Sloppy Titans Help Doom Themselves in 36-13 Loss…

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The Titans, facing the Patriots with a banged-up roster depleted by injuries, needed to play a clean football game here on Sunday to have a chance for an inspiring upset.

Narrator: It didn’t happen.

The Titans hurt themselves with turnovers, penalties and missed tackles here at Gillette Stadium, and in the process said goodbye the No.1 seed in the AFC heading into the bye week.

The Titans fell 36-13 to the Patriots.

The Titans have now lost back-to-back games, as their record slipped to 8-4.

Running backs D’Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard both lost fumbles for the Titans, who racked up 50 yards worth of penalties in the first half. Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was also intercepted in the end zone, which killed a big scoring opportunity in the fourth quarter. Khari Blasingame fumbled late, giving the Titans four turnovers on the day.

The Titans have turned the ball over nine times in the last two games.

The mistakes killed Tennessee’s chances of a win on a day when the team ran the ball well, as Hilliard and Foreman combined for over 200 rushing yards.

With five games left in the regular season, the Titans now need to get healthy, and regroup.

The Patriots took a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter on a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mac Jones to receiver Kendrick Bourne.

The Titans answered back with an impressive 14-play, 74-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but the extra point was missed, so it was 7-6 Patriots.

The Patriots extended their lead to 10-6 on a 22-yard field goal by kicker Nick Folk.

The Titans had a chance to cut into the lead on their next drive, but Bullock misfired on a 44-yard field goal and the score remained 10-6. The Patriots then made it 16-6 on a pair of field goals from Folk.

But the Titans got a big play before halftime – a 68-yard run by running back Dontrell Hilliard to cut the lead to 16-13. After a miss from Folk from 53 yards, it was 16-13 at the half.

Folk’s 28-yard field goal on New England’s opening drive of the second half made it 19-13.

The Patriots then surged ahead 26-13 on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Jones to Bourne, a play that featured some bad angles and a missed tackle by Titans defenders.

With the Titans on the verge of making it a one-score game, Tannehill was intercepted by Patriots defensive back J.C. Jackson in the end zone on a ball intended for receiver Cody Hollister.

Another field goal by Folk, this one from 52 yards, made it 29-13 with just 6:09 remaining.

A 14-yard run touchdown run by running back Damien Harris made it 36-13 with 4:38 left.

Kevin Hogan replaced Tannehill late in the fourth quarter.

Just like previous games during this injury-riddled season, the Titans were short-handed for Sunday’s game.

The Titans began the game with 17 players on Injured Reserve, including receiver A.J. Brown, who was added to IR on Saturday. Brown joined running back Derrick Henry and receiver Julio Jones on the list from the offense. Outside linebacker Bud Dupree is also on IR.

The Titans also ruled out six other players prior to Sunday’s game, as linebacker David Long, linebacker Rashaan Evans, guard Nate Davis, running back Jeremy McNichols, defensive lineman Teair Tart and cornerback Greg Mabin didn’t make the trip.

The Titans have a bye next Sunday before returning to action on December 12 against the Jaguars at Nissan Stadium.