What went right, what went wrong for the Titans vs. Patriots in Week 9

The Tennessee Titans owned a 1-6 record entering last Sunday’s clash with the equally-struggling New England Patriots. The club was also winless at home (0-3) and their last two outings, losses at Buffalo and at Detroit, ended badly. The club was outscored a combined 86-24 in those setbacks.

The Titans didn’t make it easy on themselves on Sunday vs. the Pats, but they came up with a victory in their fourth game of the season vs. an AFC East opponent. For a change, there were more positives than negatives for a team that managed to escape the divisional basement on Sunday.

Titans get their second win of the season

What went right: Rudolph and (St.) Nick

General manager Ran Carthon added plenty of offensive weapons to aid the cause of first-time NFL head coach Brian Callahan. He signed wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a big deal and added former Bengals’ wide out Tyler Boyd, who was very familiar with Callahan’s system. Former Cowboys running back Tony Pollard is also an excellent pass-catcher. Meanwhile, the team recently traded veteran wideout DeAndre Hopkins.

Five-year pro Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is tied for seventh on the team with just 10 catches, and they have gone for a total of 108 yards. However, he leads the Titans with four touchdown receptions, reaching the end zone in four straight games. That includes the past three contests with Mason Rudolph behind center. In the team’s first four games, Westbrook-Ikhine was not targeted. He’s more than made up for that.

What went wrong: Too many mistakes

This team has had a turnover problem all season and it continued on Sunday. The Titans have now given up the football 17 times, and committed at least one turnover in each of their eight outings. Rudolph finished the afternoon hitting on 20 of his 33 throws, good for 240 yards and a pair of scores. However, he also threw a costly end zone interception early in the second quarter that led to a New England field goal. Only Las Vegas (19) has given up the football more often, and the Raiders have played one more game.

For the fifth straight game and sixth time in eight contests this season, the Titans were tagged for at least eight accepted penalties. The total on Sunday read 10 flags for 67 yards. That brought the team’s penalty total to 60 this season. It’s an area that has hurt the team, and surely needs some cleaning up.

What went right: A Tony award

Along with Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs, former Cowboys weapon Tony Pollard was one of three running backs that was given the franchise tag in 2023, and played on a one-year deal. This offseason, he inked a three-year, $21 million contract with the Titans (via Spotrac) and has been very productive in his first campaign with the franchise. Against the Patriots, Pollard put up his biggest numbers of the season.

In Sunday’s overtime victory, the six-year pro finished with season highs in carries (28) and rushing yards (128). He also finished with three receptions for 26 yards. His 757 total yards from scrimmage currently ranks 13th in the league, and more significantly, Pollard has not fumbled despite touching the football 166 times in eight games. His 622 rushing yards also ranks 10th in the NFL this season. Pollard's been a real bright spot in ’24.

What went wrong: Second-half woes continue

Entering Sunday’s action, the Titans had lost three straight games. In each of those setbacks, they allowed the opposing team to score the final points of the game. Tennessee either had a lead or was tied with their opponent. They gave up the final 10 points in a 20-17 loss to the Colts in Week 6. Callahan’s club owned a 10-point lead at Buffalo, and gave up the final 34 points of the game the following Sunday. Tied with the Lions at 14-all in Week 8, the Titans were stung for 38 straight points in a lopsided 52-14 loss.

Last week, Tennessee owned a 17-10 lead with 4:27 to play. The Pats got the ball with 1:45 to play and marched 50 yards in 11 plays. Maye’s five-yard TD pass to Rhamondre Stevenson and Joe Slye’s PAT on the final play of regulation sent the game into overtime. Another fourth-quarter meltdown for the team.

What went right: Finally, the gift of grab

As has been the case for numerous weeks, the Tennessee Titans still own the NFL’s top-ranked defense in terms of fewest total yards and fewest passing yards allowed per game. That’s been one positive during a rough eight-game start, but a huge shortcoming has been this team’s failure to come up with the big play when it comes to forcing their opponents into crucial mistakes. In their first seven games, the Titans had picked off one pass and recovered two opponent’s fumbles. That changed in a big way vs. the Patriots.

Tennessee matched its takeaway total of their miserable 1-6 start by coming up with two interceptions of Maye, and also recovered one of the rookie quarterback’s two fumbles. Six-year safety Amani Hooker has all three of the team’s interceptions in 2024, sealing Sunday’s three-point victory with a pick in overtime.