PASS DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS

The Titans rank 27th in pass defense and allow 6.6 yards per attempt, so they’re vulnerable here. They’ve sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times, tied for second worst in the league. CB Malcolm Butler is still effective at age 30, but the Titans have allowed prolific passing performances from teams that don’t normally light it up through the air such as the Colts, the Bears and the Jaguars.

Kicker Stephen Gostkowski has made just 12 of 20 field-goal attempts despite making six of seven from 50 yards or beyond. Punter Brett Kern is out with a wrist injury, and the Titans turned to Trevor Daniel, who hurt them with a 17-yard misfire against the Colts. The Titans have allowed

106 more return yards than they’ve produced.

The Patriots largely took All-Pro CBs Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters out of the game by not testing them. Will Tennessee do the same in an effort to win the turnover battle? Humphrey and Peters have combined to pick off four passes and force seven fumbles. The Ravens played without veteran CB Jimmy Smith against the Patriots and will be thin in the secondary if he can’t return from an ankle injury.

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Kicker Justin Tucker has missed just once (from 61 yards) this season. Punter Sam Koch ranks sixth in the league with a net average of 43 yards and has put16 of 34 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. The Ravens have accumulated 531 yards on returns compared with 325 for their opponents, and Tucker is tied for third in the league with 40 touchbacks on kickoffs.

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