LIVE BLOG: Follow Titans' Preseason Game With Patriots in Real Time on Friday Night
NASHVILLE — Welcome to Nissan Stadium, where the Tennessee Titans are wrapping up their 2023 preseason on Friday night with a game against the New England Patriots.
This is our live blog, where we'll keep you up to date in real time straight from press row. We'll have all the news and views, plus some highlights with a dash of opinion thrown in.
The game starts at 7:15 p.m. CT. Here's all the information on how to watch. CLICK HERE
The most recent items are at the top, so just keep refreshing.
9:51 p.m. — Michael Badgley kicks his third field goal of the night for the Titans, this time from 33 yards out. Titans now lead 23-7 with 3:01 to go.
9:37 p.m. — Emergency quarterback Mason Kinsey is in, and he's run the ball a few times.
9:34 p.m. — Another sack for rookie Caleb Murphy. The small-school linebacker has now had a sack in every game this preseason, and four overall.
9:24 p.m. — The Titans score again, this time with Malik Willis connecting with rookie wide receiver Kearis Jackson on a 26-yard score. The Titans now lead 20-7 with 14:11 to go.
9:15 p.m. — Another catch for rookie Colton Dowell, this time for 19 yards and another first down. We've reached the end of the third quarter now, and the Titans are on the move again. Titans lead 13-7 with 15 minutes to go.
9:04 p.m. — Malik Willis gets intercepted for a second time tonight. His pass over the middle that was intended for Mason Kinsey was intercepted. The Titans defense had their backs, though, forcing a three-and out. Titans get the ball back at their own 17-yard line.
HALFTIME — Best stat? Malik Willis completed his last eight passes for 112 yards and a score. Did a great job running the two-minute offense too in getting into the end zone.
8:32 p.m. — The Titans are in the end zone, with a pass from Malik Willis to Julius Chestnut in the left flat from 12 yards out. An impressive 10-play, 90-yard drive to take the lead. Tennessee is up 13-7 with 15 seconds to go in the half.
8:22 p.m. — Nice pass from Malik Willis to rookie Colton Dowell for a 30-yard gain and a first down. Gets the Titans out of a big hole. First down now on the 45.
8:08 p.m. — Backup running backs Tyjae Spears and Julius Chestnut continue to do good things. Spears has 23 yards rushing and a first-down catch and Chestnut just broke a run for 23 yards. The drive ends with a missed 39-yard field goal attempt by Michael Badgley. Missed it left.
7:59 p.m. — The Patriots march down the field after the turnover and get a touchdown from running back Kevin Harris from 5 yards out. Patriots take the lead 7-6 with 13:16 to go in the second quarter.
7:50 p.m. — Great run around the right end for Tyjae Spears, with a big stiff arm. He gains 19 yards for a Titans first down. But the drive ends when Malik Willis throws an interception. The pass for off the mark, behind tight end Josh Whyle. Pats take over on the Tennessee 38. First quarter ends with the Titans leading 6-0.
7:45 p.m. — The Titans' defense stiffens and force a punt. Tennessee takes over at. the 9. Xavier Newman is in at right guard for Daniel Brunskill, who went into the locker room after the first drive. He's questionable with the knee injury, according to the team.
7:32 p.m. — The Titans' starting defense is back out for the second series. Denico Autry causes a fumble and Jayden Peevy recovers it and returns it to the New England 5-yard line. Titans' offense can't get anything done, though, and they have to settle for a 27-yard Michael Badgley field goal. Titans lead 6-0.
7:22 p.m. — Malik Willis in at quarterback for Tennessee. The line on Tannehill? All zeroes. The Titans are moving, getting a 32-yard pass interference penalty then a complete to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Willis gets sacked on third down, so the Titans send in the field goal unit. New kicker Michael Badgley makes it from 44 yards, bouncing it off the upright and going in. Titans lead 3-0.
7:20 p.m. — Three straight runs and a delay of game penalty on the Titans' first drive, and they go nowhere. Not a single throw for Ryan Tannehill. They're forced to punt. Patriots go three-and-out as well with Bailey Zappe, a Western Kentucky product, at quarterback.
7:10 p.m. — New England has won the toss and deferred. Titans to receive, with Kearis Jackson back to receive the kick. It's a touchback and the Titans will start at the 25. Official game-time temperature is 92 degrees, with heat index of 102.
7:05 p.m. — All of the Titans are dressed for the game, probably just getting used to the home game routine. Not all of the starters will be playing, though. Starting offensive line is being introduced. They've started all three preseason games, played several series last week at Minnesota. Ryan Tannehill introduced as starting QB.
6:40 p.m. CT — The Titans are in their blue jerseys tonight, with white pants. The Patriots are the flip side, white jerseys and blue pants.
6:30 p.m. CT — The Titans are now 2.5-point favorites in the game as of 6:30. That's a five-point swing in the point spread since it was released last night. Here';s the history of both teams against the number this spring. CLICK HERE
6:20 p.m. CT — All three Titans quarterbacks are out on the new Nissan Stadium turf, getting loose. Veteran starter Ryan Tannehill is actually going to start the game, the first time in years that he's played in the preseason. Reports have been out all day that rookie Will Levis (thigh) won't play tonight, so we'll see a whole lot of second-year man Malik Willis for the second weekend in a row.
6:15 p.m. CT — Man, it's hot out here at Nissan Stadium. Current temperature is a steamy 93 degrees. It's even worse on the east side of the stadium, where the sun is still pounding down. The folks on the west side are in the shade, and it's making a huge difference.
Related Titans-Patriots stories
- HOW TO WATCH: Here's everything you need to know on how to watch — and stream Friday night's game between the Titans and Patriots. For many DirecTV customers, it's still a pain. CLICK HERE
- POINT SPREAD: The New England Patriots are in Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Friday night in the final preseason game of the summer for both teams. It's the Patriots who are a slight favorite, which is something of a surprise for a lot of good reasons. Here are all the gambling numbers, and several reasons to lean in one direction. CLICK HERE
- NO LEVIS FOR FRIDAY'S GAME?: Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis has been dealing with an injury for more than a week and it will reportedly keep him out of Friday's preseason finale against the New England Patriots. CLICK HERE
- TOM BREW COLUMN: The most important thing the Tennessee Titans had to do to be better in 2023 was to make improvements along the offensive line. Based on performances the past few weeks, it looks like they've done that — and that's a good thing. CLICK HERE
