NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mike Vrabel gets to leave Tennessee happy.

Closer than anticipated through the first half, the New England Patriots decisively beat the Titans 31-13 in Vrabel’s return to Tennessee, just 22 months after getting fired.

This one must have hurt for Titans fans, seeing their former head coach, sporting his familiar navy blue vest on the opposing sideline, coaching his new team in a blowout win while their own team still looks aimless.

Sunday’s matchup was viewed as a potential trap game for the Patriots, entering their third straight road game against an interim head coach. The Titans already fired Vrabel’s replacement, Brian Callahan, just 23 weeks into his tenure as head coach.

The Patriots are now 5-2 on the season. Vrabel has now won more games in one season as Patriots head coach than the Titans have won since they fired him following the 2023 season.

The Titans and Patriots began the game exchanging field goals to start out with a 3-3 tied score. The Titans picked up most of their yardage on a completion to rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor when cornerback Carlton Davis III slipped in coverage. The Patriots got out to a hot start running the ball but sputtered out in the end zone on their ensuing drive.

The Titans needed just three plays to score on their second series. Quarterback Cam Ward hit rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike for a 38-yard touchdown with Marcus Jones in coverage and Craig Woodson deep at safety to take a 10-3 lead.

The Patriots and Titans exchanged punts before Drake Maye led his offense on a 11-play, 93-yard drive that culminated with a spectacular 3-yard touchdown catch from tight end Austin Hooper to net the game at 10-10. Hooper reached over Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed for the catch and held on while getting both feed in bounds through contact.

The Titans responded by taking a 13-10 lead on a 50-yard field goal from kicker — and former Patriot — Joey Slye into the wind.

It took less than a minute for Maye to drive the Patriots down the field for another touchdown, hitting Boutte in stride in the end zone on a 39-yard connection. Boutte, not to be outdone by Hooper, caught it with his fingertips.

The Titans didn’t make a strong effort to score with 49 seconds left in the first half despite having three timeouts and let time expire.

The Patriots came out of the half and extended their lead to 24-13 on a 4-yard touchdown run from running back Rhamondre Stevenson. It wasn’t without some drama, however. Maye hit his head hard against the turf on a 6-yard scramble. He missed three plays while getting checked for a concussion then returned to the drive. The Patriots went for it on fourth-and-1 in the red zone, and Maye’s pass was behind DeMario Douglas, but the slot receiver hauled in the first-down conversion with one hand to keep the drive alive.

On the very next play from scrimmage, Ward had the ball fly out of his hand on a dropback. It was easily scooped up by K’Lavon Chaisson for a touchdown as the Patriots took a 31-13 lead.

Jones closed out the game by intercepting Ward.

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