New coaches for the Patriots and Titans focused on winning now and not the 2025 draft

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jerod Mayo and Brian Callahan are undergoing the challenges that first-year NFL coaches usually face.

We’re balancing the need to win now with the patience needed in developing young quarterbacks. It’s not easy, and Mayo brings his New England Patriots to Music City on Sunday to play Callahan’s Titans, both of whom are at the bottom of the NFL rankings.

That leaves fans either seeing a tanking job in progress or clamoring loudly for more losses for a better draft pick next April. That’s not a coach’s top priority as the calendar shifts to November.

“Our job is to put the best product on the field every week, play as hard as we can and do everything we can to win a game,” Callahan said. “And I will always take that position.”

His Titans (1-6) have matched the franchise’s worst start since 2015, costing Ken Whisenhunt his job in his second season. Tennessee was defeated 52-14 in Detroit and the Titans return home after an 0-3 start, desperate for their first win in Nashville.

Tennessee, along with Carolina, is one of only two NFL teams with just one win. Mayo and his Patriots (2-5) aren’t far behind, thanks only to last week’s 25-22 win over the Jets. Fans forget that there are jobs on the line no matter the record, especially with so much of the season left.

“There is too much at stake and too much risk for anyone to do anything other than everything possible to win a game,” Callahan said.

QB shuffle

While the Patriots wait for rookie Drake Maye to emerge from the concussion protocol, they have at least seen encouraging signs from Jacoby Brissett.

The nine-year veteran started the first five games and went 1-4 before being replaced by Maye. The first-round draft pick left last week’s game after a helmet-to-helmet hit and is in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Brissett came off the bench to lead New England to a pair of go-ahead shots in the fourth quarter, snapping a six-game skid.

“I feel very comfortable putting Jacoby in there as he is a professional and always stays ready, as you could see in the last game,” Mayo said. “Having an experienced quarterback like Jacoby puts us at ease.”

The Titans started veteran backup Mason Rudolph the past two games while second-year quarterback Will Levis healed from a sprained AC joint on his right side while throwing his shoulder in hopes of a return Sunday. Their only win came in Miami after Levis left with an injury and Rudolph finished on September 30.

It doesn’t matter who starts. These teams rank last in the NFL with the fewest passing yards.

Improved protection

The results don’t show where it matters most, but the Titans are protecting whichever player is best at quarterback. After giving up 15 sacks in the first three games, they have given up just five in the last four games, which is tied with Arizona for the fewest sacks allowed over that span in the NFL.

Despite rotating right tackles, the Titans have allowed just one sack in two games and not even one in the other. That’s an average of 1.3 sacks allowed, which is fourth-most in the league over the past five weeks.

Happy returns

With the offense struggling to move the ball, a punter like Marcus Jones could be even more valuable to the Patriots. He had a 62-yard return against the Jets to set up a touchdown. It was his second career punt return of more than 60 yards, along with an 84-yard touchdown in 2022.

The Patriots defensive back is second in the NFL and first in the AFC with an average of 13.1 yards per punt return.

“Even though he is a defensive player, he is one of the most explosive players in the league when he has the ball in his hands,” Mayo said. “Even if you go back over the course of the season, there were times when he was very close to scoring one. … I look forward to keeping that going.”

Special teams was a big focus for the Titans after racking up 190 yards on punt returns alone, including a 90-yard touchdown.

Protect the ball

Turnovers were the biggest problem for the Titans, aside from struggling to score in the second half. Only the Raiders (17) have had more than Tennessee’s 16, after four more last week. Center Lloyd Cushenberry said it’s a big talking point.

“If we take that out, man, we’ll be in a better position,” Cushenberry said. “We’ve been moving the ball. Running the ball well. The protection has even gotten better. It’s just turnovers. It’s killing us.”

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AP Sports Writer Jimmy Golen contributed to this report.

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