News » It’s almost time for the Titans to face the AFC

East Titans in Tennessee Womens Kevin Byard Jersey , as the 7-2 Patriots come to town in a massive game the Titans must win to stay alive in the AFC South race.After looking DOA to start the season, the Patriots offense has returned to form thanks to the return of Julian Edelman and the addition of former Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon. The Patriots managed to get the latter for only a fifth rounder, which is a textbook definition of a steal.With the Patriots, Gordon has put up 398 yards on 22 catches to go along with two touchdowns. He’s given the Patriots a field stretcher that somehow has fit like a glove with a 41-year-old quarterback in Tom Brady.Malcolm Butler is being paid like a CB1, so he’ll likely get a lot of reps against Gordon (though really Adoree Jackson is the better player). It’s going to be a long day if Butler is guarding Gordon all game long, and I’m here to illustrate why in this week’s Titans Enemy Profile.gamepass.nfl.comJosh Gordon in New England is closer to a Marvin Jones-esque receiver than a DeSean Jackson-esque one. He doesn’t have the world class speed of Jackson, but he has the frame, tenacity and instinct at the catch point that Jones has, and it’s been made evident a few times.Gordon’s ability to track the ball in double coverage has been made apparent against the Colts in Week 5. After failing to create separation at first, Gordon sees Tom Brady still has time in the pocket and speeds for the back corner of the end zone. Brady lofts this up in Gordon’s area, and this is a pass where the credit goes more to the corner than the quarterback.Gordon’s frame stands out. He’s 6’3 and 225 lb., so his big body combined with his smart mentality at the catch point make him a physical freak on contested catches. He hauls this pass in for a 34-yard touchdown.gamepass.nfl.comIn this beautiful day and age where everyone is going for it on 4th and short, the Patriots decide to do that here against the Bears. Kyle Fuller is matched up against Gordon Authentic Josh Kline Jersey , and he looks like a midget in comparison.Brady throws a simple back shoulder pass here, while Fuller tackles Gordon as soon as he gets his mitts on the ball in the air. What makes this catch impressive is what happens as Gordon hits the ground: He tightly secures it as he’s violently swung to the ground, so much so that his helmet falls off. But the ball security here is outstanding, and it just goes to show that Gordon is still a force even with all his missed time.Gordon is also a threat on yards after the catch, as shown on his 55-yard play against the Bears (I’d upload it but the size of the file is too big so that unfortunately isn’t happening...). He’s quite elusive for someone with as much lost time as him, and it showed on that play.But Gordon’s heart belongs at the catch point.gamepass.nfl.comPeople always wonder why players usually succeed in New England and not anywhere else, and it’s very simple: Bill Belichick understands who these players are and how to use them. The difference in coaching between Hue Jackson-Todd Haley and Bill Belichick-Josh McDaniels is going from the worst coaching tandem in the league to the absolute best. Belichick doesn’t need Gordon to be a blocker or a gadget guy. He know Gordon can roast corners at the catch point even with as simple as having a bigger frame (above).Julian Edelman and James White are the safety nets for Tom Brady while Rob Gronkowski and Josh Gordon are the more dangerous, explosive vertical threats. Gordon’s presence has made New England’s offense that much more dangerous. He can be an explosive YAC receiver from time to time, but if there’s one area Titans fans need to be concerned with, it’s tightly contested jump balls, because he’ll make you pay if you’re off by a little much.Gordon has had an excellent season in Foxboro thus far, and this beast must be contained for the Titans to be that much closer to an upset victory. Mike Vrabel has recently been talking about close games a lot with his Titans.After Tennessee pulled out three straight victories by three points apiece, the first-year coach and the Titans are coming off a one-point loss. The Titans had been a league-best 9-1 since the start of 2016 in games decided by three or fewer points.Now Vrabel and the Titans get to see how they react to losing a close game 鈥?a 13-12 decision to Buffalo 鈥?and Vrabel believes the Titans will find out who they really are."It's not about what kind of team you are when you're winning Womens Jurrell Casey Jersey , it's about when things go bad and you lose," Vrabel said Monday. "Can you stick together or does one side of the ball start looking at the other side? Do people start pointing fingers? That can't happen. I won't let it. I think that's where we have to start."Even before Vrabel was hired in January, the Titans had been very good in close games. Then they added three more such wins before going to Buffalo."This one we wasn't able to pull it off," safety Kevin Byard said. "We win the close games it's like we're celebrating that. When we lose it, it's like the building's falling down and stuff like that. So at the end of the day, we just have to regroup and get back together ... correct the things we need to correct and get on the Ravens."Well, the Titans have a few things to fix before hosting Baltimore (3-2) on Sunday in their lone home game in October.The offense matched its season high in turnovers with two lost fumbles and an interception, and the Titans lost both of those games. Dropped passes also have been an issue. Nick Williams, the receiver beaten for position on the interception, also dropped a would-be touchdown pass as Tennessee settled for the first of two field goals in the fourth quarter.The Titans went through a second game without scoring a touchdown, and they rank 29th in the NFL in scoring average at 17.4 points per game.The loss of three-time Pro Bowl Delanie Walker, who broke his right ankle in the season-opening loss in Miami , has been very noticeable with tight ends not catching a single pass over the past two games. Jonnu Smith dropped a pass in Tennessee's overtime win against Philadelphia but didn't catch the two passes thrown to him in Buffalo. Luke Stocker didn't catch the one thrown to him.Asked if the Titans need more from their tight ends http://www.tennesseetitansteamonline.com/tajae-sharpe-jersey , Vrabel said they need more from everybody, including himself."The only two guys we didn't need more from (Sunday) were the kicker and the punter," Vrabel said. "They did their job."Later Monday, the Titans promoted tight end Anthony Firkser from the practice squad.Tennessee is tied for fourth in scoring defense, giving up just one fewer point (86) than the offense has scored (87). But the Titans, who ranked fifth against the run last season, are 26th in that category after giving up 144 yards to the Bills."We're 3-2," Byard said. "We're still ahead of the division. We're still in a good position. We have to play better of course, but there's still a lot of optimism left in this locker room."Notes: To make room for Firkser, the Titans waived RB Dalyn Dawkins.Follow Teresa M. Walker at s://teresamwalker