Patriots hopes for top playoff seed hurt by blowout loss to Titans

12:02 pm | November 11, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:

4:32 PM ET

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. The Patriots have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chiefs, so they would need to win out, and hope the Chiefs lose at least two games, to earn the top spot.

The odds of that happening aren’t favorable.

The Chiefs play the Rams next weekend in Mexico, followed by their bye. Then they finish against the Raiders (away), Ravens (home), Chargers (home), Seahawks (road) and Raiders (home).

Meanwhile, the Patriots limp into their bye next weekend, and then face the Jets (road), Vikings (home), Dolphins (road), Steelers (road), Bills (home) and Jets (home).

Of course, after what unfolded Sunday when the Titans whipped the Patriots for a thorough 60 minutes, the top seed is the least of the Patriots’ worries. When Belichick pulls quarterback Tom Brady with 7:06 remaining in the fourth quarter in favor of Brian Hoyer, it’s the classic tell that the poop emoji has truly hit the fan.

The game was a slap in the face to the Patriots, a reminder that if they don’t play with energy from the outset, get off blocks more consistently, tackle better, coach better, protect Brady more consistently and — fill in the blank of any part of the game, really — they are capable of losing to anyone.

In addition, the injury situation is concerning.

The bye week comes at a good time for the team, as starting left tackle Trent Brown (back), tight end Dwayne Allen (knee) and wide receiver Julian Edelman (ankle) all left the game in the second half and didn’t return.

Entering the game, Brady said the hope was that the Patriots would empty the tank and go into their bye on a high note.

Instead, they turned in a forgettable performance, a battered team that looked tired and in need of a break.