Patriots' Sloppy Backups Lose to Titans in Preseason Finale
The New England Patriots canceled an OTA practice in June to go play paintball. In the wake of last week's scary injury to rookie Isaiah Bolden, they ended their preseason game with 10 minutes remaining and a day later altogether called off two scheduled joint practices.
Though there wasn't an obvious reason - silly or serious - the Pats would have been just fine also scrapping Friday's meaningless, lethargic 23-7 preseason finale loss to the Tennessee Titans.
New England sat the majority of its starters - including quarterback Mac Jones and Pro Bowl pass-rusher Matthew Judon - and watched a bunch of backups essentially meander in futility at toasty, 92-degree Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Tennessee didn't exactly lay it all on the line either, with starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill and star running back Derrick Henry playing all of three snaps.
The fourth quarter was mostly a dud of a duel between Maliks - Titans' second-year quarterback Willis vs. Patriots' undrafted rookie Cunningham.
While No. 2 quarterback Bailey Zappe consistently struggled to move the offense and fumbled three times after sacks, Jones will enter the regular season after playing just three series in the preseason. He went 6 of 9 for 52 yards against Green Bay and was sacked twice. New England's new offensive weapons were also absent in the glorified scrimmages, with receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster catching only one pass for one yard, tight end Mike Gesicki failing to make a grab and running back Ezekiel Elliott not playing against Tennessee.
None of the "stars" of training camp - Keion White, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne - showed up Friday night. Zappe played into the fourth quarter, but completed only eight of 15 for a measly 57 yards while being harassed and sacked four times. Cunningham, who dazzled in the Pats' preseason opener, went 0 of 2 at quarterback, ran once for five yards out of the Wildcat formation, and wound up catching only pass (on nine targets) as a receiver in the entire preseason for minus-1 yard.
New England's best player of the night? Rookie punter Bryce Baringer boomed kicks of 52 and 69 yards.
The Patriots fell behind 6-0 but took their only lead in the second quarter thanks to a diving interception by linebacker Calvin Munson that gave them good field position at Tennessee's 38. After two completions by Zappe to Delaware undrafted rookie Thyrick Pitts, backup running back Kevin Harris bounded up the middle and into the end zone from five yards.
The Titans got two first-quarter field goals, one set up by a 32-yard pass interference on cornerback Jack Jones and the other when Zappe was strip-sacked at New England's 5-yard line. The Pats kept Tennessee out of the end zone thanks to a sack by third-year linebacker Ronnie Perkins (who later vomited on the field after extended playing time in the hot conditions) and then blanket coverage by rookie hybrid Marte Mapu, who made plays all over the field in his first action of the preseason.
Willis was impressive against the Patriots' third- and fourth-string defenders, throwing for 211 yards and a 26-yard touchdown that pushed Tennessee's lead to 20-7 early in the fourth quarter.
The biggest concern for New England heading into Week 1 will be the discombobulated offensive line. Because of injuries, the projected starting five of Trent Brown (LT), Cole Strange (LG), David Andrews (C), Mike Onwenu and Riley Reiff didn't take a snap together in the preseason. The starters against Tennessee were Andrew Stueber, Chasen Hines, Jake Andrews, Sidy Sow and Reiff, and they were abysmal.
Because of constant pressure, Pats' quarterbacks Zappe, Cunningham and Trace McSorley produced only eight completions while being sacked a combined six times.
Stueber, last year's 7th-round pick, has likely played his way out of a roster spot. He surrendered two sacks in the first half, after allowing one of Jones last week in Green Bay. Reiff had his leg rolled up in the second quarter and left the game, but was walking under his own power.
The Pats host the Philadelphia Eagles Sept. 10 at Gillette Stadium on Tom Brady Appreciation Day in 16 days.
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