Three Bold Predictions As Patriots-Titans Meet In Lowly Matchup
The Patriots aren’t very good.
The Titans aren’t very good.
New England and Tennessee will meet in a matchup at Nissan Stadium on Sunday that… you guessed it, isn’t expected to be very good.
It’s one of those rare games where both sides can begin to build some positive momentum, though, which should be enough to make it at least watchable. The Patriots are also trying to win games in back-to-back weeks for the first time in almost two full years, and should have a solid shot at making that happen so long as a couple of these bold predictions come true:
MAYE FINDS A WAY
Maye suffered a concussion during last Sunday’s victory over the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium, ending up on the unfortunate end of helmet-to-helmet contact despite already being in the process of a slide. The Patriots seem to have faith that he could clear the NFL’s concussion protocol in just one week, however, which is good news because the Titans’ passing defense is completely fraudulent.
Tennessee allows a league-best 151 yards per game through the air, but that’s a product of the teams they’ve played. Detroit’s Jared Goff only needed to throw for 85 yards last week because the game got out of hand early, Buffalo’s Josh Allen torched them for 323 yards the week before, Miami didn’t have Tua Tagovailoa a few weeks back and Chicago’s Caleb Williams was making his first start in Week 1.
Maye should absolutely torch this team if he plays, especially with a reinvigorated receiving corps.
Prediction: Drake Maye not only plays but throws two touchdown passes.
BAKER, BAKER TOUCHDOWN MAKER
The Patriots are expected to finally give rookie wide receiver Javon Baker a chance on Sunday, and that’s a positive. New England has been extremely resistant to playing the 22-year-old, activating him just three times this season and primarily playing him on special teams, but it’s becoming clearer by the week that the offense needs a spark.
Baker could provide that against an extremely overrated defensive unit.
Prediction: Javon Baker scores a touchdown.
STEALING SCORES
The Titans love to give the ball away and have done it more than any other team in the NFL besides the Las Vegas Raiders.
Tennessee turned the ball over four times last weekend against Detroit, with quarterback Mason Rudolph throwing a pair of interceptions, while receiver Calvin Ridley and tight end Chig Okonkwo both lost fumbles. New England hasn’t forced a takeaway in two weeks, but that changes Sunday.
It’s probably not all that surprising to hear that Tennessee also has the worst special teams unit in the entire league, either, with Detroit’s Kalif Raymond finishing with 190 yards on his five punt returns last week — including a score.
Marcus Jones promised he’d get one after his big return last week and could deliver rather quickly.
Prediction: New England forces two takeaways and scores a defensive/special teams touchdown.