NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s loss to the Texans took some of the shine off Sunday’s Titans-Patriots matchup in New England, but it’s still a prime AFC game.

The Titans are still atop the AFC at 8-3 and the 7-4 Patriots have won five in a row and taken over the lead in the AFC East.

Mike Vrabel has beaten his old team and his old coach, Bill Belichick, in his two chances since becoming the Titans’ head coach.

Mike Vrabel

Pool photo/ Donald Page, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee won 34-18 at Nissan Stadium on Nov. 11, 2018, and then took down the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in the wild-card round of the playoffs on Jan. 4, 2020, in Tom Brady’s final game with the franchise.

With a third matchup against Belichick looming, Vrabel has done well to downplay that angle.

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