The Tennessee Titans come to Gillette Stadium on Saturday for a Wild Card Playoff showdown with the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. Despite a 12-win season, the Pats are playing on Wild Card weekend, a bit of an unusual look for them. Still, they begin yet another postseason voyage, looking for their 7th Super Bowl title under Belichick and Brady. For the Titans, they overcame a lot to get here, but face a tough road test. Will they surprise a Patriots’ team that seems more-vulnerable than they have in years? Or will the Pats turn on their postseason mojo and send the Titans home with a big win on Saturday?
Patriots Primed to be Plucked?
Since an 8-0 start, the Patriots haven’t been very special in going 4-4. Most alarming was with a lot on the line Sunday; they couldn’t beat the Jets at home to secure home-field. This is the first time in a decade they’ve been in the Wild Card round. A look at Tom Brady’s showings over the second half of the season would seem to bolster the belief that he’s starting to finally show his age. The defense that started the season so strongly has become readily more-exploitable, while a shortage of overall firepower on offense has started to resonate badly.
In the Titans, you have a team with a lot of guts and heart. After a 2-4 start to the season and some late-season slipups, they muscled into the postseason with a big win over Houston on Sunday. Their head coach Mike Vrabel played with Brady and Belichick for eight seasons, and this would be a massive feather in his cap. An early-season QB change to Ryan Tannehill paid off when not many thought it would. Even more important was after missing a game, Derrick Henry returned last week with over 200 yards on the ground, winning the rushing title. And he’s the kind of guy who can carry this team on his back against a New England defense that has waned some in recent weeks.
Price of Questioning the Pats
It seems like almost every season, there is a salient case to be made for why the Patriots won’t go far in the playoffs. All kinds of different things have been cited, and how much did it pay off in the end? While this season might offer more of a case than before, it’s still worth asking if doubting the Patriots in the playoffs, especially in the Wild Card round, is a stand worth taking. It seems whatever ills plagued them disappear this time of the season. At the same time, it has to end at some point.
The Strength of the Titans’ Case
For those who have watched the Titans closely this season, it’s hard not to admire their character and how hard they fought to get here. While the Pats were on cruise-control after an 8-0 start, the Titans have been scratching and clawing and might be the more battle-tempered squad heading into what should be a hard-fought battle. And they have some horses they can depend on. Tannehill completed 70% of his throws, and some may have forgotten how effective he can be when he gets in a groove. Henry is a tank that he can rely on, while he also still has quick feet he can use from time to time. And the aerial game is just dangerous enough. There are undoubtedly numerous issues on defense, and they have considerable playmaking upside. It’s a defense that might struggle, while also being one that can change the complexion of a game with a big play.
Cool Story, But…
Tennessee is a highly flawed team, as most teams are that need the last week to get into the postseason. Finishing the season on a 7-3 run in their past ten games, having the rushing champion, and a team with guts is nice. But this is a time of the season when certain football realities come crashing down. What their defense has in playmaking ability, it lacks in overall stoutness. This won’t be a defense that Brady can’t exploit. Compare that to the Patriots’ defense, a stout one and a unit that makes even more plays, with 25 interceptions on the season, while allowing the second-fewest yards through the air in the whole league. So even if the Patriots’ offense lacks some of the firepower and weapons of old, this might not be a spot where that fully shows.
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