Winners of 5 straight, the red-hot New England Patriots (7-4) personal the longest successful streak within the NFL. They host the Tennessee Titans (8-3) on Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium in a battle of division leaders. The Patriots are recent off a shutout victory over the Atlanta Falcons, whereas the AFC-leading Titans are coming off a shocking house loss to the lowly Houston Texans. On this piece, we’ll make some daring predictions for the Week 12 heavyweight matchup between the Patriots and Titans.
After a 2-4 begin to the season, the Patriots are actually within the hunt for the AFC’s prime seed. The Titans, in the meantime, are banged up and will probably be with out the likes of playmakers Derrick Henry, Julio Jones and Marcus Johnson on offense.
For extra perception on the Patriots’ Week 12 matchup towards the Titans, hear beneath:
The East-leading Patriots, led by rookie QB Mac Jones, are listed as 6.5-point favorites over the Titans, per FanDuel.
New England Patriots Week 12 Daring Predictions
4. Patriots intercept Ryan Tannehill a number of instances
The Patriots lead the NFL with 18 interceptions. They’ve returned three of these interceptions for touchdowns, together with Kyle Van Noy’s decide six in Week 11.
PICK SIX. Kyle Van Noy will get the landing 🔥🔥 (video by way of @BenBrownPL)
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) November 19, 2021
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill may have his arms full towards New England’s vaunted secondary. Tannehill has been uncharacteristically careless with the soccer this season. After throwing solely 13 interceptions in 2019 and 2020 mixed, Tannehill has already 12 picks this season — together with a career-worst 4 final week versus the Houston Texans.
The Titans have turn into a one-dimensional workforce since star working again Derrick Henry suffered a foot damage. They’ve struggled to run the ball — already giving up on the Adrian Peterson experiment — and have decreased their play-action performs, the place Tannehill is at his finest.
In line with PFF, listed here are the % of PA performs referred to as by the #Titans to date in 2021
1: 11.6% – L*
2: 31.1% – W
3: 41.9% – W
4: 21.1% – L
5: 34.6% – W
6: 31% – W
7: 40% – W
8: 33.3% – W
9: 36.7% – W
10: 23.3% – W°
11: 9.6% – L^* 1 of two, 39 yds
° 7 of seven, 67 yds
^ 2 of 5, 15 yds— Soccer & Different F Phrases (@FWordsPod) November 22, 2021
With so many components going towards Tannehill, search for the veteran quarterback to throw no less than two interceptions.
3. Patriots maintain A.J. Brown to below 60 yards receiving
X-rays on A.J. Brown’s ribs got here again destructive after the star wideout was pressured out of motion within the Titans’ beautiful defeat to the Texans. He’s not a lock to play Sunday as he nonetheless wants extra checks executed, however the 24-year-old will probably attempt to play by means of the ailment, particularly since so lots of his teammates are out of fee.
#Titans WR AJ Brown, who left yesterday’s sport early with a chest damage had destructive X-Rays on his ribs, supply stated. He’ll have extra checks at the moment and people can generally present extra harm. However promising early returns.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 22, 2021
Patriots head coach Invoice Belichick is healthier than anybody at defusing his opponent’s prime participant. With Henry sidelined, Belichick’s protection can focus totally on Brown.
Final week, the Patriots made a aware effort to decelerate Falcons rising star Kyle Pitts. The Patriots held Pitts to a mere three catches for 29 yards, his second-lowest yardage output of his rookie marketing campaign.
Brown would be the participant the Patriots look to comprise in Week 12. With that in thoughts, Brown will fail to eclipse 60 yards in receiving.
2. Kendrick Bourne scores a landing
Free-agent addition Kendrick Bourne has collected 4 touchdowns to this point in his first yr with the Patriots. He’s under no circumstances a focus of the Patriots’ offense, which is run heavy, however he has had his moments.
In Week 3, Bourne caught six passes for 96 yards and a TD throughout a blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints. In a lopsided victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 10, Bourne nabbed 4 passes for 98 yards and a rating.
Wow, Kendrick Bourne.
99-yard landing drive for the Patriotspic.twitter.com/IlSLaPnrLS
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 14, 2021
Bourne has seen precisely 4 targets in every of his previous three video games, so his alternatives have definitely been restricted. However he’s able to producing huge beneficial properties, as evidenced by his three receptions of 40-plus yards. There are solely 9 gamers throughout the NFL with extra catches of 40-plus yards.
Dealing with off towards the Titans’ Twenty fourth-ranked cross protection, Bourne will discover the tip zone for the fifth time in 2021.
1. New England permits only one TD, covers 6.5-point unfold
The Patriots could have the most effective protection in soccer. The NFL’s No. 1 scoring protection, the Patriots have yielded solely 16.1 factors per contest. They rank third in each yards allowed (313.2 per sport) and takeaways (21). New England has notched 28 sacks, tied for seventh within the league. The Patriots have surrendered simply 13 factors whole of their previous 3 video games.
New England’s defensive unit is taking part in its finest soccer of the yr and now faces an injury-plagued Tennessee squad that regarded hapless per week in the past.
The Patriots, who’re 6.5-point favorites, will enable only one landing to the AFC South-leading Titans. They’ll cowl the unfold, beating the Titans 23-13.
