Patriots vs. Titans: 6 Bold Predictions
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4. Patriots won’t allow more than 33 percent of 3rd down conversions
While Mariota’s scrambles will be a sight for the sore eyes of Titans’ fans, they won’t translate into long scoring drives. The Titans carry the fifth-worst third down conversion rate in the league right now, succeeding on just 33.3 percent of their third down attempts. This bold prediction is derived directly from that stat; the Titans will convert just one-third of third downs they are tasked with in this game.
No matter how much Mariota scrambles, he will have to buck up and pass the ball for the Titans to have any shot of keeping this game close. That’s where the Patriots seventh-ranked pass defense factors into this prediction. Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan and Leonard Johnson will blanket Tennessee wideouts Kendall Wright, Harry Douglas and Dorial Green-Beckham throughout the afternoon.
Related: Get to know Leonard Johnson
That trio of corners excel at locating the ball. Butler and Ryan both have 14 pass breakups on their stat sheets this season, which is tied for 10th among all defensive players. And Johnson knocked away a pair of passes in his Patriots debut last week, indicating he can pull his weight in the secondary.
Next: 3. LaFell will (finally) explode