slides: What to Watch For: Titans vs. Patriots

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team

 

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The New England Patriots (11-2) are set to host the (3-10) Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. Kick off is set for 1 p.m. and will be the Patriots last home game of the regular season. Gillette Stadium will be closed for the NHL's Winter Classic.

See What to Watch For in the Slideshow Below

The two teams are going in complete opposite directions. New England is in a battle for the number one seed in the AFC while the Titans are in a battle for the number one draft pick in the NFL.

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"They're very disruptive, hard to block, experienced guys in the secondary – they really know what they're doing and cause a lot of problems. Offensively it's an explosive group – [Delanie] Walker, [Harry] Douglas, [Dorial] Green-Beckham, [Marcus] Mariota. They do a good job and really anybody can pretty much get you on any play so everybody's got to be disciplined. The quarterback is a great athlete, very hard to defend out of the pocket, we saw that in the Jacksonville game," said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick this week.

Familiar Look 

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When the Patriots offense looks across the line of scrimmage, Brady will see a look that he has seen many times throughout his career  and that is the look of a zone blitz, made popular by Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. 

"Dick was really the guy that put that whole package together. Again I think there were maybe some random satellite elements of it here and there, and again I had some experience with that at the Giants, what we did, but nowhere near to the degree that he did it and popularized it," said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. 

Prior to joining the Titans, LeBeau spent the last nine years of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and then with the Bengals before that. 

"I don't think I can just say enough about him, what he's done over his career, not only the length of it, but the quality of it is really, really remarkable. The man has given so much to this game and one of the guys I have as much respect for as really anybody in professional football. Dick has made great contributions to the game and once again they're playing great defense," Belichick said. 

This season,  the Titans have the 9th best passing defense in the league and the 17th best rushing defense in the league. Tennessee is ranked 13th overall in total defense.  The Titans come in with a total of 35 sacks on the season led by Brian Orakpo who has seven. 

"It's the Steelers defense in principle with a few variations, but he and Ray Horton do a great job with their front. They're very disruptive, hard to block, experienced guys in the secondary – they really know what they're doing and cause a lot of problems,"  Belichick added.

While LeBeau was with Pittsburgh from 2004-2014, he helped the Steelers win four AFC titles and two Super Bowls. During that time period, LeBeau faced New England eight times. 

The Patriots are 5-3. 

Dick LeBeau now faces the Patriots again with a rebuilding defense that is already rising while the rest of the team is hoping to rise. 

Patriots vs. Titans

The Patriots have not lost to the Titans since 2002 and have never lost at home to the Titans. 

In fact, the last time the Titans came to New England, this happened. 

Titans vs. Patriots is set for 1 p.m. 

 

Related Slideshow: What to Watch For: Titans vs. Patriots

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Other Games

It is that time of year where watching other games is almost as interesting and or important as watching the Patriots games.

This week, the Broncos play at Pittsburgh at 4:25 p.m. on Sunday. The Steelers are red hot and the Broncos are reeling after a loss to Oakland at home.

The other game to pay attention too is Cincinnati on the road against San Francisco. The 49ers are not having a good year, however, the Bengals will be without Andy Dalton.

Bengals and Broncos play each other the following week.
 

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Leonard Johnson

Cornerback Leonard Johnson joined the Patriots a little over a week ago and was impressive against Houston.

Johnson came in with less than a week of practice and played 43 for 55 defensive snaps and recorded a couple of pass break ups, one of which came on a fourth down play.

"He's in the middle of the defense, so he's kind of like a linebacker when he plays in that nickel spot. He's got a corner outside of him and a safety behind him and a linebacker or somebody inside him, so there is some communication and kind of fitting in the right place depending on what the run force is or what the coverage is and that kind of thing," said Bill Belichick in his Friday press conference.

Lets see if Johnson can build on last weeks success this week.

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McCourty Possibly Out

Devin McCourty left last week's game with an injury and did not return. McCourty did return to practice this week but it appears he may be out for Sunday's game against the Titans.

McCourty is one of the captains and leaders of the Patriots secondary and entire defense.

If McCourty is in fact out, look for Duran Harmon to fill in. It was awhile ago, but we saw Harmon playing some safety during training camp and preseason.

Also, expect Patrick Chung to take on a bigger role and potentially where the green dot for the Patriots defense.

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Brandon Bolden

LeGarrette Blount is out for the season with a hip injury. That means Brandon Bolden will get the majority of the carries going forward.

On the season, Bolden has 35 carries for 110 yards and no touchdowns on the season and averages 3.1 yards per carry. Bolden does have two receiving touchdowns and has ten receptions on the year.

In the Patriots last game against Houston, Bolden had 16 carries for 51 yards.

Earlier this week, the Patriots did sign former Broncos running back Monte Ball to a practice squad contract and while he may get a shot, Bolden will the Patriots guy.

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Tom Brady

Tom Brady missed Friday's practice due to illness, according to multiple reports.

The severity of the illness and his status for the game is unknown at this point.

Barring something very serious, the likely hood of Brady playing though it is high, but how will it effect him on the field if at all?

It could effect play calls, it could effect him physically. If he struggles early or if the Patriots build up a big lead Belichick might take him out of the game.

Something to track over the next several hours.

 

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