By the numbers: New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans preview
New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans
1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 9
TV: DirecTV channel 704; also on 85 CBS affiliates in the US
Radio: Sirius channel 132, XM internet 818; 98.5 in Boston and 39 other stations
Vegas Odds: Pats opened at -6½; now -4½ to -5½ with most at -5
Over/Under: opened at 48½; now at 47
Money Line: opened at NE -310, TN +260; now from NE -220 to -270 and TN from +180 to +210, with most at NE -240, TN +200
New England Injuries: Out: RB Shane Vereen (left foot); Questionable: CB Alfonzo Dennard (hamstring), CB Sterling Moore (knee), TE Daniel Fells (shin), OL Nick McDonald (shoulder), RT Sebastian Vollmer (back); Probable: S Patrick Chung (shoulder)
Tennessee Injuries: Out: reserve OT Mike Otto (hand, knee); Doubtful: starting LDT Sen’Derrick Marks (knee); Questionable: reserve DE Scott Solomon (knee), starting RDT Jurrell Casey (elbow), reserve MLB Zac Diles (hamstring)
2011 Stats - Patriots
13-3; AFC East champions; AFC champions
Offense: 32.1 points per game (3rd), 428.0 yards per game (2nd)
Passing: 318 yards per game (2nd), 8.6 yards per attempt (2nd)
Rushing: 110.3 yards per game (20th), 4.0 yards per attempt (24th)
Turnovers: 17 giveaways (3rd), 34 takeaways (3rd), net +17 (3rd)
Defense: 21.4 points per game (15th), 411.1 yards per game (31st)
Passing: 294 yards per game (31st), 8.0 yards per attempt (29th)
Rushing: 117.1 yards per game (17th), 4.6 yards per attempt (24th)
2011 Stats - Titans
9-7; 2nd place in AFC South; missed playoffs
Offense: 20.3 points per game (21st), 335.1 yards per game (17th)
Passing: 245 yards per game (12th), 7.0 yards per attempt (18th)
Rushing: 89.9 yards per game (31st), 3.8 yards per attempt (29th)
Turnovers: 22 giveaways (9th), 23 takeaways (20th), net +1 (13th)
Defense: 19.8 points per game (8th), 355.1 yards per game (18th)
Passing: 227 yards per game (14th), 6.4 yards per attempt (4th)
Rushing: 128.3 yards per game (24th), 4.5 yards per attempt (22nd)
 Wes Welker need four catches to become the all time receptions leader in Pats franchise history |
Numbers and Factoids
Patriots lead all-time series vs Titans/Oilers 22-16-1, which includes a 1-1 record in the post season. For two teams that entered the AFL together in the same division 52 years ago I would have thought they would have faced off against each other more often than that.
The Patriots have outscored the Titans 959 to 794 in those 39 games.
The Patriots have won the last four games between these two teams. The last time they played was in 2009 when the Pats won in the snow 59-0. The last game at LP Field was on New Years Eve in 2006; the Pats won 40-23.
The Pats are 5-1 since the Oilers moved to Tennessee. The lone win was in 2002 when Eddie George, Robert Holcombe and Steve McNair ran for 238 yards en route to a 24-7 final score.
Going back to 1981 the Patriots have won ten of the last thirteen games between the two teams.
The Titans/Oilers are 10-6 all time at home against the Pats and 1-1 at LP Field.
Bill Belichick is 8-7 versus the Titans/Oilers all time as a head coach.
The Patriots and Titans are two of just four NFL teams to have not turned the ball over during their opening possession in 2011.
The Patriots have won eight consecutive week one games, which is the longest active opening week winning streak in the NFL.
The Titans are 8-5 in week one games at LP Field.
This will be the 139th consecutive sellout at LP Field; the Titans have sold out every game played there going back to its opening in 1999.
Rob Bironas has converted on 15 consecutive field goals, which is the sixth longest such streak in NFL history.
If Bironas converts on a field goal of at least 40 yards then it will mark the 11th consecutive game in which he has accomplished that feat, which is an NFL record.
Bironas converted 6 out of 7 field goal attempts of at least 50 yards last year; the only miss being from 66 yards. For his career he is 21-29 from 50+ yards; his 72.4% conversion percentage on kicks from that distance is the bet in NFL history.
Nate Washington needs 16 yards receiving to reach 4,000 yards receiving in his career.
Washington currently has a streak of 62 consecutive games with a reception.
Wes Welker (554) needs four receptions to pass Troy Brown (557) as the Pats all time career leader in receptions. The only other Patriot with more than 500 career catches is Stanley Morgan, who had 534.
Tennessee was flagged for 29 special team penalties, which was not only the most in the league last year but also the most in the NFL since 2005.
Tom Brady has a career record of 124-35 as an NFL starting quarterback.
Jake Locker has a career record of 0-0 in the NFL.
On this date in 1973 Brothers and Sisters hit number in record sales; album would remain number one for five weeks. Though Ramblin' Man got much more airplay, I have always thought Jessica was a much better song. Here's a video of the Allman Brothers playing the tune at Great Woods from 1991.
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