Ten Takeaways From the Patriots 20-17 OT Loss to the Titans

The New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans entered their Week 9 meeting with a combined 3-12 record. The good news was, barring an unlikely tie, somebody would walk away with a win on Sunday. The consolation prize was positioning for the 2025 NFL Draft. Both teams entered Week 9 among those scheduled to select in the top three next April.

It was also the final game before Tuesday’s NFL Trade Deadline. Patriots safety Kyle Dugger was a notable name on New England’s inactive list for the game. Was it due to an injury or a possible trade? Everybody will know that answer soon enough.

The majority of the game played out as one would expect from two struggling franchises. There was a lot of bad football. But the game redeemed itself with an exciting end to regulation with two evenly matched teams battling it out. Both franchises hope they will be evenly matched higher up on the NFL’s pecking order in the coming years, but that was not the case in 2024.

Also Read – Which New England Patriots Will Be Traded Before the Deadline?

Ten takeaways from the Titans’ 20-17 overtime victory over the Patriots in Week 9:

Awful Opening Drive for the Defense

The Tennessee Titans received the first-half kickoff and began at their 25-yard line due to an illegal formation penalty. The drive ended in the New England Patriots end zone. Titans quarterback Mason Randolph completed all three of his passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. Tony Pollard had a 32-yard run. New England’s defense appeared defenseless, for lack of a better description. To have a 1-6 team march down the field with such little opposition was an awful start to the game for New England. After 4:42 of game time, the Titans led 7-0.

100th career reception for @N_Vannett81 is a touchdown 💯

📺: Watch #NEvsTEN on @NFLonFOX stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/plIiTpK2D1

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 3, 2024

Drake Maye Still Learning

The New England Patriots’ opening possession ended in a 56-yard field goal attempt from Joey Slye, which sailed wide right. Two trends for the game showed themselves on New England’s first drive. Drake Maye can run the ball effectively and he needs to improve his awareness of the opposition.

New England got into Tennessee territory courtesy of a 26-yard gain on a scramble from Maye. The Patriots faced third-and-five at the Titans’ 34-yard line. On the next play, Maye took a sack for a loss of four yards. The sack increased the degree of difficulty for Slye and gave Tennessee better field position when they got the ball back. Maye held the ball too long several times throughout the afternoon, including on a key play where he got stripped from behind. The turnover set up a go-ahead touchdown for the Titans in the fourth quarter.

These are valuable game reps for Drake Maye. He needs to review the film and see what he can do to improve things. As impressive as his playmaking ability has been, there is still plenty for the rookie to work on. Avoiding unnecessary hits, sacks, and negative plays is a bit part of that growth process.

Marcus Jones, All-Pro Punt Returner

As a rookie in 2022, Marcus Jones made first-team All-Pro as a punt returner. The third-year player will receive similar accolades in 2024 if he keeps making big returns. He returned two punts on Sunday and picked up gains of 44 and 25 yards. At this point, it is getting strange for teams to allow any returns from Jones. On the season, Jones has 17 returns for 266 yards (15.6 yards per return). He entered the game leading the AFC in return average and added to that lead against Tennessee.

Marc is electric ⚡️@MarcusJonesocho | #NEPats

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/tWWR2Vxp9n

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 3, 2024

Offensive Line Struggles

The Patriots were fortunate to have a healthy offensive line heading into the game, with the acceptance that David Andrews is done for the year. The hope was that some cohesiveness would help the unit perform better as time progressed. That was not the case in Week 9. Maye was sacked four times and pressured throughout the afternoon. It is evident when Jerod Mayo said weeks ago that the offensive line’s ineffectiveness played a part in the decision to not put Drake Maye on the field.

Not only did the line struggle in pass protection but there was no place for Rhamondre Stevenson to run. Stevenson carried 20 times for 48 yards last week against Jacksonville. This week, New England’s running backs turned 12 carries into 15 yards. For a “run first” team looking to establish dominance in the trenches, this is not how to get it done. They were flagged for four penalties as well.

Ugly Football

It was not hard to see why these teams are closer to the top of the 2025 NFL Draft order than the 2024 NFL standings. The first of play was particularly ugly, as the teams ended the half with Tennessee leading 7-3. There were 18 penalties called in the game, including several presnap calls against each team. Drake Maye fumbled twice, losing one, and threw two interceptions. Mason Rudolph also threw an interception. Tennessee fumbled three times but was lucky to recover all of them. Had the Patriots been able to jump on any of those, there could have been a different outcome. For most of the afternoon, it appeared that neither team deserved to walk away with a win.

MAJOR KEY ALERT @ArdenKeyEl

📺: Watch #NEvsTEN on @NFLonFOX stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/pqEbLEM5rO

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 3, 2024

Ja’Lynn Polk’s Struggles Continue

Polk returned to the lineup after sitting out Week 8 in concussion protocol. He received only one target in the game and it was intercepted (not Polk’s fault). He was called for two penalties. In the second quarter, DeMario Douglas caught a pass for a 12-yard gain and a first down, taking it to the Titans’ 23-yard line. Polk’s holding penalty brought it back to the 43 and New England ended up settling for a 52-yard field goal attempt (it was good).

On New England’s opening possession of the second half, Ja’Lynn Polk was called for an illegal shift. The Patriots went on to score a touchdown on the drive, but it was another negative play for a player in desperate need of a few positive ones.

Amazing End to Regulation

Tennessee had the ball with 2:47 left in regulation at their 14-yard line. A couple of first downs would seal the victory, as they led 17-10 at the time. However, the Patriots defense forced a three-and-out. The Titans ran three times in a row, picking up only three yards. Anfernee Jennings was in on two of the three tackles for New England. A 53-yard punt was returned 25 yards by Marcus Jones, and the Patriots began their final drive from the 50-yard line with 1:45 to play.

Drake Maye completed passes to Kayshon Boutte and Rhamondre Stevenson, then ran it himself for two first downs and a total of 27 yards. A completion to Stevenson picked up eight yards, sandwiched between two incompletions. It set up a fourth-and-two, on which Maye connected with Hunter Henry for an eight-yard gain down to the five. After another incompletion, Maye had a final play to tie the game. He avoided a plethora of tackles to keep the play alive and found Stevenson in the end zone on a five-yard Hail Mary for a touchdown. The extra point sent the game to overtime.

DRAKE MAYE! RHAMONDRE STEVENSON! @PATRIOTS TIE IT UP! pic.twitter.com/ThCEJxhA0b

— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024

Awful End to Overtime

The Tennesse Titans won the coin toss and chose to receive. They controlled the ball on a slow and steady drive down the field. Tennessee held the ball for 7:28, working their way down to the Patriots two-yard line. New England appeared fortunate to hold the Titans to three points after looking overmatched throughout the possession. They’d get the ball back with a chance to win on a touchdown or keep the game going with a field goal.

After an incompletion down the sideline to Henry, Maye scrambled for an 11-yard gain to New England’s 41-yard line. On the next play, Drake Maye forced a poor pass into coverage, which was intercepted by Amani Hooker, his second of the game. It was a deep through into double coverage and an unnecessary risk on first down.

Final score: Titans 20, Patriots 17

Drake Maye goes deep… PICKED by the Amani Hooker!

Hooker's 2nd INT of the game seals the @titans win! pic.twitter.com/Nb3fZz7ksW

— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024

Silver Lining

One silver lining of sorts for the New England Patriots came courtesy of another result on Sunday. The Carolina Panthers defeated the New Orleans Saints in their matchup, which gave every NFL team at least two victories on the season. Based on having the weakest strength of schedule among all 2-7 teams, the Patriots currently possess the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That is subject to change with nine weeks remaining, but New England is in pole position for the draft. It’s not the desired first place for New England, but it’s something.

New England Patriots Stars of the Game

First Star – Jahlani Tavai (11 tackles, interception)

Second Star – Marcus Jones (2 punt returns for 69 yards, 2 tackles)

Third Star – Hunter Henry (7 receptions on 8 targets, 56 yards)