Patriots-Titans Week 15 Predictions
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots play their final regular season game at Gillette on Sunday, as they host the 3-10 Tennessee Titans.
The Patriots bounced back from their two-game losing streak last week with a 27-6 victory over the Houston Texans, and with losses by the Broncos and Bengals, New England is back in the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They also clinched their seventh straight AFC East title with a Miami Dolphins loss on Monday night.
This weekend, the Patriots have a chance to clinch a first-round bye with a win and some help.
Here are the predictions for Sunday's game from the WBZ-TV, WBZ NewsRadio 1030AM and 98.5 The Sports Hub sports teams:
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports
It's not a bad week for the Patriots to rest some injured players, because Tennessee is 3-10 and the Titans can't wait for their season to be over.
The Patriots are hurting, with LeGarrette Blount and Dominique Easley both landing on IR this week. It's been a "Next Man Up" mentality all season, and this week will be no different for New England.
Patriots 38, Titans 14
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
I feel like Patriots fans throughout the region are in fear of any team due to all the injuries that continue to pile up. Yes, it's true that their depth will be tested -- but I think it's time to ackowledge that this defense is one of the top units in all of football.
For that reason, and the fact that Tennessee's secondary has allowed a whopping nine touchdown passes in their last three games, I think the Patriots will roll on Sunday.
Patriots 31, Titans 13
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
I don't think this is a matter of whether the Pats will win or not, and for the record, I think they will win. I think this game is about getting players back on the field and seeing how they look going forward.
It would be nice for Dont'a Hightower to finally get back out there and run this defense again. The Patriots have been able to tread without him but Hightower is the sideline to sideline motor and the trio of him, Jamie Collins and Jabaal Sheard are a lethal combination. Sunday would be a good time to see them all working together.
Rob Gronkowski was in involved in 60 percent of the snaps last week. It would be nice to see his production increase, but it doesn't have to. Just keeping big 87 healthy is the ultimate goal here. Upping his production in the offense game will happen but his safety is what the future depends on.
The Pats have got to figure out the running game this week and with that, they have to run the ball positively. Whether it's James White or Brandon Bolden or Montee Ball, the Pats have to get the running operation up and going. Going forward, they can't be one-dimensional. This is an important part of the Patriots offense and right now it's failing.
Patriots 35, Titans 7
Adam Kaufman, 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030
The Patriots could have Julian Edelman and Dont'a Hightower back on the field this weekend and, while LeGarrette Blount and Dominique Easley have been added to the growing list of those done for the year, the Pats' most important cogs are returning to work. And just in time to host the struggling 3-10 Titans - losers of 4 of 5, after a blowout in the Meadowlands - with a chance to lock up that coveted first-round playoff bye.
Tennessee is terrible; there's no other way to put it. So was Philadelphia, I know, but I'd bet my mortgage on New England winning this game. Rob Gronkowski didn't face the Eagles and it seemed the Pats could overcome that, but they couldn't - not that the offense was the central issue in that defeat. Gronk will be on the Gillette field Sunday.
The NFL's third-ranked offense against a bottom-feeder defense... in Foxboro... in December... with the possibility of clinching something. What do you think will happen?
Patriots 38, Titans 13
Mike "Sarge" Riley 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030
The Pats are favored by 14.5 -- they'll get a backdoor touchdown to cover the spread, and for all fans Santa comes early and gives the Patriots another win streak for Christmas.
Patriots 33, Titans 17
Rob "Hardy" Poole, 98.5 The Sports Hub
As Willie Nelson sang in the song, "Me And Paul," "I guess Nashville was the roughest, but I know I've said the same about them all."
Therefore, Sunday's game will be no rougher than the others. Last Monday, another Nashville team came in and beat a Boston team, as the Predators beat the Bruins 3-2. The Patriots return the favor this weekend, beating the Titans by a field goal to their safety.
Patriots 3, Titans 2
Tune in to Patriots-Titans Sunday afternoon on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV — the flagship stations of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins on 98.5FM at 10am, with three hours of postgame coverage following the game. WBZ-TV kicks off their coverage at 11:30am with Patriots GameDay, and following the game catch Patriots 5th Quarter on myTV38!
