
NASHVILLE -- Here are five quick-hitting thoughts from what transpired between the Patriots and Titans on Sunday afternoon . . .
GILMORE ON THE WRONG END OF MATCHUP WITH DAVIS
One of the keys to stopping the Titans offense was to take away Marcus Mariota's first read. That's oftentimes receiver Corey Davis. With Stephon Gilmore on a tear of late -- sub-47.0 quarterback rating against since Week 3 -- the Patriots figured they'd match their No. 1 on Tennessee's No. 1. That didn't go so well for them. Gilmore was in zone but the closest to Davis for his first catch of the day, a 24-yarder. Gilmore was later in coverage for Davis' 23-yard touchdown, a 16-yarder to Davis and a 20-yarder on third down that eventually led to a Derrick Henry touchdown. Gilmore was also flagged for two pass interference penalties (one was declined) in the first half. Davis finished with seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. Not all of it came on Gilmore, but enough for the Titans to build a lead and hold to it.
BUTLER, TITANS HELD THEIR OWN
Malcolm Butler was not the weak link of the Titans defense in the first half. There wasn't one. Tom Brady was 11-for-23 for 162 yards and was sacked twice in the first 30 minutes of action. Even on plays that will read simply as "incomplete" in the official play-by-play after the fact, Brady was wary of the rush, pulling down the football and eyeing Titans rushers as they approached before he hurried to throw one away. Brady went to Josh Gordon a whopping nine times in the first half, connecting with him three times for 58 yards. Brady finished 21-for-41 for 254 yards and no touchdowns before giving way to Brian Hoyer late in the fourth quarter.
VRABEL GOT PRESSURE UP THE MIDDLE
Tom Brady has been, historically, a terrible quarterback to blitz. Why? Because he often sees it coming and makes defenses pay. This year, according to ESPN, he's been among the league's worst at handling the blitz. And Mike Vrabel wasn't afraid to dial up blitzes throughout the afternoon on Sunday. Brady was sacked three times through the first three quarters in Nashville, and on each an extra rusher was sent to the Patriots backfield. First it was linebacker Wesley Woodyard. Then it was corner Logan Ryan. Then it was safety Brynden Trawick. All contributed to New England's protection breaking down, and Brady couldn't find any quick-hitting options in the passing game to bail him out. The Titans also got to Brady just by rushing four -- Trent Brown didn't look like himself as he dealt with illness and then a back issue in the second half -- which contributed to Brady reacting to pressure early and impacting the rest of the down.
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ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I CAN DO BETTER
The Patriots were desperate and needed a third-down conversion. They nearly got it when Julian Edelman took an end-around pitch and found Tom Brady leaking out of the backfield for a chunk gain. The Patriots didn't get the first. They came up a yard short. Then, after a Marcus Cannon false start, they failed to convert on fourth down. On Tennessee's next drive, the Titans opted to add insult to injury (we'll get to those later). Up 24-10, they ran the same play, with receiver Darius Jennings throwing left-handed to Marcus Mariota for a big play. That kind of day for the Patriots.
BANGED UP IN NASHVILLE
The Patriots lost Trent Brown to a back injury and Dwayne Allen to a knee injury not long after the two collided in the backfield trying to keep Brady protected. Brown had to leave the game earlier due to an illness. (He missed two practices during the week because he was sick.) Julian Edelman -- who was slow to get up after Brady's final attempt of the day on fourth down -- also left the game in the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury.
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