Here you'll find our customary video analysis of the big plays, pressure and run charts, unit ratings and 3 up/3 down. But we'll start with an area that has a lot of people concerned heading into Buffalo — the Patriots' run defense.
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270 rushing yards. A 6.9 per-carry average. A virtually untouched 68-yard touchdown run. Five more explosive runs of 10 yards or more.
That was the Patriots' run defense on Sunday against the Titans. Not exactly a banner day, when you consider the backs were fresh off the practice squad, the opposing quarterback was Ryan Tannehill, and Tennessee was missing about their top 16 receivers.
But was it really cause for concern, or was it more of a one-off?
Let's go through the biggest plays, with video and analysis:
3-3-TEN 32 (:48) (Shotgun) D.Hilliard up the middle for 68 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
To me, this starts with the call and personnel. Both teams have two timeouts left. By situation and down and distance, the Titans could run or pass here. To me, I think you need to split the baby and play your usual nickel or big nickel (three safeties) and have four down linemen and two linebackers, even if one is a safety. Instead, the Patriots are unnecessarily aggressive with the personnel (dime vs. 11 personnel) and call, with just two down linemen, and Kyle Van Noy and Dont'a Hightower walked up on the guards. They're going to do their "am I rushing or am I dropping?" thing, and to me, it's too cute in this situation. There is absolutely no one on the second level. Patriots are asking to be run on here and that's exactly what happens. And because of this aggressive call, they allow Hilliard to at full speed to Devin McCourty, which limits his chance to make a play. He still should have slowed Hilliard up at least, but no play allows a RB to run this hard for this long untouched.
As for the play itself, there is a person in every game except one — the big one right in the middle. In my opinion, rookie Christian Barmore erred in going up the field, leaving that gap exposed. Then Van Noy gets on the outside shoulder of the guard. Those two errors busted the play, and then McCourty couldn't limit the damage.
But to me, this started with a bad defensive call.
LEVEL OF CONCERN: Low. It was a bad call. That happens during a game. No one is perfect.
2-8-NE 49 (8:08) D.Hilliard left end pushed ob at NE 32 for 17 yards (J.Jackson).
Titans are in a heavier personnel package here with 21 personnel, including a fullback. Again, the Patriots answer with big nickel (five DBs, 3 safeties). They are at a physical disadvantage on this play from the start. It's part of the deal.
The Titans run to Kyle Dugger's side, as he's playing linebacker. I would do the same thing. Before the snap, Matthew Judon should be alert to a possible crack play with the WRs in such a tight split. He does not look for that, and is easily taken out of the play. The force players, Jalen Mills and JC Jackson are a bit late at getting outside and forcing the play inside, but it doesn't really matter because Dugger has the biggest issue on this play, as he takes himself out of it by taking a bad angle to the ball. Just not good all around.
LEVEL OF CONCERN: Medium. The Patriots just didn't play this play correctly. They weren't physically overwhelmed, just a bad play by multiple people. You would think it would get corrected in film and practice. But if you go light like this, the defense has to be perfect, or this will happen.
1-10-TEN 41 (3:03) D.Foreman left end pushed ob at NE 45 for 14 yards (J.Williams).
Titans use basically goalline personnel — 22 or tank personnel with two backs, including a fullback, and two tight ends. Again, the Patriots go light with big nickel. Again, they are at a personnel disadvantage, so they better be perfect or just out-quick the Titans. They do neither.
If you're trying to defend the run hard, then both linebackers (Ja'Whaun Bentley, Adrian Phillips) would be closer to the line of scrimmage. They are not, and that costs them on that play.
The first big problem on this play is Davon Godchaux gets turned out of his gap and angled off from jump street. The guard is free to get out on Bentley, and Phillips is a tad late filling against the run. Bentley gets ridden out of the play, and Joejuan Williams is very late reading run.
LEVEL OF CONCERN: Light personnel, deep linebackers and bad execution equals a big run.
1-10-TEN 25 (3:04) D.Hilliard left tackle to TEN 38 for 13 yards (M.Judon).
Godchaux is again late off the ball and gets easily angled off, and Dugger is way too late filling in the gap and gets blocked easily by the guard. That's what happens with deep linebackers/safeties. Everybody else is in the proper gap.
LEVEL OF CONCERN: High with Godchaux. This is twice with Godchaux being late off the ball and eliminated from the play in the first second. Hard to play good run defense when your nose is so easily taken out. This is why their run defense has been rough with him on the nose. Everything else, my concern is low. If the Patriots are going to keep having safeties in the box against good offensive lines, they're begging for this. They are not just getting beat. It's a conscious decision.
Here are the positional ratings against the Titans:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (2.5 out of 5)
I think this is well-worn ground at this point, but I thought that Mac Jones clearly left more yards and points on the field in this game than any other to this point and his stats (53 percent of yards came after the catch) and the final score masked that. That happens sometimes. Thought he was very good in losses to Miami, Tampa and Dallas, so it's not unusual to be lesser than that in fluffy 23-point victories. This is not a take, it is fact-based. Every player, for a decade now, are graded on each individual play. Nothing else matters than that one specific play. We'll go bad the good, bad and mediocre. If you think there was a good play I missed, please leave it in the comments and I will take another look.
The good from Jones:
1Q (7:42) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to K.Bourne for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Great coverage recognition, great play where Kendrick Bourne can make a play on the ball, tremendous catch. A little bit lucky since the coverage was so tight, but clearly a plus play.
2Q (12:06) M.Jones pass short right to J.Smith to TEN 8 for 13 yards (J.Brown, A.Hooker) [D.Roberson].
Pressure on the play and he does a nice job of getting the ball out to Smith so he could get some yards.
3Q (10:24) M.Jones pass short middle to H.Henry to NE 46 for 9 yards (J.Brown; J.Jenkins) [J.Simon]
More pressure on this play, and Jones does a nice job of waiting until the last second to get the ball to Henry.
4Q (10:49) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to H.Henry to NE 35 for 7 yards (A.Hooker).
Perfectly placed third-down throw against a little bit of pressure.
MINUS PLAYS
1ST QUARTER
(9:48) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to H.Henry.
Forced a high throw to Henry when Nelson Agholor was coming wide open off a pick play. No pressure. This should have been a walk-in touchdown for Agholor.
2ND QUARTER
(9:58) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short right to H.Henry.
No pressure and doesn't give Henry a shot to catch a possible TD one on one.
(3:53) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short left to N.Agholor to TEN 19 for 5 yards (K.Fulton; J.Simmons).
Threw quickly short of sticks. Not a terrible decision, but Henry was wide open off two rub routes for a big play on the other side. Don't understand why Jones was so quick to throw. Maybe he thought it was 2nd and 10.
(1:19) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete deep right to J.Meyers.
Triple coverage. Agholor could have been a better option. Not an awful decision, but he had time to make a better play.
(1:07) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete deep right to H.Henry.
Missed the wide-open Henry against very light pressure.
(:22) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short left to N.Agholor to TEN 42 for 10 yards (K.Fulton).
High throws causes Agholor to stop and jump, and to not go out of out of bounds, and forces the team to take their final timeout. Unforced error.
(:12) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short right to J.Meyers
Throws way, wwaya late to an open Meyers, cost team three points with those final two plays.
3RD QUARTER
(12:18) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to K.Bourne.
Nearly a turnover on a lateral. Bourne partially to blame for now bowing out his route more.
(12:15) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short right to J.Smith (D.Cole).
Near pick-six, missed an open Agholor against a linebacker. Smith did not run a good route and compounded the error.
(8:39) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete deep left to J.Meyers (K.Fulton).
High throw, nearly got Meyers killed on a hard hit.
(8:34) (Shotgun) M.Jones sacked at NE 41 for -11 yards (K.Byard).
Never saw it coming. Sack took 2.7 seconds.
(5:49) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short middle to N.Agholor to TEN 41 for 5 yards (J.Brown).
Wasn't a terrible play because he got something but Meyers was coming open.
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I also took a look at the second-quarter drive that Felger was so hot on. I went back and looked at each play. Not only did I think my initial grading was accurate, but I think I was a tad generous. You could make the argument that Jones was late on a few passes that cost the team some yards and possible bigger plays on that drive:
Running backs (4 out of 5)
Not a lot of room to run against the Titans, and the Patriots obviously went in with a focus on running outside away from DT Jeffrey Simmons, but this group did well with their opportunities. ... Sure feels like Rhamondre Stevenson is really RB1 as he got the big fourth-quarter running drive and took a while to come out. Broke four tackles on one play. ... Damien Harris had a great catch on a screen pass. Broke a tackle on his TD run. ... Brandon Bolden has at least one big play in each game and that third-down screen was huge when he broke a tackle to convert.
Receivers (4 out of 5)
One of the best games of the season for this, especially Jakobi Meyers (six plus plays) and Kendrick Bourne (five plus plays, 2 TDs). Both were tremendous in this game. Give Bourne more touches please. ... Jonnu Smith got in the mix more but every time I see him catch a ball, it feels like someone is throwing a baby to him. It's just so unnatural and running and catching in stride seems like a foreign concept. On any catch, his feet either stop or move about 15 times before securing the ball. ... Nelson Agholor had some plays that Jones flat-out missed and you'd like to see more trust built there if Jones has good pressure like in this game.
Offensive line (4 out of 5)
The running was tough sledding, but I didn't fault much with the blocking. Of the pressure against Jones in this game, just 14 percent was on the line and a vast majority of the issues was on Trent Brown, who had his first poor game of the season. Coming in, he allowed a half pressure and 1 stuffed run in 2-plus games. In this game, he allowed 4.5 and 2. ... The interior of the line had a great game. The only minus was a half-sack from Ted Karras with Brown. ... Shaq Mason did a great job against Simmons, who is one of the best in the league. ... In order of effectiveness: Mason, Andrews, Karras, Wynn and Brown.
DEFENSE
Defensive line (2.5 out of 5)
Matthew Judon (4 plus, 4 minus) had his "worst" game of the season, which is saying a lot about how good he's been. It's an average game for every other player. Had two edge issues and two penalties. ... The run game would have been worse if not for Lawrence Guy, if you can believe it. ... Davon Godchaux (hurry, forced fumble). was more good than bad but seeing him over the nose still makes me queasy. ... Three pass breakups from Kyle Van Noy.
Linebackers (2 out of 5)
Bentley had three plus plays, and four negative plays. Got blocked easily in the run game, but I think that was a gameplan choice with him often playing deep. ... Hightower was quiet but solid.
Secondary (2.5 out of 5)
Kyle Dugger had a rough game but purely because the Patriots put a lot more on his plate going between safety and linebacker. He was put in a tough spot but good that they are giving him more to do. He'll adjust. ... Similarly, Adrian Phillips had a few nice plays, but some tough ones due to scheme. ... Jalen Mills had two pass breakups. ... Devin McCourty set up JC Jackson's two turnovers. Can't have one without the other.
THREE UP
Kendrick Bourne/Jakobi Meyers: Both were outstanding. I thought the step forward by the receivers in this game was the big development. Now get Agholor going vs. Bills.
Devin McCourty: Set up the two biggest plays in this game with his leverage on Jackson forced fumble, and deflecting a fourth-down pass that kept the game from being a one-score game late in fourth quarter.
Shaq Mason: Clean sheet. Kept Simmons quiet in this game. That's a big deal.
THREE DOWN
Carl Davis/Davon Godchaux: When the Patriots allow 270 yards on the ground, the big guys in the middle are an issue.
Trent Brown: Right now this is a one-off, but with his injury history, there has to be some concern here. Hopefully he bounces back.
Kyle Dugger: Team asked a lot of him in this game and he did not rise to the occasion.