Patriots vs. Titans pregame

DGreenwood

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The Patriots are 0-2 vs the Titans since Vrabel took over. Before that they were on a seven game winning streak against them. I know there's not much analytical significance to this post but Vrabel is in my head a little bit.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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The Patriots are 0-2 vs the Titans since Vrabel took over. Before that they were on a seven game winning streak against them. I know there's not much analytical significance to this post but Vrabel is in my head a little bit.
That's good for this game. What are the chances BB goes 0-3 against Mile Vrabel?
 

pokey_reese

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Both teams are coming in having won 6 or their last 7 games. We have some 'common opponents' information for this game, though it is baffling:

Saints: Pats lost (28-13), Titans won (23-21); worth noting, the Pats got the hot-start version with Winston and Kamara, both of whom were injured when the Titans played them recently

Jets: Pats won twice (25-6, 54-13), Titans lost (27-24); somehow, the Titans lost to this team even when they still had Henry on the field

Texans: Pats won (25-22), Titans lost (22-13)

Somehow, the Titans have beaten the Colts, Chiefs, Rams, and Bills, but lost to the Jets and Texans, two of the worst teams in the league. Maybe they have a problem with playing down to the level of their opponents?
 

RSN Diaspora

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How do you anticipate the Titans will move the ball without a credible offensive threat?
I suppose that depends on how credible you believe A.J. Brown to be. Obviously, this team isn't the same without Derrick Henry, but I think they have the talent to keep it within 4.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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5-1/2 is too low

Pats will crush them

not much analytical here save for that as stated above, how will the Titans score on the Pats? Maybe off turnover(s) or a short drive and long field goal(s) but only my inherent nervousness tells me anything besides a decisive win.

Titans have been awful the last 3 weeks despite 2 fortunate wins and they just lost to the second worst team in the NFL
 

Red Averages

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I suppose that depends on how credible you believe A.J. Brown to be. Obviously, this team isn't the same without Derrick Henry, but I think they have the talent to keep it within 4.
well AJ Brown has a chest injury and is not certain to play. He also has 24 targets in the last 3 games, without Henry, and has turned that into 106 yards total (or 35 yards per game) and 0 TDs. He has 2 out of 10 games where he has more than 100 yards this year. He’s certainly a credible name, but I’m not too sure we should be banking on the Titans getting more than 14 points because of him.
 

RSN Diaspora

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well AJ Brown has a chest injury and is not certain to play. He also has 24 targets in the last 3 games, without Henry, and has turned that into 106 yards total (or 35 yards per game) and 0 TDs. He has 2 out of 10 games where he has more than 100 yards this year. He’s certainly a credible name, but I’m not too sure we should be banking on the Titans getting more than 14 points because of him.
He's not certain, but likely:

View: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1462815516683292686


Obviously, he alone can't carry the team, but if he's got a healthy Marcus Johnson (exited the game with an injured hand this week) I think they can keep it close. I wouldn't take them on the money line but at +5.5, it's enticing.
 

RedOctober3829

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Before the Texans game, a few of us were discussing the Titans and came away with the conclusion that they are average at best without Derrick Henry if they aren't forcing crazy amounts of turnovers.

Christian D'Andrea, the Titans' For The Win writer, had a great article up last week explaining why the Titans could not sustain what they were doing. Tannehill has been worse at throwing the ball down the field, but they kept scoring because they had 8 possessions inside the opponent's 30 yard line because of the defense forcing turnovers. They scored on all of those possessions(5 TDs, 3 INTs). With Derrick Henry, they averaged close to 380 ypg. Post Henry injury, that total was down to around 230 ypg.

Defensively, they came into last week ranked 10th in defensive DVOA but 24th in running. Their defensive success has been because Jeffrey Simmons, Denico Autry, and Harold Landry are game wreckers up front. As of now, they have combined for 22.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits. They also can get to the QB with 4 as they are top 10 in pressures but bottom 10 in blitz rate. Kevin Byard and Kristian Fulton are really good in the back end as well.

D'Andrea summarizes the Titans below:
"Opponents who protect the ball and prevent moderate gains on first and second down will force the Titans to stare down their biggest weakness. Tennessee keeps winning because it has seized opportunities like a championship team would. Shut off that tap and they struggle thanks to a dearth of playmakers outside of Brown, who can be moderately contained in double coverage without the threat of a game-breaking run up the gut.

The Rams and Saints couldn’t stop that flow. The back end of the schedule features games against the Texans (twice), Jaguars, and Dolphins. This team is destined for at least 12 wins, but regression could hit them at the worst possible time if Henry and Jones can’t return to full strength and lead to another disappointing postseason exit."

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/11/tennessee-titans-derrick-henry-defense-ryan-tannehill
 

soxhop411

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Some thanksgiving quotes from BB and Mac Jones
View: https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/1462871310351187971

Evidence continues to mount that Mac Jones is a perfect fit for Bill Belichick and the Patriots. The one Thanksgiving side he can’t do without? “Mashed potatoes and gravy,” he tells
@MerloniFauria
.
Quote Tweet




Mike Reiss

@MikeReiss
· 8h
Question: One side dish on the table for Thanksgiving? Bill Belichick (to @TheGregHillShow): "Oh boy. It would be hard for me to turn down any type of potatoes. I'll go with whatever -- mashed potatoes, scalloped, baked ... Load 'em up. Throw some butter on there. Starch me up."

Karen Guregian

@kguregian

·
11m

Mac Jones tells WEEI he doesn’t like apple pie or pecan pie
View: https://twitter.com/kguregian/status/1462870610506358791

View: https://twitter.com/McKennAnalysis/status/1462870511009079304

Mac Jones won't even engage in the PEE-can or Pa-cawn pie debate. "I don't like that."
 

GB5

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Aug 26, 2013
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The Titans are a well run., successful, physical and proud franchise under Vrabel. Coming off a brutally embarrassing performance, I imagine you will get a peak performance from them on Sunday.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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The Titans are a well run., successful, physical and proud franchise under Vrabel. Coming off a brutally embarrassing performance, I imagine you will get a peak performance from them on Sunday.
four 9-7 seasons followed by last year’s 11-5. They’ve been pretty good but not that successful to my way of looking at things.

A well run franchise probably doesn’t sign an ancient AP nor do they grind Henry into the dirt using him at a rate almost double a normal NFL back. Big surprise that Peterson is averaging 3 yards/carry.
 

NortheasternPJ

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four 9-7 seasons followed by last year’s 11-5. They’ve been pretty good but not that successful to my way of looking at things.

A well run franchise probably doesn’t sign an ancient AP nor do they grind Henry into the dirt using him at a rate almost double a normal NFL back. Big surprise that Peterson is averaging 3 yards/carry.
That's 2 seasons under Mularkey, 1 season of Vrabel with Mariota. Then a season they were 7-3 with Tannehill as the starter in 2019 and 11-5 in 2020. Plus their record this year I think you're distorting the facts by a lot. I'm not saying they're great or good in their current form but your cherry picking of "four 9-7 seasons" is Eric Van level.
 

johnmd20

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The Titans are a well run., successful, physical and proud franchise under Vrabel. Coming off a brutally embarrassing performance, I imagine you will get a peak performance from them on Sunday.
Like the Falcons after getting completely demolished by Dallas. They came out angry and embarrassed and then the Pats proceeded to embarrass them.

The Titans are running out of offensive players. You can't win when you lose all your players, including the best RB in football. But Vrabel is a great coach and the Titans will be ready to do their best. But the Pats are clicking on all cylinders right now. They are going to win.
 

sal16cal

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Like the Falcons after getting completely demolished by Dallas. They came out angry and embarrassed and then the Pats proceeded to embarrass them.

The Titans are running out of offensive players. You can't win when you lose all your players, including the best RB in football. But Vrabel is a great coach and the Titans will be ready to do their best. But the Pats are clicking on all cylinders right now. They are going to win.
Tennesee just doesn’t make sense to me.18th in DVOA. They have allowed more yards than they have gained. Take out Henry and Jones, I think the 5.5 line is right on.
 

RedOctober3829

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Tennesee just doesn’t make sense to me.18th in DVOA. They have allowed more yards than they have gained. Take out Henry and Jones, I think the 5.5 line is right on.
They've had good luck in close games(3-1 in games decided by 3 points or less) and lately have forced a lot of turnovers that have led to short fields. Their pass rush has plugged a lot of defensive holes. Without Henry, Tannehill has to carry the load on his shoulders and I don't think he is capable of doing that.
 

Soxy

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Somehow, the Titans have beaten the Colts, Chiefs, Rams, and Bills, but lost to the Jets and Texans, two of the worst teams in the league. Maybe they have a problem with playing down to the level of their opponents?
Rams game was especially weird. Titans offense had only two drives that went more than 28 yards all game. They scored TDs on both of them, and also had a pair of Stafford interceptions lead directly into TDs (1st-and-goal on Rams 2; pick-6). Titans defense did a good job in the first half but the Rams were able to move the ball in the second half. Problem was they were already down 21-3 at halftime thanks to the turnovers.

Their loss to the Texans this past weekend was sort of the reverse of the Rams game. Titans outgained them by a bunch but still managed to blow it, thanks to turnovers combined with some timely plays from the Texans. Tannehill seemed to melt down a bit.

I am not very optimistic for the future of this vintage's Titans. They were built to be top heavy on offense and now all of those guys are hurt. Maybe they pull it together, but I won't be surprised if the wheels come off. Things are piling up for them.
 

Justthetippett

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Does feel like it could be an inflection point for the Titans. They are tough, balanced and well coached but are hanging by a bit of a thread. Either they continue to squeak by and maintain some momentum (I know, loss to HOU, but divisional games are always a bit weird) or the wheels start to come off.
 

Over Guapo Grande

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McGrone had the ACL injury at the end of last season, right? I am not expecting anything from him this year, but the fact that he is back practicing (expecting a year end IR in 3 weeks) bodes well for next year.
 

BusRaker

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If this game comes to turnovers which I think it will, NE is +6 and the Vrabels are -3 on the year.
I think JC gets at least one reception as Tannehill forces passes to a gimpy AJ Brown
 

Saints Rest

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McGrone had the ACL injury at the end of last season, right? I am not expecting anything from him this year, but the fact that he is back practicing (expecting a year end IR in 3 weeks) bodes well for next year.
Your post implies that a return from NFI is similar to PUP in terms of 3 weeks of practice before the team must put him on the 53 or send him to season-ending IR. Is that correct?
 

Pandemonium67

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I'd guess BB is giving them this time to practice because the Pats have a lot of downtime with the bye coming. Then it's to the IR for both.
 

Ferm Sheller

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BaseballJones

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Current NFL Rankings

Offense
- Pats: #6 points, #17 yards
- Titans: #10 points, #15 yards

Defense
- Pats: #1 points, #3 yards
- Titans: #19 points, #14 yards

Differential
- Pats: #2 points, #8 yards
- Titans: #9 points, #19 yards

SRS
- Pats: #3
- Titans: #9

DOVA
- Pats: #16 offense, #2 defense, #3 overall
- Titans: #22 offense, #12 defense, #18 overall

Last 5 games
- Pats: 35.0 points for, 10.0 points against
- Titans: 25.0 points for, 18.6 points against