Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots Preview

by Jimmy on Oct 17, 2009 12:00 PM CDT in Previews Comment 11 comments

More photos » by Stephan Savoia - AP

Belichick thinks even he could throw for 300 against this defensive backfield. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

The good news about this game is that Tom Brady doesn't appear to be 100% recovered from the knee injury he suffered in week 1 last season. The bad news is that it doesn't really matter. Cortland Finnegan isn't going to play tomorrow which means the Titans secondary will once again be running out two rookies and a practice squad player. Michael Griffin and Chris Hope have been pretty much invisible this season. If the Titans are going to have any shot at winning this game those two are going to need to have the game of their lives.

Another piece of good news is that the Patriots aren't a very good running team (of course neither were the Colts). The Pats come in ranked 20th in the league rushing. The Titans should be able to control the attack of Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney with just their front four leaving the back seven to try and figure out how to stop an opposing QB from throwing for 300 yards. *side note- The only quarterback not to throw for 300+ against the Titans this season was Mark Sanchez. How sad is that?

On offense we will talk again about how this team should re-discover their smash mouth mentality. We have been saying that should be the case for weeks now, and they have still yet to take a shot at doing. I can't help but think that if Jeff Fisher and/or Mike Heimerdinger read this blog every day the Titans would be at least 3-2. In all seriousness though the best defense the 2009 Titans can play is on the sideline watching the offense eat clock. That is especially more important against a quarterback like Brady.

New England plays pretty good pass defense allowing just 212 yards per game. That makes it even more important for the Titans to get the rushing game on track. It would also be nice to see Kenny Britt and Jared Cook on the field early and often. We heard about all of these match-up problems that Cook can create. Why not prove that to us since it is week 6 now and we are 0-5. Just sayin....

It is really mind boggling to look at those numbers the Titans are giving up on defense.

I wish I could have a more positive outlook heading into this game, but it is tough to see a place where the Titans have the advantage. Here's to hoping they can force a couple of turnovers and get some easy scoring chances.

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Titans have a good run defense because

all the other teams have to do is pass!

Giving up 288 yds passing per game? KC can’t even throw for 288 yards per game!

And now we get to face Brady, Moss, Welker. Yeah, not looking good.

Bring Back Vince Young!

by pigskinpundits.com on Oct 17, 2009 1:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I disagree. Tennessee has got a good run defense because it’s good. The players they have are good VS the run. That hasn’t changed. The problem is, the team isn’t generating a consistent pass rush and nobody at DT is commanding a constant double team. Also, there isn’t enough blitzing and when they do blitz, it seems to lack imagination. Throw in all the injuries in the secondary and that is why the pass defense is getting lit up.

I had to stop arguing with drunks, Steeler fans, and all other fools.
It was making my brick wall jealous...

by steeler-hater on Oct 17, 2009 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he would if he could, lol

Nice caption for BB, throwing the football around with his son. I wonder if he’s violating the NFL team uniform codes (again) for wearing his Reebok jersey with a ripped neckline?

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 17, 2009 3:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

no finnegan, no chance

by DonFrancisco on Oct 17, 2009 4:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

These numbers are ugly

Here’s perspective: Titans are giving up an opposing QB rating of 107. That would just behind 1992 Steve Young with the 10th best season of all time.

The 4602 yards we’re on pace to give up would be just ahead of Trent Green 2004 Rams Greatest Show on Turf for the 13th best season of all time.

The 41.6 TDs and 4602 yards we’re on pace to give up through the air would set NFL records for futility. The good news is Detroit’s on pace to give up 48 TDs passing and Arizona is on pace to give up 4848 yards passing. The bad news is the 71.5% completions we’re giving up to opposing QBs would be better than any QB has ever done in a season. The good news is Detroit is worse at 73.3%.

Certainly things will get better, but even a significant improvement renders this pass D pretty bad. 5 games isn’t a big sample, but monotonically awful results in every significant statistical category does speak to major deficiencies. The competition has been good (1,7,9,17, and 27 ranked passers), but nothing spectacular in the aggregate.

Looking at these results on paper, you’ve got to game plan for scoring 25+ points to win with this D. That’s not a knee-jerk reaction to the whipping this unit’s taking, that’s just updating expectations. Hope for the best with this unit, but prepare for the worst.

by WC22 on Oct 17, 2009 9:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

another sunday I wake up depressed

this season sucks

by zackmann on Oct 18, 2009 9:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

get the whiskey flowin for this game

Chris Johnson---everything Reggie Bush was supposed to be.

by CJ4MVP on Oct 18, 2009 10:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Time to stand up!

You know ,I don’t care if it is the patriots and they are at home, this Titans team has got to stand up and salvage some goddamed pride!!! don’t care if the season is over for us,I wanna see some kill shots on the opposition. Forget the team,odds we face etc. We need to win this game!! “46”

by oilzwell on Oct 18, 2009 10:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

weather in MASS sucks today

windy, rainy and 40’s. i’ m probably 30 miles away from foxboro, so i can’t say if it’s as bad there as it is here, but it’s really windy where i am. time to put the muddin tires on lendale and win a nasty one. passing is going to be quite an adventure in this weather.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Oct 18, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs