Breaking News: Titans vs. Patriots: 5 biggest storylines heading into Week 9…. See More

The Tennessee Titans host the New England Patriots on Sunday in a game for the battle of the bottom of the NFC. Well, save the Carolina Panthers. The Titans are actually favored this week, not a typical occurrence in 2024, but that doesn’t really instill a lot of confidence given how they’ve performed since the bye.

Both the Titans and the Patriots have their own sets of issues under first-year head coaches, they both have questions at quarterback, and they are both trying to find their identity. This game could either be really exciting, or really boring, but either way there’s going to be a lot of back and forth.

Heading into this Week 9 matchup, there are five major storylines to know.

The Titans lost yet another player this week to an injury when they announced that guard Andrew Rupcich was likely headed to injured reserve with a triceps injury. L’Jarius Sneed hasn’t played since Week 6, and Tyjae Spears is still nursing a hamstring injury. This is on top of already having seven players on injured reserve.

But wait, we’re not done. There are seven additional players who remain questionable for Sunday. Some have been playing through injuries and will likely suit up, but some might not. Any additional losses to injury will definitely impact the game.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan has not committed to a quarterback for Sunday. Will Levis remains questionable with a shoulder injury he sustained against the Miami Dolphins in Week 4. Mason Rudolph took over in that game and led the Titans to their only win this season. Levis returned in Week 6 but wasn’t 100% and the Titans dropped that game to the Indianapolis Colts. Rudolph returned in Week 7 and Week 8, but it didn’t matter, the Titans still lost.

It may not matter who lines up under center going forward, neither of these quarterbacks fits in Callahan’s scheme and he’s not making changes to suit their strengths, which will result in continued losses.

The Patriots are having their own problems at quarterback. Jacoby Brissett wasn’t getting it done, so they brought in rookie Drake Maye. He didn’t do any better and ended up suffering a concussion early in the game last week against the New York Jets. He remains questionable for the game in Tennessee on Sunday, so the Titans don’t know which quarterback to prepare for either.

As with the Titans, it may not matter who lines up under center for the Patriots. The Patriots are third in sacks allowed with 27, and the Titans are capable of breaking through.

Trading DeAndre Hopkins away was more beneficial than receiving a draft pick in 2025, and it was beneficial in a way that no one really predicted. Calvin Ridley responded to the trade in a way that was unexpected and resulted in pleasant and welcome surprise. Ridley decided that with Hopkins gone, it was his time to lead the wide receivers and put everyone on his back. He started showing up to the facility to train before practice, working on his hand-eye coordination with tennis balls to increase his catching ability.

The result of his effort was his best game in 2024 last week against the Detroit Lions. Ridley recorded 10 catches for 143 yards, including six first-down receptions, and averaged 14.3 yards per catch. We can expect more of the same from Ridley this week against a middling Patriots defense.

The Titans’ head coach and all three coordinators are in their first season in their positions. Their biggest challenge is the lack of play-calling experience combined with a quarterback who still needs developed, and a backup who isn’t talented enough to take over the offense and run it his way. Brian Callahan has to start playing to the strengths of his quarterbacks instead of trying to get them to fit his system. Neither of them is Joe Burrow.

Dennard Wilson has done a good job with what he’s had to work with. The Titans’ defense ranks near the top of the league in many areas and generally performs well. Their problem is they have no depth and the players are fatigued.

Colt Anderson and Nick Holz may not be suited for their roles. That’s really all there is to say about that.