When the Patriots take the field tonight against the Titans in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game, the players — as always but especially in the postseason — will take to the field with very simple but specific assignments to make their unit as effective as possible to deliver a victory.
A look at the five most dangerous tasks for Patriots players against the Titans:
Player: LB Marquis Flowers.
Target: QB Marcus Mariota's legs.
Level of importance: Extremely high.
Skills needed: Quickness, top-end speed, awareness and sure tackling.
Flowers' skill rating: 87 percent. Mariota has a slight edge on quickness and overall speed, but Flowers is definitely close.
Background information: Mariota, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, has rushed 60 times this season with a 5.2-yard average and five touchdowns, including a 34-yard score with his feet.In three seasons, Mariota has a 5.9-yard average and has run for nine scores, including an 87-yard scamper against the Jaguars as a rookie. The Titans are devoid of targets, especially if the Patriots take away TE Delanie Walker (more on that in a minute), so Mariota will look to move the chains by using his legs on several occasions.
The skinny: Flowers is no slouch when it comes to using his legs (4.55 speed) either, as it has been his calling card as a special teams player since entering the league. The Patriots have used Flowers to spy QBs such as Buffalo's Tyrod Taylor with great success. Expect the Patriots to have a plan for Mariota's scrambling, and for Flowers to be a central figure.
Chance of success: 92 percent. It will have to be a team effort.
Mariota is getting it done with his legs. That was a beautiful run. #TitanUp #Chiefs #NFLWildCardWeekend pic.twitter.com/Db5WoV317s
— Trey Wallace (@TreyW_Radio) January 7, 2018
