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SPORTS Friday 3 January 2020
'Patriot Way,' burgeoning 'Titan Way' collide in playoffs

By KYLE HIGHTOWER They've got the No. 1 de- You've got to give all you he isn't thinking about the They've averaged 406.2
AP Sports Writer fense, they've got the best got. It's not a best of seven, future beyond Saturday. yards of total offense with
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) coach, they've got the best it's not a best of five." The 42-year-old has more Tannehill as a starter, third
— When Tennessee GM behind Dallas (424.1) and
Jon Robinson fired coach Tampa Bay (416).
Mike Mularkey after he lost Tannehill not only led the
to the Patriots in the divi- NFL with a career-best
sional round of the playoffs 117.5 passer rating, Pro
following the 2017 season, Bowl running back Derrick
he leaned on his past to Henry led the league with
plot a course for the Titans' 1,540 yards rushing. They
future. also have a 1,000-yard re-
Five days later Robinson, ceiver in rookie A.J. Brown,
who got his NFL start as a who ranked second in the
scout with New England NFL averaging 20.2 yards
from 2002-13, hired Mike per catch.
Vrabel — winner of three NO NEED FOR KICKER
Super Bowl rings as a line- The Titans are on their fourth
backer with the Patriots — kicker this season, though
as his new coach. Greg Joseph has yet to at-
With former Patriots corner- tempt a field goal since be-
back Logan Ryan already ing signed to replace Ryan
on the roster, Vrabel add- Succop.
ed more players and staff Tennessee is last in the NFL
with ties to New England. converting a horrible 44%
That group included former of field goals. It helps that
Patriots assistant Dean Pees the Titans lead the NFL in
as his defensive coordina- scoring touchdowns in the
tor, 2015 Super Bowl savior red zone at a clip of 75.5%.
cornerback Malcolm But- BIG PLAY FOCUS
ler, and running back Dion Tennessee also led the
Lewis. league led the NFL with
It seemed like a transpar- nine pass plays of 50 or
ent effort to plant seeds in more yards.
Tennessee of New England Brown has four touchdown
coach Bill Belichick's disci- catches of at least 50 yards,
plined, team-first "Do your joining Isaac Curtis (five in
job" culture that has come 1973), Willie Gault (four in
to be known as "The Patriot In this Nov. 11, 2018, file photo, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, left, greets New 1983) and Hall of Famer
Way." England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn. Randy Moss (five in 1998)
"Isn't that the street the Associated Press as the only rookies with at
movie theater is on?" Vra- least four such TDs since the
bel joked this week when quarterback, so it's quite a New England's loss to Mi- playoff victories (30) than merger.
asked what the moniker challenge." ami in its regular-season each of the 11 other pro- Overall, the Titans were
meant to him. The Patriots will face one of finale relegated it to the jected starting quarter- fourth in the league with
Two seasons later the ef- the hottest teams heading wild-card round for the first backs in this year's playoffs 121 big plays (runs of 10 or
forts of Robinson and Vra- into the postseason. The Ti- time since 2009, when it lost combined (26). But he also more yards or passing plays
bel, combined with a boost tans won seven of their final 33-14 to Baltimore. has a contract that expires of 20 or more yards).
from former Miami Dolphins 10 games to earn their sec- The Patriots are 2-1 in wild- following the season and New England's defense
quarterback and Patriots' ond playoff berth in three card games under Belich- could face entering free was fourth in the NFL, al-
AFC East nemesis Ryan Tan- seasons and first under Vra- ick and that "best quar- agency for the first time in lowing opponents to score
nehill, have culminated in a bel. terback," Tom Brady, but his 20-year career. on 48.3% of their red zone
wild-card matchup Satur- Ryan was drafted by the have never made it to the "I'm not much for nostal- opportunities. The Patriots
day with the franchise the Patriots in 2013 and spent Super Bowl when opening gia," Brady said. "I'm just have allowed only three
Titans appear to be striving the first four seasons of his the playoffs as a wild-card pretty focused on what I passing plays of 50 or more
to emulate. career in New England, team during their era. need to do. yards.
True or not, Vrabel said the winning Super Bowl rings "We have a chance to go This week has felt just like HEALING UP
ties between the teams during the 2014 and 2016 on a revenge tour," Patri- every other week for the The Titans have been lim-
aren't on his mind. seasons. He said he's car- ots linebacker Kyle Van last 20 years. ... I haven't ited in the secondary since
"This isn't about my career, ried lessons from his time Noy said. "What better way thought about those things. Butler broke his left wrist
my eight years in New Eng- with the Patriots that stick than to start out with Ten- I wouldn't be thinking about Nov. 3 in a loss at Carolina.
land," said Vrabel, who with him. nessee, who we lost to last those things anyway. It's felt Then starter Adoree' Jack-
coached the Titans to a 34- "It's a new season, and we year. It's a big motivation. like a normal week for me." son hurt a foot Dec. 1 in a
10 win over New England in have to play well on Satur- We weren't happy about HIGH-POWERED OFFENSE win at Indianapolis, which
Nashville last season. day. That's the one thing I our performance. Tennessee found a differ- kept him out of the past four
"This is about the Titans and learned from being a Patri- They're coming into our ent gear when Tannehill games. Jackson has prac-
our preparation to go up ot," he said. "It doesn't mat- house. What better way to moved into the lineup. ticed fully this week. His re-
there and face a team ter what you did, it doesn't get it started for the play- The Titans have averaged turn would allow Tennessee
that's won three Super matter if it's 'on to Cincin- offs." 6.94 yards per play since to use Tramaine Brock Sr.,
Bowls in the last five years. nati' or whatever it may be. NO NOSTALGIA he moved into the starting a waiver wire pickup from
They're 8-0 at home in that It's one game at a time in As Brady prepares for his lineup in Week 7 — best Arizona, for depth instead
span. the playoffs. 17th postseason, he says in the NFL in that span. of starting opposite Ryan.q