Patriots Fall 23-7 to Titans: Live Game Log
The New England Patriots travel to Nashville Friday night to take on the Tennessee Titans in the final preseason game for both teams.
Because of injuries along the offensive line, the Pats have decided to not play quarterback Mac Jones against the Titans and instead save him for the Sept. 10 regular-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones will head into Week 1 with only three series of preseason play, completing 6 of 9 passes last week in Green Bay but also being sacked twice.
The decision to sit Jones - which also includes most of the team's starters sitting - means more quarterback snaps for Bailey Zappe, Trace McSorely and dazzling rookie free agent Malik Cunningham.
Rookie Christian Gonzalez, who left Wednesday's practice after landing awkwardly on his left leg while defending a pass, is going through pre-game warmups but remains a game-time decision.
This game also will likely be the Patriots' debut of running back Ezekiel Elliott, who signed last week as a free agent after an illustrious career with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Patriots and Titans were scheduled to have joint practices this week, but they were canceled in the wake of Isaiah Bolden's scary injury against the Packers.
Player evaluations will be the theme of the night for both teams as the Patriots and Titans have to cut their current 90-man rosters down to 53 by the August 29 deadline. After sitting out in their first two preseason games, it is expected that most starters will not play against the Titans.
Roster questions still surround the Pats heading into the final game of the exhibition season. Can Malik Cunningham continue to challenge for a roster spot? Who from Pierre Strong, Kevin Harris and J.J. Taylor will surface as the third running back?
Keep it with Patriot Country starting at kickoff for all the in-game and post-game coverage of Patriots vs. Titans.
Live updates will appear here after kickoff...
FIRST QUARTER: Titans 6, Patriots 0
The Titans will start the game with the ball first from their own 25 after the touchback. Ryan Tannehill is in at quarterback to begin the game.
Tennessee starts with a heavy dose of the run game with Tyjae Spears running three downs with a delay-of-game penalty sprinkled in, and the Titans go three and out. The Ryan Stonehouse punt goes 56 yards to the NE 21 out of bounds.
Bailey Zappe starts the game at quarterback for the Pats. Running back Kevin Harris carries twice for four total yards and Zappe throws incomplete on 3rd and 6 from the NE 25. Bryce Baringer punts 52 yards to the TEN 23 with no return.
Malik Willis comes into the game at quarterback and throws incomplete to begin the drive. A Spears carry for a loss and another incomplete Willis pass brings up 3rd and 11. The Patriots are called for defensive pass interference at the NE 46 for a new set of downs.
Willis completes deep to Westbrook-Ikhine to the NE 24 but three straight runs for no gain or a loss cause a 4th and 9 from the NE 23.
FIELD GOAL TITANS: Michael Badgley doinks a 44-yarder through the uprights. The scoring drive goes 51 yards in seven plays and takes 3:26 off the clock.
The Pats take over from their own 25 after the touchback.
FUMBLE RECOVERY TITANS: Zappe is sacked at the NE 25 and fumbles the ball. It's recovered by Autry for Tennessee and returned to the NE 5.
Julius Chestnut carries twice for a loss of four yards and Willis throws incomplete for 4th down.
FIELD GOAL TITANS: Badgley is good from 27 yards. The scoring drive goes -4 yards in four plays and takes 1:26 off the clock.
The Pats take the ball from their own 31 after a 27-yard return by Taylor.
The Patriots go 3-and-out but a pass interference call extends the drive for New England. Zappe hits a screen pass to Taylor for 10 yards and a new set of downs.
Zappe gets sacked for a loss of five yards to the TEN 48 to bring up a 4th and 15. The Baringer punt goes 38 yards to the TEN 9, fair caught. Tennessee begins its next possession in the shadow of its own goal line.
Spears rattles off a 19-yard run to the TEN 33 and a new set of downs.
The Patriots lose a timeout on a failed challenge of Willis' knee being down before throwing the ball away on 2nd and 10.
INTERCEPTION PATRIOTS: Willis passes for Whyle, intercepted by Munson and returned to the TEN 38.
Zappe hits Firsker for a gain of four.
END OF THE FIRST QUARTER
SECOND QUARTER: Titans 13, Patriots 7
On 3rd and 1, Harris gets just enough to extend the drive after the interception and offensive tackle Riley Reiff was injured. His return is questionable.
TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS: Kevin Harris runs five yards for the touchdown. The Ryland extra point is good. The scoring drive goes 38 yards in five plays and takes 2:05 off the clock.
The Titans will start from their own 25 after the touchback. Penalty on TEN for holding, 5 yards. Spears runs and catches passes for a new set of downs from the TEN 37.
Chestnut runs off left tackle for 23 yards on first down to the NE 40. Willis hits Moore for 13 yards to the NE 25 on 2nd and 8 for a fresh set of downs.
MISSED FIELD GOAL TITANS: Badgley misses wide left from 39 yards out. The Pats will take over from the NE 21.
Trace McSorley is in at quarterback for the Patriots and they go 3-and-out including a five-yard sack on 3rd and 3.
Baringer punts 69 yards into the end zone. Penalty on Tennessee, holding, enforced at the 20. On 3rd and 5, Willis hits Dowell for 30 yards to the TEN 45. Timeout TEN (#1) with 3:39 left in the half.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Chestnut fumbles on two plays in a row but Tennessee recovers both times. On 3rd and 9, Willis finds Chestnut across the middle for 30 yards to the NE 12 and a new set of downs with :22 left in the half.
TOUCHDOWN TITANS: Willis passes short middle to Chestnut for 12 yards and a touchdown to put Tennessee back up on top with :15 left in the half. The extra point is good for a 13-7 Titans lead. The scoring drive goes 90 yards in 10 plays and takes 5:19 off the clock.
New England takes the ball at the NE 31 after a 26-yard return by Taylor. McSorley kneels to end the half.
HALFTIME
THIRD QUARTER: Titans 13, Patriots 7
The Pats take the ball from their own 25 after the kickoff.
Another heavy dose of the ground game via Pierre Strong Jr. to start the half with runs of nine and two. Zappe connects with Pitts and Malik Cunningham comes in and runs for a couple.
On 3rd and 2, Cunningham runs up the middle for eight yards, but an Illegal formation penalty brings it back for a 3rd and 7 from the NE 39. Zappe misses Pitts deep down the left side.
The Baringer punt goes 41 yards to the TEN 20, out of bounds.
The Titans feed the ball to Chestnut and Willis has the offense rolling down to the NE 49. Patrick runs left end for 12 to the NE 37. D. Fagot is injured for the Pats.
INTERCEPTION PATRIOTS: Willis passes to the short middle intended for Kinsey intercepted by Giles-Harris at the NE 22, and returned to the NE 28.
Zappe advances the offense down to the NE 45 but throws incomplete on 3rd and 4 to force a punt.
Baringer punts 45 yards to the TEN 10, Kinsey returns seven yards to the 17.
Willis moves the offense up to midfield in three plays, including a 19-yard completion to Dowell.
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER
FOURTH QUARTER: Titans 23, Patriots 7
Patrick carries five yards on 3rd and 4 to the NE 26.
TOUCHDOWN TITANS: Willis compeltes deep down the right side to Jackson for the score. Badgley is good for the extra point. The scoring drive goes 83 yards in 10 plays and takes 5:20 off the clock.
New England begins its drive at the 25 after the touchback.
Zappe and the offense go 3-and-out, gaining eight yards including a fumble by Zappe, and Waitman punts 47 yards to the TEN 20, fair caught.
Kinsey starts the drive with an 11-yard gain, but Perkins is injured on the play. Tennessee gets up to the TEN 40 but no farther. Stonehouse punts 63 yards to the end zone, Taylor returns to the NE 3.
Another 3-and-out with another Bailey Zappe fumble and six-yard sack. Zappe can't hold on to the ball tonight. The Waitman punt goes 54 yards to the TEN 44.
On 2nd and 13, Patrick scampers up the middle for 21 yards to the NE 22 as the Titans knock on the red zone once again with 6:07 left in the game.
FIELD GOAL TITANS: Badgley is good from 33. The scoring drive goes 25 yards in six plays and takes 3:47 off the clock.
The Patriots take over from the 25 after the touchback. Srong runs for two then Cunningham is sacked for a loss of three.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
TURNOVER ON DOWNS PATRIOTS: On 4th and 11, Cunningham passes incomplete.
Tennessee takes possession at the NE 25 an kneel the clock out.
END OF GAME
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