NFL Week 12 features a big AFC battle between the New England Patriots and the Tennessee Titans with the No. 1 seed at stake.
The Patriots would need a Baltimore Ravens loss to the Cleveland Browns to secure the No. 1 seed, but even if that doesn’t happen, Bill Belichick and his team would be in great position if they are able to get one against Mike Vrabel and the banged-up Titans.
Although Tennessee comes into the game without some of their big guns the Vrabel factor will make this a tough challenge for the Patriots who are riding a five-game winning streak. With the Titans coming off an embarrassing loss to the Houston Texans, the former Patriots linebacker and current Titans coach will have his team ready to go.
Will the Patriots meet the challenge?
If they do, it will take some big performances on both sides of the ball. Here are 3 best bets to come up big against the Titans in this AFC showdown.
3. Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson a ballhawk in a big game
The Titans will enter this matchup without A.J. Brown and Julio Jones. That of course means J.C. Jackson and the New England Patriots secondary will have to guard against some unknown wide receiver beating them.
Without the threat of Derrick Henry controlling the game on the ground, the Patriots’ front seven must make sure the trio of Adrian Peterson, D’Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard don’t carve out yards on the ground to make life easier for Ryan Tannenhill.
If they can contain the run, Matt Judon and crew should be able to get some pressure on Tannenhill who will struggle to find playmakers to get the ball too, especially if Jackson is locking down the No. 1 target, whoever that shall be.
As a confident player with a competitive edge, Jackson would’ve been up to go against Brown or Jones if either were healthy for this game. On Sunday, he must bring that same energy to the field to limit Tannenhill’s options on obvious passing downs.
That of course could lead to Jackson padding his interception numbers this season. In a big game like this, the stage will be set for the Patriots No. 1 corner to shine, and he will come up with some big plays against a limited Titans’ offense that will take their shots early even without Julio Jones and A.J. Brown.
2. Jonnu Smith finally shows his value in the New England Patriots offense
Could Week 12 be the week New England Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith finally breaks out and has a big game?
Well, fans have been waiting to see the tight end produce and what better time to do it than against his former team. With Hunter Henry questionable with a neck injury, it is a sure bet that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will draw up some plays his way.
Will Smith be prepared and take advantage of his opportunities against a Tennessee Titans team that obviously knows him well?
Despite his lack of production through the first 11 weeks with his new team, Titans safety Kevin Byard knows what Smith is capable of and knows his defense has to be ready to take on the two tight end duo of Henry and Smith if both are able to go.
"“He’s [Jonnu Smith] going to be a huge challenge for us,” Byard said, via Patriots.com. “Anytime he has the ball in his hands he has the chance to go 80 yards or whatever that may be. Hunter Henry is playing really well for those guys as well. Two really good tight ends and I am really excited about the challenge to go cover both of them.”"
With the Titans’ defense focused on containing the run and getting pressure on Mac Jones, this is the type of game Smith should excel as a quick outlet option for the rookie quarterback. Expect a couple of big plays out of Jonnu Smith in this Week 12 AFC battle with the Titans.
1. Ground and pound attack duo of Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson leads Patriots
It’s not December quite yet, but the New England Patriots will put on a classic show offensively on how December football should be played.
With the Titans gearing up to stop the run, would it be any surprise if Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has Mac Jones spread them out and dink and dunk down the field with a few shots down the field mixed in?
They indeed may start the game that way, but Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden will play big roles in the offensive game plan even when they are pass heavy. All three can run or catch the ball out of the backfield so that should keep the Titans’ defense off balance a bit.
While usually the run sets up the pass, in this game, the pass will set up the run and create more holes for Stevenson and Harris on early downs.
With both running backs having the type of downhill running style that can run through defenders once they hit the open field, the Patriots ground and pound attack featuring the Alabama hammer and the battering ram out of Oklahoma will eventually be too much for a Titans’ defense that will be without one of their better linebackers, Rashaan Evans.
That makes the Patriots’ running attack the best bet in the Week 12 matchup against the AFC leading Tennessee Titans.