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Titans vs. Patriots: Reasons for optimism and concern for Tennessee

By Michael Moraitis

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks off the field during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks off the field during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Dolphins defeat the Patriots 27-24. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Dolphins defeat the Patriots 27-24. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Concern: Pats defense

We can talk about past success all we want, but it doesn’t erase the fact that the Patriots are a sensational defense that is led by one of the greatest minds in NFL history in head coach Bill Belichick. Hands down, this will be the best unit Tennessee has faced all season.

New England sported the No. 1 overall defense in the NFL in 2019, allowing a ridiculous 14.1 points per game, over two points fewer than the next closest team.

New England ranks No. 2 against the pass with 180.4 passing yards allowed per contest and just 6.0 yards per pass attempt, and its run defense is the sixth-best in the NFL with 95.5 rushing yards allowed per game.

The Titans are a team that wants to set things up for its quarterback by running the football and using the play action passing game to get things moving through the air. That could be a difficult approach in this matchup with how well New England’s run defense has played.

Even if the Titans succeed in running the ball, Ryan Tannehill has to navigate a solid Pats pass-rush and a secondary that is loaded with talent.

Not to mention, Belichick is going to take away the Titans’ best weapons on offense, so someone else is going to have to step up and make plays aside from the usual suspects.

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