NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Boom, boom, boom.

As the Titans deliver big blow plays on offense, they’ve done a large share of it with three guys who can deliver big blows.

Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown and Jonnu Smith bring size-and speed combinations that many teams covet and they are a trio defenses can’t be especially eager to tackle, particularly late in a game if the Titans are having success.

As we head toward Titans-Patriots, we'll do a bit of sharing with Boston Sports Journal, another independent site. Greg Bedard is the site's columnist/Patriots analyst, editor and owner.

By GREG BEDARD

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Hello there, Titans fans. It almost feels like y'all are cousins considering all the connections between the two teams, so Patriots fans are looking forward to this week's family reunion — but with some trepidation. Yes, we know all about what the Titans have done since replacing Marcus Mariota with Ryan Tannehill, but Patriots fans have a long history with Tanny and that will bring a little confidence. Here are 10 things you need to know — a state of the team, if you will — about these Patriots heading into Saturday night's showdown.

1. These aren't the Patriots you're used to: New England's teams in the past have been known to get off to slow starts but gradually build through the course of the season to the point that they're humming heading into the postseason. That is not the case this year. After starting 8-0 against what turned out to be the league's weakest schedule, the Patriots have gone just 4-4, and beaten only two teams — the Bills (10-6) and Eagles (9-7) — with winning records.

Now, that being said, the Patriots were worse in many ways last season — they were just 3-5 on the road and lost back-to-back games to non-playoff teams in the Steelers and Dolphins in December — and the Patriots still went on to win the Super Bowl.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Greetings, fans of the Patriots. I know you are used to watching others play this weekend. Sorry to disturb you with information regarding an opponent who's coming to the area and forcing the guys to turn on the lights at Gillette Stadium Saturday evening. Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal and I are swapping some pieces this week and we thought these would be a good idea, so...

Here are 10 things a Patriots' fan should know about the Titans, that a Titans' fan might enjoy reviewing too…

1) Ryan Tannehill’s been outrageous

Tannehill is one of just three quarterbacks in NFL history to finish a season with a completion percentage of over 70 percent and a yard per attempt over 9.0.

Only Joe Montana and Sammy Baugh have done it before Tannehill did it this season after taking over for Marcus Mariota in Week 7.

As we head toward Titans-Patriots, we'll do a bit of sharing with Boston Sports Journal, another independent site. Greg Bedard is the site's columnist/Patriots analyst, editor and owner.

By GREG BEDARD

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- In the Patriots’ Second (Patrick) Chung Dynasty, the veteran safety has obviously played a key in the team’s defense. They basically created a new position for him as mostly a linebacker with coverage responsibilities against the opponent’s top tight end after his free-agent failure with the Eagles.

The move was a revelation for the defense, and it revitalized Chung’s career. He never displayed the instincts to play in space as a traditional strong safety, so the Patriots brought him closer to the line and allowed his skills as an attacking player to take over.

It’s largely been sweet music. Chung has become one of Bill Belichick’s favorite players, and he’s taken over Jerod Mayo’s role as the one player who constantly gets taken care of with his contract (Chung, 32, is still signed for another two years — unheard of at a contact position).

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans and Patriots are separated by over 1,000 miles and six Lombardi Trophies.

While Tennessee and everyone in the NFL would like to model New England’s success, and while the Titans have some Patriots DNA we’d think connects them, two of the Nashville guys with strong ties to New England will tell you those ties aren’t so strong anymore.

Logan Ryan’s been playing Nashville for three seasons, just a year less than he played for the Patriots. And Mike Vrabel may have suited up for the Pats for eight seasons and won three rings, but he was quick to point out his utter lack of sentiment for the franchise as soon as the Titans-Patriots playoff matchup was set.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Two years ago, on the field at Foxboro in a divisional playoff loss to the Patriots, Jack Conklin tore his ACL and his career began a downward spiral.

Only in the second half of this season has he returned to anything close to the form of his 2016 rookie All-Pro year.

“I’ve moved past that,” he said. “It’s one of those freak things that happens sometimes, it really has nothing to do with that field. Obviously, I remember, but you’ve just got to let it go. You start thinking about stuff like that, that’s when injuries tend to happen. It feels like it’s been a long time, not two years ago.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  -- Across the league, very few Week 17 games had a meaningful outcome.

One side of the Titans versus Texans had something to play for.

The Titans did a good job of staying focused and getting the job done with a win.

The biggest positive was the Titans came out of the game healthy and got their running game back.

HOUSTON – Late on Oct. 13, without having scored a point, they came home from Denver, 2-4 and terrible.

There was little cause for hope or belief in the 2019 Tennessee Titans at that point.

Even the most fervent believers inside the big offices, the GM upstairs and the head coach downstairs, working feverishly and well past even night-owl bedtimes had to have serious doubts.

Eleven weeks later, thanks to a 35-14 win over the resting Texans, the franchise has earned a second trip to the playoffs in three years, and done so in an improbable way.