But even with Brady and Gronkowski healthy, there’s no denying there’s been an offensive dip as the injuries have come. The Patriots won that game 34-13 on the heels of some great play out of rookie defensive players Tavon Wilson (interception), Chandler Jones (strip-sack) and Dont’a Hightower (fumble recovery and touchdown).
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Attack the Titans On the Perimeter: The Patriots also need to work on the perimeter passing game.
The New England Patriots stopped the bleeding but running back Lagarrette Blount is reportedly out of the season. But Gronkowski returned Sunday in Houston and caught all four passes that went his way, including a one-yard touchdown.
“That was the coaches plan to get me back in the feel of the game”, he replied when asked about his snap count.
“He made a great play the other night on that catch, to give him a chance to go up over the top of a safety”.
“He definitely did that in college”, said Belichick of the former MS back.
“We tell our rookies, ‘You’ve got to start playing like veterans”.
Regardless of who is totting the rock and catching the passes, Brady will be the one who has to get comfortable with his new backfield mates with the games becoming more critical by the week. Tennessee is 19-41-5 against the spread in their last 65 games, 3-8-1 against the spread following a game that they didn’t cover the point spread, and 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 road games.
The young Titans (3-10) face possibly their toughest test Sunday with a trip to New England (11-2).
Rob Gronkowski rumbles for extra yardage against the Texans.
Defensively, the Patriots should be able to keep the Titans Antonio Andrews-led ground game in check.
The last time the New England Patriots scored at least 30 points was Dion Lewis’ last full game, and in addition to missing their dynamic change-of-pace back, the depleted offense now has the added task of trying to overcome the absence of his bruising complement. Delanie Walker is the most productive option with 74 catches from the tight end spot, but the Titans have a lot of weapons who have chipped in with touchdowns and big plays. Mariota needs TD pass to become 10th rookie in National Football League history with at least 20 TD passes… Patriots lead series 22-15-1.
Bishop Sankey came into the 2015 season as the lead back after being drafted in the second round in 2014 to take over that role.
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The Tennessee Titans don’t get much exposure so a lot of fans do not know how good Delanie walker is. Jones has been a victim of getting suck too far inside in his rush over the years against mobile quarterbacks and allowed such opponents to hit big plays around him on the edge.
