PLAYER NOTES
–QB Marcus Mariota was 21 of 29 for 240 yards against Dallas in what was probably a season-saving win for the Titans. He threw two touchdown passes and also rushed for another one.
–LB Daren Bates was out of Wednesday’s walk-through practice due to illness.
–T Jack Conklin, who left Monday night’s game in Dallas at halftime with a concussion, is now in the concussion protocol. He did not partake in Wednesday’s walk-through.
–LB Derrick Morgan who has been out with a shoulder injury, was limited in Wednesday’s work. It was Morgan’s first practice since suffering the injury against the Baltimore Ravens.
–FB Jalston Fowler was inactive for his first game back in Dallas Monday night. The Titans may use Fowler as a lead blocker in some sets, especially to help jump-start Derrick Henry.
–WR Taywan Taylor missed Wednesday’s work with a foot injury sustained late in the game against Dallas on Monday night. Taylor was spotted in a walking boot in the Titans locker room before practice.
–LB Will Compton, who has been out with a hamstring injury, was a full participant in Wednesday’s work.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: CB Malcolm Butler. Butler has plenty of motivation considering the benching he took from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in the Super Bowl that was never explained. Now, to compound that, Butler has made matters worse with his play over his first half season as a Titan, getting burned repeatedly through the air for touchdowns.
GAME PLAN: The Titans have seemingly found their running game, and they would be wise to use it as much as possible to control the clock and keep Tom Brady off the field. Former Patriot Dion Lewis has taken the lion’s share of the touches in the backfield, but Derrick Henry can be valuable too if the Titans can somehow stay in the game and not get into a track meet with the Patriots offense. Defensively, the Titans have the league’s best red-zone defense, but they will have to find ways to keep the Patriots from burning them with big plays in the passing game.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Titans S Kevin Byard vs. Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski. While Malcolm Butler going against his old teammates and with his struggles will get the spotlight, it is Byard who probably draws the top assignment trying to hold Gronkowski in check, assuming the tight end plays. Byard is certainly capable, but if he has to spend his time paying attention to Gronkowski, then it becomes easier for Brady to pick on the Titans corners, especially the struggling Butler.
–Titans RB Dion Lewis vs. Patriots LB Dont’a Hightower. This matchup of former teammates should be interesting as Lewis, who joined the Titans from New England in the offseason, has become a key cog in the offense, not only running the ball, but catching passes out of the backfield. Hightower is one of the key players on the New England defense, and is responsible for getting everyone lined up correctly.