FOXBORO — When the Patriots head to Nashville, they’ll bring with them a quarterback who’s playing as though he’s in complete control.
He feels pressure and reacts accordingly. He sees a sliver of daylight deep down the field and attacks it with uncanny accuracy.
In Drake Maye’s recent nearly-error-free performance in New Orleans, his offensive teammates barely wanted to talk to him, as though he was in the middle of a no-hitter. His defensive teammates on the sidelines watched him in awe, saying he must be in a “flow state.”
Maye was asked this week if he felt as though he’d entered some kind of zone in recent weeks, as he’s launched himself into the early-season MVP conversation.
“Playing quarterback, you kind of get the feeling (sometimes),” Maye said. “Being in a dome, you kind of feel like you’re spinning it well. You kind of feel that more in basketball, being in the flow state and the heat check. In football, the breaks where you’re sitting down and sitting on the sideline, they kind of break it up.”
There’s been little that’s been able to impede Maye’s progress of late. And that should continue against a Titans team that ranks as one of the worst defenses in football.
Let’s get to the details in this week’s matchup preview….
Matchup that will determine the outcome
Drake Maye’s deep ball vs. Titans’ secondary
What Maye has been able to do deep down the field might top his long list of early-season accomplishments. He’s completing 76.9 percent of his deep throws this season and has a 157.9 quarterback rating on throws that travel at least 20 yards down the field — both of which lead the league.
And that’s without a widely-regarded bona fide “deep threat” on the roster.
“We always have them called,” Maye said of his recent use of the deep ball. “It’s just me letting them go, or the defense not giving it to us. I think that’s really how deep shots work. We’re trying to get a look and trying to get 1-on-1. We say 1-on-1 is open in this league, so give each guy their chance 1-on-1 downfield.
“We had some chances of that last week and the week before. So, just trying to keep making plays, and if they don’t give it to us, just be smart and know that we can come back to them.”
The Titans will have to do a much better job defending the deep shot if they want to slow down the Patriots offense. Tennessee has allowed a 50 percent completion percentage on throws of 20 yards or more this season, which is the fourth-highest completion rate allowed in the NFL.
Matchup that will make your Sunday
Kyle Williams vs. Rookie growing pains
The Patriots know they have a quarterback who can launch footballs like javelins all over the field. And they’ve had a variety of pass-catchers come up with big plays on the receiving end of those heaves: Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas.
But could they get something in that regard from rookie Kyle Williams? The third-rounder saw three targets last week in New Orleans — one of which was wiped off the board due to a pass interference call — but has the speed to threaten corners and safeties deep.
When asked about Williams this week, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels praised the wideout’s ability to be moved all over the formation. Not an easy task in an offense that has in the past been described as complex.
“What we’ve done is look at the things we’re doing when the ball doesn’t come to you — are you doing the right things? A lot of the times, he is,” McDaniels said. “Like I keep saying, I feel like a broken record, the ball hasn’t quite found him on certain things yet, but if it does, then I think we’ll see what that looks like.
“I think the fact he continues to practice well, continues to have the ability to play at multiple positions, gives him the ability to be in the game. We’re not like, ‘Hey, put him in a position where he can’t get it.’ He’s in there running plays.
“Last week, he subbed in for Diggs. He subbed in for Boutte. He subbed in for the slot receiver. So I think opportunities are there, he’s present and available every day at practice, he’s doing a really good job of understanding his assignments.
“Like I’ve said about Pop (Douglas), Kayshon and Diggsy, and different guys at different times, I think it will find him. We just have to continue to try to press forward on the process of doing the right thing and I’m excited when he gets his opportunity. I really am. I’m looking forward to it.”
Against a Titans team that has struggled against big-play wideouts at times this year, perhaps this is the week for Williams to make a dent for the Patriots offense.
Bill Messina/NBC Sports Boston
Bill Messina/NBC Sports Boston
Rookie WR Kyle Williams saw three targets (one of which was negated by a penalty) in New Orleans.
Matchup that will surprise you
Patriots’ tackling vs. Titans’ ball-carriers
Early in the season, the Patriots were criticized for some of their missed tackles against the Raiders and Dolphins. Head coach Mike Vrabel chose not to hit the panic button in that regard, pointing out that if they’d been missing tackles, there weren’t huge gains generated off of those misses.
Well, lately the Patriots have turned themselves into one of the best tackling teams in football. According to NextGen Stats, they’ve limited opponents to just 2.4 yards after contact per carry on designed runs, which ranks third-best in the NFL. Their 25.2 percent run-stuff rate, meanwhile, is second-best in the league.
The Titans have an accomplished tackle-breaker on their side in running back Tony Pollard (320 yards after contact, ninth-most in the NFL), but given what the Patriots have been able to do in their front seven — led by middle linebacker Robert Spillane and defensive tackles Christian Barmore, Milton Williams and Khyiris Tonga — they should be able to further buttress their budding reputation as a difficult team to run against.
Matchup that could ruin your Sunday
Titans’ new coach uncertainty vs. Patriots’ defense
Can Mike McCoy provide the Titans with the new-coach bump we’ve seen others receive — whether it’s Jeff Saturday, Rich Bisaccia or Antonio Pierce?
You won’t see any traces of that in our final score prediction. Vrabel’s staff will be ready, as many of them will be making their return to the place where they were once employed. Vrabel will unapologetically try to beat up on his old club at their place. And Vrabel’s players will be ready to have his back, despite downplaying the importance of his return this week.
“Nothing major,” Maye said. “The way Coach Vrabel handles it is what leads into how we’ll handle it. He’s focused on this team and not worried about going back to a place he coached for a long time and had some great success. He’s not treating it like a big deal, so it’s kind of bleeding into us. We’re treating it like another week, another opponent, and treating it the same. The way he’s handling it is the right way.”
Regardless of how motivated the Patriots will be, they’ll have to be ready for some different looks with Brian Callahan out the door and McCoy — formerly a senior offensive assistant for the team — now in charge.
“Yeah, I mean, we’ll have to be prepared for everything,” Vrabel said. “There’s a lot of fakes in the history with the coordinator. May go for it more on whatever situation. I just think we’ll have to be prepared for whatever that may be.
“Whatever wrinkles, the things that Mike (McCoy) liked or didn’t like, that’s going to be his prerogative, and we’ll have to be prepared for whatever it is, try to execute the keys and try to – all the things that we feel like are important each and every week.
“So, there’s no way to know. You can watch the tape, understand some of the players, the play style and however they call the game, they’ll call the game.”
Prediction: Patriots 35, Titans 13