TEAM NOTES
• Against the Patriots, the Titans had three players record their first career starts: running back Dontrell Hilliard, wide receiver Cody Hollister and defensive tackle Kyle Peko. They became the 47th, 48th and 49th players to start a game for the Titans in 2021. Entering the week, they ranked second in the NFL in total players with at least one start, behind only the New Orleans Saints, who had 47 starters. In the franchise's "Titans era," which began in 1999, the Titans' 49 starters this season rank as the second-highest total behind only the 50 starters used during their 2014 season.
• The Titans used four players who had not previously played in a game for them this season: quarterback Kevin Hogan, wide receiver Cody Hollister, defensive lineman Kevin Strong and cornerback Buster Skrine. The Titans now have used 86 total players this season, the most of any team in the NFL in any season since at least 1993. Since 1993, the previous record number of participants in a season was 84 by the 2019 Miami Dolphins and the 2020 San Francisco 49ers. For the Titans/Oilers, the most players used in a season since 1993 was 74 in 2020.
• After playing 12 consecutive weeks to open the season, the Titans will have a Week 13 bye. It is tied for the latest bye in franchise history, matching the week of their bye in 2016.
• Head coach Mike Vrabel's second-quarter challenge of a reception by Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, which originally was ruled short of the goal line, resulted in a reversal and a touchdown for the Titans. Vrabel has been successful on all four of his challenges in 2021. Vrabel's last six challenges have been successful, including his final two challenges of 2020.
• The Titans rushed for 270 yards on 39 attempts. It was the franchise's 10th-highest rushing yardage total in franchise history and the most since a 288-yard rushing day at Houston on Jan. 3, 2021.
• The Titans rushed for 270 yards against a Patriots defense that entered the game allowing an average of 101.7 rushing yards per game, which was ranked eighth in the NFL.
• Since Bill Belichick became the head coach of the Patriots in 2000, the Titans' 270 rushing yards made up the second-highest total allowed in any game by the team. The only team to rush for more yards against a Belichick-coached Patriots squad was the Denver Broncos with 280 yards on Nov. 24, 2013.
• The Titans scored for the first time early in the second quarter on a 14-play, 74-yard drive that consumed 8 minutes and 9 seconds. The 14 plays tied (three other occasions) for the most in a Titans scoring drive this season, and the drive time was the longest by the Titans in 2021, topping a touchdown drive at the L.A. Rams on Nov. 7 that was 7 minutes and 39 seconds in duration.
• The Titans' first touchdown in the second quarter ended the Patriots' streak of 20 consecutive defensive series without allowing a score, as well as the Patriots' streak of eight consecutive quarters without an opponent score.
• Dontrell Hilliard's 68-yard touchdown run provided the Titans' third touchdown run of at least 50 yards this season. The Titans went into the week with two such plays, which tied the Cleveland Browns for the most in the NFL. Derrick Henry scored for the Titans earlier in the season on 60- and 76-yard runs.
• With Dontrell Hilliard rushing for a team-high 131 yards and D'Onta Foreman adding 109 rushing yards, the Titans recorded the eighth game in franchise history in which two players reached the 100-yard rushing mark. The last time it occurred was Nov. 27, 2008, when Chris Johnson (125) and LenDale White (106) achieved the feat at Detroit on Thanksgiving.
• Nine players caught at least one pass for the Titans. Out of the 12 total running backs/fullbacks, wide receivers and tight ends that were active for the game, 10 players caught a pass or had a rushing attempt.
• For the ninth time in 12 games, the Titans won the time-of-possession battle. Their time of possession was 31:02, compared to 28:58 by the Patriots.
• The Titans defense limited the Patriots to six points off four total turnovers, keeping New England to a pair of field goals.
• The Titans defense held the Patriots to two touchdowns on five total trips inside the red zone.
S KEVIN BYARD
• Led the team with 12 tackles.
• Recorded an 11-yard sack of Mac Jones in the third quarter. It was his fourth career sack and his first since 2018.
RB D'ONTA FOREMAN
• Posted career highs with 19 rushing attempts and 109 rushing yards, registering his first career 100-yard rushing game. His 19 attempts led the team.
• Combined with Dontrell Hilliard (131 rushing yards) to become the franchise's first duo with at least 100 rushing yards each in the same game since Chris Johnson and LenDale White at Detroit on Nov. 27, 2008. It marked the eighth such occasion in franchise annals.
• Recorded a 30-yard rushing attempt in the third quarter.
• He and Hilliard became the first players in 2021 to rush for at least 100 yards against the Patriots and the first to do so since Miami's Ahmed Salvon on Dec. 20, 2020.
RB DONTRELL HILLIARD
• Registered his first career start and his first career 100-yard rushing game, leading the team with 131 yards on 12 attempts, including a touchdown. He averaged 10.9 yards per attempt.
• Rushed for a career-long 68-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It was his third career rushing touchdown and his first in a Titans uniform.
• Combined with D'Onta Foreman (109 rushing yards) to become the franchise's first duo with at least 100 rushing yards each in the same game since Chris Johnson and LenDale White at Detroit on Nov. 27, 2008. It marked the eighth such occasion in franchise annals.
• He and Foreman became the first players in 2021 to rush for at least 100 yards against the Patriots and the first to do so since Miami's Ahmed Salvon on Dec. 20, 2020.
• Over a two-week span, he totaled a team-high 215 scrimmage yards, including 166 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards.
• Added two kickoff returns for 42 total yards against the Patriots.
WR CODY HOLLISTER
• Registered his first career start.
• Set a career high with 22 receiving yards and matched a career high with two receptions. He ranked second on the team in both categories.
DT NAQUAN JONES
• Combined with outside linebacker Derick Roberson on a 10-yard sack of Mac Jones in the fourth quarter. It gave Jones 1.5 sacks during his rookie season.
DT KYLE PEKO
• Registered his first career start.
OLB DERICK ROBERSON
• Combined with defensive tackle Naquan Jones on a 10-yard sack of Mac Jones in the fourth quarter. It gave Roberson his first half sack of 2021, and it increased his career total to 3.5 sacks.
QB RYAN TANNEHILL
• Competed 11 of 21 passes for 93 yards with one touchdown and one interception. In the first half, he was 10-of-13 passing for 79 yards and one touchdown for a 117.1 passer rating.
• Completed his first eight passes of the game before his first incompletion in the second quarter.
• Tossed a one-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in the second quarter. It was his 14th touchdown pass of 2021 and his 192nd career touchdown pass.
WR NICK WESTBROOK-IKHINE
• Recorded a team-high 25 yards on a pair of receptions (tied for team lead), including a touchdown.
• Caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill in the second quarter. It was his third career touchdown reception and his third of 2021. He is tied with A.J. Brown and MyCole Pruitt for the most receiving touchdowns on the team this season.
