Odd: Patriots -7, O/U: 42.5

Kickoff: The Patriots hit the road for the final game of a three game road trip when they visit the Titans today. It is the return of Mike Vrabel who left go by the Titans after the 2023 season. The Titans fired his replacement, Brian Callahan on Monday. If the Patriots win today, it would be the first time they have won three straight road games since their magical 1985 playoff run.

Here are four keys to the game.

1st Down: Start fast: Get off to a good start and make them play from behind. The Patriots cannot give this team hope. Teams that make a coaching change tend to play in the first game for the interim coach. The Patriots have to strike first and take the starch out of them.

2nd Down: Keep slinging: The Patriots have the league’s best passing game and the Titans are one of the worst coverage teams in the league. The Patriots have to continue to keep throwing the ball and take advantage of the match ups they will have in this game.

3rd Down: Make life hard on Ward: The Patriots need to confuse and pressure rookie quarterback Cam Ward. Get after him and force into making mistakes. Ward has been up and down thus far this season. Do not allow him to get into a rhythm. Challenge him early and often. Make him make mistakes.

4th Down: Just take care of business: This is not the Mike Vrabel revenge game. This is a winnable game. Just get down there, win the game, get out of there healthy and lock down first place in the AFC East all by your lonesome.

Extra Points: The New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans (formerly the Houston Oilers) will square off in Tennessee for the second straight season. The Patriots lost in overtime, 20-17, on Nov. 3, 2024. The Patriots have dropped their last two games against the Titans in Nashville with last year’s loss and a 34-10 loss on Nov. 11, 2018.

The teams have played 46 times in regular season and postseason play since the two charter members of the American Football League began play in 1960. The Patriots and Oilers played twice each year from 1960-1969 in the AFL and have played 26 times since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. In those 26 post-merger games, the Patriots have a 16-10 record, including a 2-2 mark in playoff games.

New England leads the overall regular season and postseason series 26-19-1. While the Patriots are 19-7-1 in home games against the Titans, the Patriots are 7-12 in road games, including 2-3 in games played in Tennessee after the team moved from Houston. (Courtesy of patriots.com)

Final Drive: The Patriots are the better team. Plain and simple. This isn’t last season. The Patriots and rookie Drake Maye were trying to figure things out. They know what they are this season. A playoff contender. They need to play like one today and take care of business. Leave no doubt right from the start of the game.