NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While Adrian Peterson spent three weeks on the Titans’ roster, his presence spurred a conversation among my All-22 group: What would an All-Titans team of players at their peak, regardless of when that was in their careers, look like?

Randy Moss

Randy Moss as a Titan in 2010/ Courtesy Tennessee Titans

Such a team wouldn’t include 2021 Adrian Peterson, but 2012 Adrian Peterson, who averaged 6 yards a carry, ran for 2,097 yards and won MVP. In the Titans’ era of Eddie George, Chris Johnson and Derrick Henry, peak Peterson would still qualify as the starting running back.

So here is the rest of the team that would surround him, with the years they were in Tennessee:

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As thinned out as the Titans were in New England, the backbone of who they are defensively was still on the field.

David Long and Rashaan Evans, the presumed starting inside linebackers were out. So was interior defensive lineman Teair Tart. Outside linebacker Bud Dupree was missing as was his replacement, Ola Adeniyi. Rotational corner Chris Jackson was also unable to play.

Jeffery Simmons

But Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry and Harold Landry started, and it was reasonable to expect them to impact and influence rookie quarterback Mac Jones. A dejected Simmons said after the Titans’ 36-13 loss that dropped the team to 8-4 that the Titans’ defense failed to do its job because it failed to outplay the Patriots' defense.

Simmons made four tackles and Landry three, with Autry not registering anything to get on the game-day stat sheet. The three didn’t hit or sack the quarterback or knock down a pass.

For the last three games, they've been missing David Long (hamstring) at inside linebacker behind them.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans inserted Ryan Tannehill into a favorable system when he took over as their starting quarterback during the 2019 season.

That’s not a bad thing, that’s a good thing.

Teams are supposed to maximize the strengths of their players, and in trading for Tannehill in the first place, Jon Robinson and Mike Vrabel recognized a great contingency plan for Marcus Mariota.Ryan Tannehill

Pool photo/ Donald Page, Tennessee Titans

Derrick Henry and the run game are the central components of the Titans’ offense and play-action throws built off of that are the backbone of the passing game.

Too often Tannehill has been criticized for being good in that framework.

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Scouting review: Ryan Tannehill, Titans' defensive stars didn't do enough vs. Patriots

BY BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Turnovers and special teams were two categories the Titans were going to need to win to have a chance to pull out the victory versus the Patriots in New England.

The Patriots won both areas and that canceled out two positive areas from the Titans -- the positive play from the Titans’ defense keeping the Patriots out of the end zone and the offensive line that started to impose its will on the Patriots’ defensive front.

Ryan Tannehill

© George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY

In the preview, I mentioned that the established starters, captains, and perceived stars on the team needed to step up and play their best game.

Ryan Tannehill played another poor game without A.J. Brown, Julio Jones and Derrick Henry. There is no excuse for his level of play.

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Paul Kuharsky members chat.FOXBORO, Mass. -- So, we knew the Titans being injury-depleted was going to make this game a problem.

Did we know it was going to be that much of a problem?

Members got together to discuss it thoroughly, as we do from the stadium where it unfolds after every game, win or lose, good or bad for the Titans.

Head over to the private Facebook room to rewatch or head below the line.

These are universally rated as one of the best features of membership, which happens to be on sale right now, so it's a good time to sign up or get one as a gift for the big Titans' fan in your life.

If you're a member and you haven't signed up for text alerts for broadcasts you'll find that inside this post as well.

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Injuries, turnovers too much to handle as Titans fall out of AFC's top spot

FOXBORO, Mass. – The reason to believe the Titans as currently constituted could come to Gillette Stadium and beat the very hot Patriots was that Mike Vrabel is very good when his team is a shorthanded underdog.

His wizardry only goes so far.

Elijah Molden flails in defense

© David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Down Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, Julio Jones, Jeremy McNichols and Marcus Johnson the Titans were working with offensive weaponry that had joined the team as recently as Oct. 27 (Dontrell Hilliard), Nov. 2 (D’Onta Foreman), and Nov. 16 Cody Hollister. (They were also without Nate Davis.)

New England came in with five consecutive wins and the NFL’s best scoring defense and they handled the Titans quite easily, 36-13.

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Scouting preview: Ryan Tannehill learning new weapons and Patriots' defense simultaneously

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, TENN. -- The Titans have beaten some of the best teams in the NFL this season, they just happen to have lost to two of the worst along the way.

That doesn’t make them any less of a contender.Ryan Tannehill

Pool photo/ Donald Page, Tennessee Titans

The Patriots are playing Patriot football again behind rookie quarterback Mac Jones.

He is an accurate quarterback who limits mistakes and that is just the type of football New England thrives on.

If there is ever a game for the Titans to get refocused with, this is it.

The Titans will be without Derrick Henry, Julio Jones and A.J. Brown, so what can they do to attack the Patriots' defense?

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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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