IN FOCUS: Patriots 3rd Down Defense Through Week 1

Kyle Love and the Patriots defense did a solid job on Sunday. (FILE:USPresswire)

Coming into last Sunday's win over the Titans we touched on how the Patriots' defense struggled on 3rd down with their pass defense last season, and taking a closer look they started off strong with a solid performance in Week 1.

The Titans Quarterbacks combined for 8-of-11 passing on 3rd down (88%), but despite the high completion percentage Tennessee managed just 4 passing and 5 overall first downs on the afternoon.

Here's a breakdown of the situations they faced and the results:

Against Titans QB Jake Locker:

Situation 1: QTR 1: 3rd & 7 From the Titans 23
Result 1: Completion to Kendall Wright for 17 yards - 1st Down

Situation 2: QTR 1: 3rd & 2 From the Titans 38
Result 2: 1 Yard Gain by Chris Johnson - Brought up 4th & 1 and Titans Completed a 24-yard pass to Nate Washington to extend the drive.

Situation 3: QTR 1: 3rd & 7 From the Patriots 10
Result 3: Incomplete Pass to Damian Williams - Titans Kick a FG

Situation 4: QTR 1: 3rd & 11 From the Titans 17
Result 4: 8-yard completion to Jamie Harper - Titans Punt

Situation 5: QTR 1: 3rd & 6 From the Titans 22
Result 5: 19-yard completion to Jared Cook - 1st Down

Situation 6: QTR 2: 3rd & 13 From the Titans 7
Result 6: Locker sacked by Chandler Jones, Hightower returns it for a TD

Situation 7: QTR 2: 3rd & 8 From the Titans 20
Result 7: Locker scrambles for 9 yards - 1st Down

Situation 8: QTR 2: 3rd & 10 From the Titans 29
Result 8: 9 yard completion to Chris Johnson - Titans Punt

Situation 9: QTR 2: 3rd & 5 From the Titans 35
Result 9: Completion to Damian Williams for 3 yards - Titans Punt

Situation 10: QTR 3: 3rd & 15 From the Titans 5
Result 10: Completion to Kendall Wright for -3 yards - Titans Punt

Situation 11: QTR 3: 3rd & 10 From the Titans 21
Result 11: Completion to Damian Williams for 10 yards - First Down

Against Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck:

Situation 12: QTR 4: 3rd & 1 From the Patriots 48
Result 12: Completion to Chris Johnson for 14 yards - First Down

Situation 13: QTR 4: 3rd & 6 From the Patriots 6
Result 13: Incomplete Pass to Jared Cook - Titans Kick FG

Situation 14: QTR 4: 3rd & 6 From the Titans 24
Result 14: Incomplete Pass to Lavelle Hawkins - Lead to another incompletion on 4th down and turnover on downs.

TOTALS:

Overall Opportunities: 14
First Downs: 5
Passing First Downs: 4
Rushing First Downs: 1
Punts: 4
Sacks: 1 - Which lead to a turnover and Touchdown

Here are some numbers from when Tennessee was in 3rd and long:

OVERALL NUMBER OF 3RD DOWNS WITH 6 OR MORE YDS TO GO:
Total: 11 Situations
Results: 3 Passing first Downs, 1 Rushing first down, 1 Sack (With a turnover for a TD), 3 Incompletions