The Tennessee Titans are coming off a disastrous loss to the Detroit Lions and are desperate to get things rolling. This week, they face a struggling New England Patriots franchise and have a chance to finally get on track.
In a game that matters more for draft positioning than playoff chances, it’s hard for fans to remain optimistic right now. The team is losing and appears dysfunctional, and questions about the coaching staff continue to cascade across multiple platforms.
Still, for Titans fans, there are some reasons for optimism in Week 9, and here are three of them.
Passing game
In Week 8, the Titans’ passing game flashed some potential and finally got Calvin Ridley on track. Unfortunately, Mason Rudolph turned the ball over and put the team in harm’s way. With Will Levis possibly returning, there is some hope for the passing game to rebound. The Titans have the better passing game in this one and better receivers across the board. If Levis or Rudolph could just complement the rushing attack, the Titans could be headed in the right direction.
Defense
The Patriots’ offense has struggled throughout 2024 and is one of the only units ranked below the Titans. This week that struggling offense will take on a Titans defense that played much better than the score indicated last week. The Titans are stout against the run and match up well with the Patriots receivers. With this likely to be a low-scoring battle, the Titans’ defense might be able to carry them to victory.
Nick Folk
If there is one area where the Titans’ special teams are not a disaster, and they have a clear advantage in this game, it is at the kicker. Nick Folk has been perfect this season, going 9-for-9 on field goals with a long of 53 yards and 13-for-13 on extra points. This contrasts sharply with Patriots kicker Joey Slye, who has only connected on 85 percent of his attempts in 2024. This may be a small advantage for the Titans, but in a low-scoring affair, it could be a critical one.