In their preseason finale, Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans are going against his former long-time coach in Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. How many starters will play for each team, and what are the biggest storylines? We break it down with the betting odds, a best bet, and more.
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New England Patriots (-2) vs. Tennessee Titans
Katz: The Patriots and Titans are two teams with relatively mediocre offenses. In fact, everything about them screams mediocrity. I am not sure how much either of these teams will play their starters, and I certainly don’t expect to see Derrick Henry out there. But if we see some of their starters on defense, that could slow scoring a bit. I’m expecting a low-scoring game in this one.
Pick: Under 38.5 (-110)
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The Patriots made a notable signing last week in former Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott. Zeke was signed a couple of days before their preseason game last week and didn’t get any snaps, but will that change tonight?
“I’m still getting into that playbook, but I’m getting there,” Zeke told reporters. “Not being signed all offseason, I’ve been feeling anxious to get back out there. I feel good, and I feel like I’m ready to play.”
The Patriots’ starters on offense played last week, scoring seven points on three possessions. It seems unlikely that we’ll see Mac Jones and the rest of the first-team offense tonight, giving more opportunity to Bailey Zappe, Malik Cunningham, and Trace McSorley at quarterback.
Cunningham has been given snaps at multiple positions, similar to Taysom Hill in New Orleans, and will see his last opportunity to fight for a spot on the 53-man roster.
The Patriots’ preseason game last week ended early after a scary injury to CB Isaiah Bolden, who had to be taken off the field in a stretcher and rushed to the hospital after colliding head-first with a teammate.
Bolden was released from the hospital and flew back home with the team the following day, and is in “good spirits,” according to Belichick. He is in concussion protocol for the time being.
Tennessee Titans Roster and Injury Report
Mike Vrabel told reporters that he hasn’t made a final determination on whether QB Ryan Tannehill and the starters will play tonight. Tannehill, however, hasn’t played in the preseason since 2019, his first season in Tennessee.
Regardless, we should expect to see their two young quarterbacks in Malik Willis and Will Levis get the majority of the snaps under center tonight.
Willis played the entire game in last week’s 24-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings with mixed results. While his passing statistics were unspectacular, going 10 of 17 for 85 yards with one touchdown and one interception, he was a force running the football, going for 91 yards on the ground.
The star in last week’s win, however, was undrafted second-year RB Julius Chestnut, who had 13 carries for 98 yards, including a 55-yard rushing touchdown.
In practice last week, 2022 first-round pick WR Treylon Burks sustained an LCL sprain. Although he avoided a major injury and the result of the MRI was the best-case scenario, Burks has no defined timeline to return from injury. It’s the type of injury that typically keeps players out for a few weeks, though.