The Tennessee Titans are gearing up for a matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 9.
The Patriots, like the Titans, have had a season to forget. The team enters this game with a 2-6 record, while the Titans are 1-6. Both teams desperately need a win, and the loser will pray for the offseason to arrive soon.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Titans are favored in this matchup. BetMGM has the Titans as a 3.5-point favorite over the visiting Patriots.
Let’s go over 5 things to know ahead of this AFC showdown.
The battle of the first-year Head Coaches
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 27: Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans reacts in the first quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Brian Callahan and Jerod Mayo are both in their first seasons as NFL head coaches. Neither man’s season has gone well, but this game could let us know if one of these coaches won’t be sticking around long.
Unlike Callahan’s team, Mayo’s team has shown SOME progress. The Patriots defeated the New York Jets last weekend and have seen some promising signs from rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Can Callahan finally win a coaching battle? If not in Week 9, then when?
Calvin Ridley could have another big day
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 27: Calvin Ridley #0 of the Tennessee Titans catches a pass over Brian Branch #32 of the Detroit Lions in the first quarter of a game at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Calvin Ridley was one of the only bright spots last weekend as the Titans got dominated by the Lions. Ridley caught 10 passes for 143 yards and finally looked like the star receiver the Titans paid for.
The Patriots are No. 23 in the league in pass defense, so, theoretically, Ridley could go off again. At this point, it’s hard to feel positive about matchups, but this is actually a decent one for the Titans.
Drake Maye suffered a concussion in Week 8
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Drake Maye left the game in Week 8 after suffering a concussion. It’s not known if the rookie will be ready for Week 9, but even if he is, he won’t be 100%.
Maye has impressed in spurts. The QB has played in four games and has completed 63.1% of his passes for 564 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. The Titans’ pass rush has been decent this season, so the unit needs to make an impact in Week 9.
The Patriots score fewer points per game than the Titans
Oct 27, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo calls a play against the New York Jets during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The Patriots are one of just four teams averaging fewer points per game than the Titans. The Patriots are scoring just 15.5 points per contest, while the Titans are scoring 17.1.
Again, when you look as bad as Titans, it’s hard to get excited about matchups. Still, this is a positive note for the Titans and should mean that 20 points gets a win.
The loser of this game almost guaranteed to keep selling
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 22: Executive Vice President and General Manager Ran Carthon of the Tennessee Titans looks on against the Green Bay Packers at Nissan Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
Both the Titans and the Patriots have recently made trades. The Titans traded away star veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins and linebacker Ernest Jones IV, while the Patriots shipped out LB Josh Uche.
Playoffs are already a lost cause for both of these teams, but a loss in Week 9 could institute a massive sell-off. Could a loss to the Patriots inspire the Titans to ship off Jeffery Simmons?