10 things we’re watching in Patriots’ Week 7 matchup with Titans

The Patriots string of three-straight road games ends Sunday when they passage to Tennessee to take on the Titans This one should mean extra for head coach Mike Vrabel who served as Titans head coach for six seasons before getting fired following the season The Titans already fired Vrabel s replacement Brian Callahan this week with Mike McCoy taking over as interim head coach Here s what we re watching as the Patriots try to improve their record to - Related Articles Mike Vrabel happy to reunite with former Titans tight end on Patriots Patriots-Titans injury overview Stefon Diggs questionable Calvin Ridley out Sunday Patriots receive promising news two days before Titans championship Callahan The Patriots perfect agreement targets and other Week thoughts New Patriots Get to know Patriots free-agent standout Khyris Tonga Quarterback Drake Maye has now gone three games without turning the ball over The Patriots are - when he avoids turnovers His ball guard has been immense in the Patriots sudden rebuild The Titans despite their - start have definitely been pretty good at taking the ball away They rank tied for fifth in the league with nine takeaways They have four interceptions and five fumble recoveries They also rank third in giveaways with for a negative turnover differential There s no nice way to put this The Patriots run tournament has been abhorrent They rank dead last in EPA expected points added per rushing play and in rush success rate Based on evidence the running backs are the bigger issue Based on the eye test it s closer between the backs and the offensive line Something demands to change The Titans defense is th in rush EPA per play and th in rush success rate Fantasy manager would love to see rookie TreVeyon Henderson receive more touches He has struggled as a rookie however so that might not necessarily be the resolution The Patriots have had four different leading receivers in six games It s been Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte twice each and Hunter Henry and Rhamondre Stevenson once a piece Who will it be this week Based on the facts Diggs The Titans rank nd in pass DVOA vs a band s No wide receiver They re th against a WR th against a WR fourth against tight ends and th against running backs Watch for the deep ball Boutte has been Maye s top downfield target with a -yard average depth of target The Titans defense ranks st in passing DVOA against the deep ball Pre-deadline scouting The Patriots could be buyers at the NFL business deadline and there are still plenty of players on the roster who were coached by Vrabel including running back Tyjae Spears tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo and outside linebacker Arden Key The biggest prize would be defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons but it s unclear what it would take to acquire him or if he s even available It s a get-right tournament for the Patriots pass rush The Titans offensive line ranks th in pass-blocking efficiency this season Titans quarterback Cam Ward could have his hands full with defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore and outside linebackers Harold Landry III and K Lavon Chaisson Ward ranks second to last in PFF s passing grade among qualified quarterbacks this season but he has gotten slightly unlucky He ranks seventh with four interceptions but he has just five turnover-worthy plays which is tied for th in the NFL He s completing just of his passes and he s not making plays with his legs It should not be a terribly complicated matchup for the Patriots secondary The Patriots offensive line has been a pleasant surprise so far this season but if there is a weak spot it s rookie left guard Jared Wilson It makes sense to continue to let him develop but if he continues to struggle the Patriots do have an experienced backup in Ben Brown who played well in his lone start this season The Patriots have rotated linebackers next to Robert Spillane and it worked well for Christian Elliss and Jack Gibbens in Week Both players turned in high PFF grades If they continue their strong play then that might mean continuing to fend off Jahlani Tavai from cutting too deeply into their play counts This is a return to Tennessee for Spillane Gibbens Landry backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs and tight end Austin Hooper Kicker Joey Slye is among the former Patriots on the Titans roster The Patriots are favored by seven points and the point total over under is This feels like it has blowout expected for the Patriots Patriots -