Jim Wyatt
NASHVILLEThe Titans showed some spunk early.
At the end of an eventful week, the team scored on its first two possessions and put points on the scoreboard three of the first four times it had the football.
But the offensive success eventually dried up under interim head coach Mike McCoy on a day when the defense had trouble stopping the Patriots.
The end result: A 31-13 loss to the Patriots, which dropped Tennessee's record to 1-6 on the season.
Titans quarterback Cam Ward completed 25 of 34 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown and an interception in the contest. Ward was sacked five times, however, and he lost the football on a play that gave New England an easy touchdown.
Receiver Chimere Dike caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter, but that was it for the day.
The Titans didn't have any success running the football in the contest, or doing much of anything on offense in the second half.
The Titans took a 3-0 lead on their first possession of the game on a 49-yard field goal by kicker Joey Slye, which capped a six-play, 34-yard drive.
The Patriots tied it up with a 36-yard field goal by kicker Adam Borregales on their first possession.
But the Titans showed some early spunk, getting the ball back and quickly striking back on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Ward to receiver Dike to make it 10-3.
The Patriots answered back with a scoring drive of their own, capping it off with a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drake Maye to tight end Austin Hooper to make it 10-10 with 5:34 left in the second quarter.
When the Titans got the ball back, they responded with an eight-play, 32-yard drive that was capped off with a 50-yard field goal from Slye. Receiver Van Jefferson had a pair of catches on the drive, which made it 13-10 with 1:48 left in the half.
But the Patriots surged back ahead on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Maye to receiver Kayshon Boutte with 49 seconds left before the half, and the Patriots led the Titans 17-13 at the half.
After a three-yard touchdown run by Rhamondre Stevenson, it was 24-13 Patriots with 7:31 left in the third quarter.
Things got worse.
Ward lost control of the football on the team's next possession, and when the ball hit the turf, Patriots linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson had it bounce into his hands, and he returned it four yards for a touchdown to make it 31-13 with 7:20 left in the third quarter.
The Titans return to action next Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts.
