The Patriots and Titans fought back-and-forth and into overtime on Sunday with the Titans prevailing on an overtime-opening field-goal drive that the Patriots were unable to match. The 20-17 win by the Titans dropped the Patriots to 2-7 on the season and was New England's second overtime loss of the 2024 season.
Drake Maye led the Patriots on a game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter, connecting with Rhamondre Stevenson for a touchdown that sent the game into an improbable overtime session. After struggling to move the ball for much of the day, New England's offense found some rhythm late. But the Patriots defense couldn't come up with a key overtime stop soon enough and a hard-fought game ended with Maye's third turnover of the game.
Here's how an improbable thriller went down!
1. Big Plays Give Titans Early Lead
The Titans wasted little time quickly establishing a lead thanks to big plays, as Tennesee rode four plays of 10-plus yards on their opening drive, including a huge 32-yard run on a toss by Tony Pollard, all the way to the end zone. The Patriots run defense came into the game ranked 29th in DVOA, and was a clear target for the Titans, who looked to attack the edges of the Patriots defense as other teams have done successfully this season.
Tennessee closed out the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nick Vannett. It took just eight plays for the Titans to travel 75 yards and establish an immediate 7-0 lead.
The Patriots tried to counter on their first possession, but Drake Maye's 26-yard scramble picked up the only first down of the opening drive and Joey Slye missed a 56-yard field goal wide right. New England struggled to find a rhythm for the offense in the early going.
The teams then traded three punts to close out the first quarter, which ended just after Marcus Jones provided another spark as punt returner, taking the Titans second punt of the game back 44 yards all the way to midfield. Tennessee's special teams struggles, especially covering kicks, was well documented entering the game and it didn't take long for the Patriots to take advantage of the Titans 32nd DVOA-ranked units.
2. Trading Picks, New England Capitalizes
Drake Maye avoided any turnovers in his second start against Jacksonville and last week in a brief appearance against the Jets after turning it over with both a fumble and two interceptions in his NFL debut against the Texans. It didn't take long in the second quarter until Maye threw his third interception of the year, as Amani Hooker anticipated Maye's throw and jumped the route for the game's first turnover.
The Titans quickly attacked down the field, with Rudolph hitting Calvin Ridley for a big 25-yard gain that took them inside the red zone and a Keion White horse collar penalty adding on another eight yards.
Tennessee was looking to extend their lead to two scores when the Patriots defense finally stepped up and made a needed takeaway. On a play similar to Malcolm Butler's goal-line interception in Super Bowl 49, this time it was Jahlani Tavai breaking up the quick slant, deflecting the ball into the air and then making an athletic play to come down with an interception.
It was New England's first takeaway since playing Houston in Week 6 and it came at a critical time.
Maye and the offense would grind out their first scoring drive of the day off the turnover, going 36 yards in 11 plays and settling for a 52-yard Joey Slye field goal. Again Maye did the most damage with his legs with a 13-yard scramble. He also completed key passes to Stevenson on third down, an underhand toss with the pressure closing in that picked up a first down, and an 11-yard throw to Henry up the seam.
A Ja'Lynn Polk holding penalty contributed to the drive stalling out on the edge of field goal range, but finally getting points on the scoreboard helped New England get back into the mix.
Neither team could take advantage of their final possessions of the first half. New England couldn't compose a two-minute drive after failing to pick up a single yard on second or third down, leading to a 15-yard net punt by Bryce Baringer that gave Tennessee good field position. But the Titans offense also stumbled late in the second quarter, with a holding penalty backing them out of field goal range and keeping the score 7-3 Titans at the half.
3. Pats Grab Lead on Penalty-Marred Scoring Drive
The Patriots received the opening kickoff in the second half and managed to put together a scoring drive despite a combined six penalties on by both teams on the drive. No penalty was bigger than Roger McCreary's facemask penalty that came on a third down from the Titans six-yard-line. That set New England up inside the five-yard line with a new set of downs and Stevenson took in New England's first touchdown of the day that also provided the Patriots first lead of the day, 10-7.
Drake Maye continued to do most of the offense's key damage with his legs, adding another 13-yard scramble to his team-leading rushing total. But Maye also made some select plays with his arm, including a 21-yarder to Pop Douglas that he floated over the Titans defense on a late-down play.
Neither team had much going for them offensively, but for the Patriots it was Maye who made the biggest difference both with his legs and arm, along with some select penalty calls at important moments.
Tennessee responded with their most sustained drive of the game, compiling 11 plays to travel 77 yards, but once again a critical penalty inside the red zone backed them up and led to them settling for a field goal.
The game entered the fourth quarter tied at 10.
4. Dismay After Maye's Giveaway, Then Elation
The turnover problem reared its ugly head for the Patriots again in the fourth quarter just as Maye and the offense looked to be getting a drive started. Instead, Maye was strip-sacked from behind and the Titans pounced on the loose ball, recovering it at the New England 26-yard line. It was Maye's second turnover of the day and it came with time on the clock dwindling away. Tennessee's disruptive front seven did a good job making life difficult for Maye all game long with a consistent pressure rate.
The Patriots defense couldn't come up with a stop, and the Titans scored in just five plays to take a 17-10 lead with just over four minutes to go in the game.
Maye and the Patriots offense were unable to muster a response on their next fourth-quarter possession, punting the ball back to the Titans. But the Patriots defense would do enough to give them one more chance, a chance they'd take advantage of.
Their last shot came with just under two minutes left and no timeouts and Maye delivered an eye-opening performance, hitting three passing plays to get inside the Tennessee red zone. The Pats offense converted a 4th-and 2 from the Titans 15-yard line, getting a new set of downs from the Titans five-yard line with just eight seconds left.
First, Maye spiked the ball, then missed Kayshon Boutte on second down. It all came down to a final third down and Maye, scrambling around and buying more and more time, finally let go of a pass to the end zone as he was hit and... it was complete to Stevenson for a touchdown!
It was one of the most exciting moments of Maye's fledgling career as Joey Slye's extra point tied the game and sent it to overtime.
The Titans would score a field goal on their opening possession of overtime, a 13-play, 72-yard drive that the Patriots defense stopped just in time at their own six-yard line. Those three points would be enough, as Maye would launch a final interception that would end the game in a Patriots defeat.
6. Patriots are now 2-7
With the disappointing loss, the Patriots fall to 2-7 on the season, unable to build off of the momentum that came from knocking off the Jets last week. New England started the game flat in all phases but showed impressive fight at the end of the game in forcing overtime. Still, it was not enough to get the win, even with an impressive effort from Maye.
In the end, New England just couldn't make enough critical plays to offset their turnovers and penalties that hurt them consistently throughout the contest and into overtime. Turnovers were the deciding factor.
Despite his turnovers, Maye kept the Patriots in the game with his legs and timely throws and led a clutch drive that will overshadow some of the losses sting. A stagnant Patriots ground game remained stuck in neutral, while the Patriots defense produced just one takeaway and couldn't come through with the key overtime stop needed to extend overtime and give their offense a chance to win the game.
The Patriots will be back on the road next week as they travel to Chicago to take on Caleb Williams and the Bears.
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
