Here is who national experts are predicting will win Patriots-Titans playoff game
In a testament to New England’s dominance in the NFL, the Patriots will be playing in a Wild Card game for the first time in a decade of postseason play.
It’s Saturday night and the Patriots will face the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Two years ago, the Patriots beat Tennessee 35-14 in a AFC Divisional playoff game after the Titans upset the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Fifty-one experts from around the nation made predictions for Saturday’s game. Here are the picks and what they’re saying about the game, which kicks off at 7:15 p.m. will be broadcast on CBS (Ch. 5):
Six of eight CBS Sports experts forecast a New England win: Ryan Wilson,, Dave Richard, Pete Prisco, Jared Dubin, Jamey Eisenberg and Will Brinson. Picking the Titans are Jason La Canfora and John Breech. Prisco predicted a 27-19 Patriots win. Here is part of what wrote: “Look for the defense to take away Derrick Henry and force Ryan Tannehill to win the game. He is 0-6 as a starter in his career against the Patriots in Foxborough, which will show up here. The Patriots get back on track and advance behind the defense and an improved offense.”
The Patriots will prevail 27-17 says Tadd Haislop of the Sporting News. This is a portion of what he wrote: “For all the chatter about the Patriots’ struggles on offense this season, they still finished with the NFL’s seventh-best unit in terms of points per game, and they have the ultimate adjustment-making crew in Bill Belichick, Josh McDaniels and Tom Brady. Plus, New England’s top-ranked defense has all the parts necessary to shut down the likes of A.J. Brown and Corey Davis, and it will take away what Tennessee does best — the power running game with Derrick Henry.”
All but one of the 10 experts at ESPN see the Patriots winning: Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Mike Golic, Jason Reid, Mina Kimes, Seth Wickersham, Dan Graziano, Louis Riddick and Kevin Seifert. The lone pick for the Titans came from Trey Wingo.
The Titans will win 30-27 says Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. Here is part of what he wrote: “The Titans match up well with an aging Patriots team that could have seriously used a week off. The New England defense’s all-out blitzes are no longer confusing opponents, with the Dolphins showing just how to beat them last week. (Ryan) Tannehill’s ability to make accurate throws on the run is a problem for a group that struggles with mobile quarterbacks, while Derrick Henry’s dogged excellence keeps the Titans on the field, setting them up for explosive plays. A.J. Brown, like DeVante Parker last week, has the physical attributes that even Stephon Gilmore can’t stop in one-on-one coverage.”
The Patriots were the pick for both Mike Florio and Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Smith called a 17-16 final score. This is part of what he wrote: “I’m strongly tempted to pick the Titans, but instead I just feel like I can’t pick against New England, at home, in the playoffs. The Patriots will take this one, but it won’t be easy.” Florio predicted a 23-20 score and wrote in part: “The Patriots know how to play single-elimination football; Tom Brady has 40 postseason starts. Ryan Tannehill? None. Yes, the Titans are the better team. But the better team doesn’t always win.”
Six of eight SB Nation writers are picking the Patriots: Christian D’Andrea, Sarah Hardy, Morgan Moriarty, Geoff Schwartz, Stephen White and Lester Wilfong. The Titans were the pick for Adam Stites and James Brady. This is part of what Stites wrote: “The Titans won the last meeting back in November 2018, although that was played in Nashville. That win has Titans coach Mike Vrabel 1-0 against his old team. Only a couple on our panel think Vrabel can get to 2-0.”
Four of the seven experts from USA Today picked the Patriots: Nate Davis (23-20 final score), Mike Jones (35-31), Lorenzo Reyes (25-23) and Tom Schad (19-13). The picks for Tennessee: Jarrett Bell (24-20), Jori Epstein (21-20) and Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz (31-20).
Five of the eight Pro Football Focus experts picked the Patriots: Neil Hornsby, Steve Palazzolo, Jeff Ratcliffe, Solomon Wilcots and Nathan Jahnke. Picking the Bills were Bruce Gradkowski, Sam Monson and Austin Gayle.
Four of the six Sports Illustrated Monday Morning Quarterback writers picked the Patriots: Andrew Brandt, Bette Marston, Connor Orr and Jenny Vrentas. The two who went with the Titans: Kayln Kahler and Mitch Goldich.
This story was originally published January 4, 2020 at 8:36 AM.
