Titans QB Mariota leaves game with knee injury

“You can’t make mistakes like we made, some very unacceptable, against anybody”. It is my job to get them to come out and play the first half… It’s fair to wonder if the Titans will put up a serious fight in those games.

The Patriots (12-2) finished a 7-1 home season and are sure of earning the top seed.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger (7) passes against the New England Patriots in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Foxborough, Mass.

The Patriots appeared to take another hit on the injury front when linebacker Dont’a Hightower – who started the game in his return from a knee issue – left the game late in the third and limped to the locker room. Tennessee will have the opportunity to have its say in the AFC South by hosting Houston and visiting Indianapolis the last two weeks of the season.

Tom Brady threw for 267 yards and two touchdowns in 23 of 35 passes to lead the Patriots in a 33-16 win over the Tennesssee Titans. He was sacked twice. In the first half with Marcus Mariota who moves in the pocket as well as anyone, there were miscommunications and sacks often, including the injury that hurt Mariota. Ryan Succop missed the extra point, leaving Titans (3-11) with a 27-16 deficit. “That’s the preparation backups have every week”, Mettenberger said.

“I don’t think it’s serious”, Mularkey said.

What it means: The Titans are 3-10, rank miles away from the defending Super Bowl champs and could be without their starting QB for two AFC South games to finish the season. The Titans punted on their first two drives and three of their first four; they also had a sack-fumble recovered for a touchdown by New England in the first half.

The Titans showed some fight in the second half in this one.

– Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith left with a thigh injury in the first quarter against the Chiefs.

Jones added a sack in the third quarter, giving him a career-high 12.5 for the season, tied for third place on the team’s all-time list. Patrick Chung left with a hip injury.

Unfortunately, kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed the 48-yard field goal, or else the Patriots would be up by even more.

Walker had two catches for 64 yards in the contest, with two touchdowns. Walker broke the Titans’ franchise record for receiving yards by a tight end (935 yards) and catches by a tight end (76 catches).