NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- From the opening kickoff of the game, when they surrendered a 58-yard return, the New England Patriots didn’t look like themselves against the Tennessee Titans.
It was a bury-the-football type of game. The Patriots were outplayed on offense, defense and special teams, Bill Belichick was outcoached by his former player Mike Vrabel, and they had multiple players leave the game with injuries. And it might have buried their bigger-picture hopes of earning home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs.
Having entered on a six-game winning streak, the Patriots fall to 7-3, while the team they have been keeping pace with – the Kansas City Chiefs – improved to 9-1.