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New coaches for the Patriots and Titans focused on winning now, not the 2025 draft

New coaches for the Patriots and Titans focused on winning now, not the 2025 draft

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jerod Mayo and Brian Callahan face the challenges first-year NFL coaches typically face.

Balancing the need to win now with the patience required in developing young quarterbacks. It’s not easy and Mayo brings his New England Patriots on Sunday to Music City to play Callahan’s Titans both are at the bottom of the NFL rankings.

This leads to fans either seeing a tank operation in progress or clamoring for more casualties for the better Draft pick next April. That’s not a coach’s top priority as the calendar flips to November.

“Our job is to put the best product on the field every week, play as hard as we can and do whatever it takes to win a game,” Callahan said. “And I will always take that stance.”

His Titans (1-6) are off to the franchise’s worst start since 2015, costing Ken Whisenhunt his job in his second season. Tennessee was defeated 52-14 in Detroitand the Titans return home desperate for their first win in Nashville after an 0-3 start.

Tennessee is one of only two NFL teams with just one win, along with Carolina. Mayo and his Patriots (2-5) aren’t far behind thanks only to last week’s results 25-22 win over the Jets. Fans forget that jobs are on the line no matter the score, especially with so much of the season left.

“There is too much at stake and too much risk for anyone to do anything other than whatever is possible to win a game.” Callahan said.

QB mix

While the Patriots wait Freshman Drake Maye Coming off the concussion protocol, they have at least seen encouraging signs from Jacoby Brissett.

The nine-year veteran started 1-4 in the first five games before being replaced by Maye. The First round draft pick left last week’s game after a helmet-to-helmet hit and is in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Brissett came off the bench and led New England to two go-ahead goals in the fourth quarter, putting the team out for six games.

“I feel very comfortable using Jacoby because he is a professional and always stays ready, as you could see in the last game,” Mayo said. “Having an experienced quarterback like Jacoby gives us peace of mind.”

The Titans started veteran backup Mason Rudolph in the last two games with second-year quarterback Will Levis He was recovering from a sprained right ACL, tossed his shoulder and was hoping to return on Sunday. Their only win came in Miami after Levis left injured and Rudolph finished on September 30.

It didn’t matter who started. These teams are last in the NFL with the fewest passing yards.

Improved protection

The results haven’t shown where it matters most, but the Titans are protecting every player who is better at quarterback. After Give up 15 sacks They have given up just five in the first three games and in the last four games, tied with Arizona for the fewest goals conceded in that span in the NFL.

Despite rotating right tackles, the Titans have allowed just one sack in two games and not even one in another. That’s an average of 1.3 sacks allowed, which is fourth in the league over the last five weeks.

Happy return

With the offense struggling to move the ball, a punt returner like Marcus Jones can be even more valuable to the Patriots. He completed a 62-yard return against the Jets, setting up a touchdown. It was his second career punt return of more than 60 yards, followed by an 84-yard TD in 2022.

The Patriots defensive back is second in the NFL and first in the AFC with an average of 13.1 yards per punt return.

“Even though he is a defensive player, he is one of the most explosive players in the league when he has the ball in his hands,” Mayo said. “Even if you look back over the course of the season, there were times when he was close to cracking you. … I’m looking forward to continuing like this.”

Special teams were a Big focus for the Titans after racking up 190 yards on punt returns alone, including a 90-yard touchdown.

Protect the ball

The turnovers were the Titans’ biggest problem, aside from having trouble scoring in the second half. Only the Raiders (17) had more than Tennessee’s 16, after four more last week. Center Lloyd Cushenberry said it was a big topic of conversation.

“If we leave that out, we’ll be in a better position,” Cushenberry said. “We moved the ball. Run the ball well. The protection has become even better. It’s just sales. It’s killing us.”

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AP Sports Writer Jimmy Golen contributed to this report.

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