subdue. Big day for defensive leverage and funneling back to your help.
The Titans also have Derrick Henry running the ball but big backs usually aren’t a major issue for the Patriots defensively and Henry hasn’t been a major issue for anyone (90 carries, 300 yards, 3.3 average).
Donta Hightower is the only defender on the injury report this week. He’s questionable. Titans tackle Jack Conklin is out with a concussion.
Kicker Ryan Succop is 15 for 18 this season on field goals. In the return game, Adoree Jackson is a competent punt returner (7.5 yards per return on six of them); Darius Jennings has a 94-yard kickoff return to his credit this season.
The Patriots coverage units haven’t been as crisp as they usually are.
The Patriots have survived against really good offenses (Kansas City) and not-so-good offenses (Chicago). They've thrived against a bad one (Buffalo) and a one-man gang (Green Bay). They have enough 2018 experience to not have to bat an eye against Marcus Mariota and the Titans.
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