Game Overview ::
By hilow >>
- These two teams rank 28th (Titans) and 29th (Patriots) in points per game and 30th (Titans) and 32nd (Patriots) in yards per game this season.
- The Titans rank first in yards allowed per game (265.4).
- Patriots QB Drake Maye and WR Ja’Lynn Polk both managed limited sessions on Wednesday as they progress through the league’s concussion protocol. That’s an important first step to gaining clearance for Week 9, with their respective practice statuses on Thursday and Friday likely to tell the full story on whether or not they will be available against the Titans. I currently expect both to gain clearance and play.
- The Titans had quite the injury report on Wednesday. RB Tony Pollard (foot), WR Calvin Ridley (shoulder), WR Tyler Boyd (shoulder), CB L’Jarius Sneed (quad), and NT T’Vondre Sweat (hip) did not practice to start the week, while RB Tyjae Spears (hamstring) and QB Will Levis (throwing shoulder) managed limited sessions as each attempts to return from two-game absences.
- Both offensive lines rank bottom five in yards before contact per attempt, which has limited each offense’s ability to sustain drives and generate meaningful play action.
How new england Will Try To Win ::
First off, Maye gives this team the best chance to succeed offensively, having thrown five touchdowns in two starts to the two touchdowns in the almost six full games worth of play from Jacoby Brissett. Maye has demonstrated better pocket presence, escapability, and downfield ability, giving the offense a better chance to sustain drives behind one of, if not, the worst offensive line in football (108 total pressured allowed ranks 31st, better than only the 109 allowed by the Seahawks, and 1.07 yards before contact per attempt created ranks dead last). Maye managed a limited showing on Wednesday after being placed in the concussion protocol Sunday, meaning he is at least symptom-free at this point. He’ll still need to log a full practice and gain clearance by an independent neurologist, but he appears to be on track to suit up against the Titans. Maye was a combined 46-for-70 (65.7%) in his two full games this season, in two game environments in which the Patriots played their opponent tough until halftime (down 14-7 against the Texans and down 22-10 after leading 10-0 against the Jaguars). The shortcomings of the offensive line have really altered how this team has been able to approach games, with a clear preference on a run-balanced approach hamstrung by their rushing woes. That has made the Patriots almost entirely reactive in their offensive structure this season, with an expectation going into games of a run-balanced approach.
That expectation doesn’t get any better against a Titans defense allowing the fewest yards of offense per game this season, although they have been more effectively attacked on the ground. The Titans have allowed 2.15 yards before contact per attempt (11th most) and 119.7 rush yards per game (16th most), which presents a clear path of least resistance to the Patriots. Even so, their offensive line has been so bad that it might not matter here. It then becomes rather impressive that Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson have averaged 4.1 and 4.2 yards per carry this season, respectively, considering they have done much of the heavy lifting after contact (3.19 and 3.63 yards after contact per attempt, respectively). If they are to remain competitive in this spot, it is likely at the hands of one, or both, of these backs.
DeMario Douglas led the team in receiving in Maye’s first start against the Texans before seeing limited action against the Jaguars, during which tight end Hunter Henry stepped into the featured role through the air. Even so, the Titans allow the fewest pass yards per game (151.6) and fifth-lowest completion rate (61.58%), although the absence of Sneed has really hurt the previous two games against the Bills and Lions. Sneed has yet to practice while dealing with a quad injury, making the individual matchup slightly better for New England pass catchers. That said, the two primary pass catchers in the offense, Douglas and Henry, work primarily out of the slot and over the middle of the field and likely wouldn’t see Sneed coverage anyway. I would expect Polk back this week after missing Week 8 with a concussion, which should affect the snaps of both Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne. It is unclear which of the three would see the most snaps after Bourne missed the first four games before being eased back into action.
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