Patriots-Titans Week 7, Keys To The Game, Key Matchups
Follow us
Follow Us
🕑 Read Time: 5 minutes
Posted Under: Patriots Commentary
HOME > Patriots Blog > Patriots Commentary
The Patriots travel to Music City to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon to wrap up their current three-game road trip before heading back to Gillette Stadium next weekend.
The Patriots won the first two road games with a 23-20 win at Buffalo and a 25-19 win at New Orleans. A win against the Titans will mark the Patriots’ third time winning all three games when playing three straight on the road in a single season. In 1961, the Patriots won their final three games on the road, and then in 1985, the Patriots won three straight postseason games played on the road en route to their first Super Bowl appearance.
CBS will broadcast this week’s game, which can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Andrew Catalon will handle play-by-play duties with Jason McCourty and Charles Davis as the color analysts. AJ Ross will provide analysis from the sidelines. The game will also be aired on the Patriots’ flagship radio station, 98.5 The Sports Hub, with Bob Socci and Scott Zolak on the call, produced by Marc Capello.
We at PatsFans.com are continuing our “Razor’s Edge” column in 2025 to analyze some of the game’s key matchups and predict the game’s outcome.
The Titans are a dysfunctional team currently under owner Amy Adams Strunk. And dysfunctional teams do dysfunctional things, as we’ve seen elsewhere. Whoever has the owner’s ear is the person in charge.
The Titans fired GM John Robinson and replaced him with GM Ran Carthon. Carthon and HC Mike Vrabel disagreed on the team’s path and then fired Vrabel before the season began last year. Vrabel had led the Titans to two division titles. Carthon was then fired at the end of last year.
Chad Brinker, the president of football operations, and now seemingly having Adams Strunk’s ear, fired HC Brian Callahan on Monday, where the owner didn’t even show up at the press conference.
Along with Callahan, OL coach Bill Callahan (Brian’s father) left the team, and then the ownership fired Assistant to the Head Coach Tom Jones. This occurred after interim coach Mike McCoy stated that the staff would remain the same, except for Brian Callahan being let go.
Since firing Vrabel, the Titans are 4-19; the Patriots under Vrabel have won the same number of games despite playing in 17 fewer.
Is this week personal for Vrabel, returning to Tennessee? He’s downplayed it, but with several of his staff members and players having been with him at Tennessee, of course, it is, despite him trying to downplay its significance.
Now, we can examine some key matchups and determine who holds the Razor’s Edge. First up is the Patriots offense:
The Patriots’ running game has been disappointing this season; teams have stacked the box, daring the offense to throw. Now that Drake Maye has proven that to be a bad idea, we should be seeing more two-deep safety looks, which should open things up for the running game.
Tennessee doesn’t run much single high safety looks anyway, but the key this week is for the Patriots to attack them in a downhill style. The Titans allow 133.7 yards per game, with 11 rushing touchdowns allowed. Opponents average 4.5 yards per rush.
Look for Josh McDaniels to run less of the stretch, outside runs and use Rhamondre Stevenson to hammer at them between the tackles.
The Patriots’ passing game is clicking right now, and they are facing a Tennessee defense they lost to in overtime last year. Drake Maye had some great plays as well as some bad ones in the game. Both Harold Landry and Jack Gibbens sacked Maye last year in Tennessee.
Maye is a very different quarterback from the rookie who lost that game. But the challenge remains. He’s seeing the field much better and is making his reads faster and more accurately.
The Titans run a zone system and will mix things up, trying to disguise looks. Look for the Patriots to attack the seams with Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, something they did last year. Stefon Diggs should find some room operating underneath as well.
The “X” factor here is Jeffrey Simmons; the Titans’ DL is arguably one of the top, if not the best, DL in the league. He’s a game wrecker, and the Patriots will have to ensure that he has plenty of bodies on him in both the running and passing games.
Next up is the Tennessee defense.
The Patriots continue to do a tremendous job of limiting their opponents’ running games, and with Milton Williams and Christian Barmore penetrating and creating havoc, teams haven’t been able to run effectively.
The Patriots have allowed 83.4 yards per game, fourth best in the league. Tony Pollard had a huge game against the Patriots a year ago and remains the go-to back. But the Titans’ struggles along the offensive line have limited them to just 81.8 yards per game. Pollard, however, is averaging more than three yards per carry after contact.
The Patriots’ game plan should be to use their tackles, Barmore, Williams, and Khyiris Tonga, to penetrate and disrupt the running game in the backfield, before Pollard can get to the second level.
The Titans’ best weapon is Calvin Ridley, but he injured a hamstring last week against Las Vegas and is questionable on Sunday. He will be matched up with Christian Gonzalez if he can go, and that should be a good matchup to watch.
The Titans’ passing game, however, has not been good, averaging only 150.1 yards per game, 31st in the league. It is tough to get a good read on rookie QB Cam Ward, because his blocking has been spotty in the passing game. But as of right now, he ranks near, or at the bottom of most passing metrics.
Look for the Patriots to bring pressure on Ward and force him into making mistakes. This is a matchup the Patriots secondary should win.
The Patriots’ special teams units have been impressive the past few weeks, and I see that continuing. Bryce Barringer has had booming punts to push opponents back, the coverage units have been solid, and Andy Borregales has found a rhythm in the kicking game.
This week, I look for Marcus Jones to have some opportunities to break a punt return or two. The Titans have Johnny Hekker, who is still an excellent punter at 35, averaging 48.3 yards per punt. Kicker Joey Slye is injured, and they had Matthew Wright in. Chimere Dike has done a very good job as a punt returner.
___________
The Patriots finish up their three-game road trip on a good note. The team is playing much better football than their opponents this week. And while teams bringing in an interim head coach usually enjoy a one-week bump, the fact that Vrabel, his staff, and several players are returning to Tennessee this weekend, should more than make up for that.
Drake Maye should continue his hot streak, the Patriots finding some running room, and the defense shuts down the Titans’ passing
Patriots 31-14
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our Patriots 4th and 2 podcasts on Streamyard as Derek Havens, Mike D’Abate, and I from PatsFans.com discuss the latest Patriots news and breakdown game analysis
From our archive - this week all-time:
April 9 - April 24 (Through 26yrs)
Join 2,000+ fans getting exclusive stats, analysis, and insights delivered straight to their inbox every week. Never miss a play.