{"id":92850,"date":"2021-11-25T22:18:31","date_gmt":"2021-11-26T03:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=92850"},"modified":"2021-11-28T23:06:17","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T04:06:17","slug":"patriots-game-plan-the-pats-already-have-the-answers-to-take-down-the-titans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/patriots-game-plan-the-pats-already-have-the-answers-to-take-down-the-titans\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Game Plan: the Pats Already Have the Answers to Take Down the Titans"},"content":{"rendered":"

The hottest team in the NFL welcomes the number one seed in the conference; as Bill Belichick likes to say, \u201cif you like football, Sunday at 1 pm ET at Gillette Stadium is the place to be.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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In their five-game winning streak, the Patriots aren\u2019t just hot, they\u2019re on the surface of the sun, ranking first on offense and defense in expected points added since Week 7.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The top-seeded Titans were stunned by the lowly Texans last week, but Tennessee is a formidable opponent that has won six of their last seven games to reach the top of the AFC standings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite their record, the Titans (8-3) aren\u2019t an analytical darling like the Pats and are slipping in many offensive categories without star running back Derrick Henry, who won\u2019t play on Sunday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Football Outsiders, Tennessee is 18th in total DVOA and ranks outside the top ten on offense (19th) and defense (12th).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Furthermore, quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the Titans offense feel Henry’s absence, going from eighth in expected points added (EPA) to 16th after three games without Henry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In particular, the Titans\u2019 passing attack is taking a hit without Henry. Although there are other factors such as injuries to the offensive line and at receiver, it\u2019s evident that Henry\u2019s presence significantly changes how defenses scheme against Tennessee’s play-action heavy attack.<\/p>\n

With the Patriots in their current form and at home, this is a game against the banged-up Titans that, quite frankly, New England should win easily.<\/p>\n

However, there are intangible qualities in this Titans team that cannot be overlooked. They’re a hard-nosed, resilient, and fundamentally sound group that takes on the personality of their head coach.<\/p>\n

Plus, Mike Vrabel has won both matchups against Belichick since taking over in Tennessee in 2018, including putting the final nail in the Brady era by upsetting the Patriots in the 2019 playoffs.<\/p>\n

Vrabel will have his guys ready to play against the Patriots, and with a short-handed offense, don’t rule out anything; trickery is in the air.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get into potential game plans for the Patriots offense and defense to take down the Titans:<\/p>\n

WHEN THE PATRIOTS HAVE THE BALL\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Although the season-long metrics aren\u2019t super high on the Titans’ defense, they\u2019re better lately and are significantly improving against the run.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tennessee hasn\u2019t allowed 100 yards rushing in a game since Week 5, and they\u2019re sixth in EPA per rush allowed and fifth in rushing success rate over that span.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New England can run the ball on anyone, and we\u2019ll get into how they can attack a stout Titans front, but the vulnerabilities on paper in the Tennessee defense are through the air.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saints backup quarterback Trevor Siemian threw for 298 yards, two touchdowns, and 0.13 EPA per play (60th percentile) against the Titans pass defense two weeks ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen mix it up, but they\u2019re primarily a post-safety coverage team that plays a fair amount of man coverage (23.7% cover-one).<\/span><\/p>\n

New Orleans attacked cover-one by putting the post-safety in conflict and running low crossing routes to pick on out-leveraged corners.<\/span><\/p>\n