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3 Reasons Brady-Belichick Era Will Not End Saturday Against Titans

By Alex Kurpeski

The New England Patriots Dynasty will not end at the hands of the Tennessee Titans
The New England Patriots Dynasty will not end at the hands of the Tennessee Titans / Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

There's been a lot of chatter regarding the demise of the New England Patriots in these past few years, yet it seems like every time people begin to write off this team, they figure out a way to rebound with a Lombardi Trophy. While New England has gone just 4-4 in their last eight contests, they are still a 12-4 team for a reason, and this Saturday in the blinding snow, the Tennessee Titans will find out just why.

3. Big Game Experience

The New England Patriots have played in several big spots in the last decade under Bill Belichick
The New England Patriots have played in several big spots in the last decade under Bill Belichick / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Simplistic? Sure. But we all know what happens to trendy upset picks when they have to play a postseason game under the lights in Foxborough. The Patriots have played in the Super Bowl in each of the past three seasons. The Titans, on the other hand, have made just two playoff games in the last decade, losing to (who else) the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in the 2017 Divisional Round. With very few players on their roster having played in (and won) a playoff game, Tennessee will most likely be overmatched in this contest. If you don't believe that to be true, just ask the '18 Chargers, '17 Texans or '12 Texans, the Tim Tebow Broncos, or an endless list of other upstarts.

2. Ryan Tannehill's Record vs Patriots

Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill has been great this year, but his playoff record is suspect
Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill has been great this year, but his playoff record is suspect / Tim Warner/Getty Images

Ryan Tannehill has been amazing since stepping in as the QB for Tennessee early on in the season, completing 70% of his passes for 22 TDs, against just 6 INTs. Yet as tremendous as Tannehill has been this season, his all-time mark of 4-7 versus the Patriots is far from reassuring, featuring many all-time disasters. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, so why would Tannehill suddenly become a Patriot killer under these heightened circumstances?

1. Tom Brady's Playoff Record

New England Patriots QB Tom Brady has been an all-time great playoff performer
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady has been an all-time great playoff performer / Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Tom Brady is 30-10 all-time as a starter in playoff games. Perhaps more impressively, Brady has not lost a home playoff game in a decade, something for the Titans to keep in mind if they hope to steal this one. With playoff TB12 locked and loaded, the Titans stand no chance of winning this one. Next week? Well, that's a different story. But no, Brady and Belichick's reign won't biblically end at the hands of Mike Vrabel. If 2018 didn't teach you that Brady still knows his body well enough to prepare for these moments all regular season long, then Saturday will.