New England Loses 20-13 As Titans Proceed in Playoffs

Is this the end of an era for the Patriots?

Titans/Patriots Wild Card game
Ryan Tannehill of the Tennessee Titans is congratulated by Tom Brady of the New England Patriots after their 20-13 win in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game.
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The New England Patriots hosted the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on a brisk January night. It was a Wild Card game, but surely momentum was on the Patriots’ side; surely the ubiquitous sight of New England playing in the Super Bowl would continue for another year. They were playing at home to boot. And the potential of Tom Brady leading the Patriots to another title in what might be his final season with the team — well, who could deny them that storybook narrative?

There’s an answer to that, and they call Nashville home. When time ran out in New England this evening, it was the Tennessee Titans who would go on to advance in the playoffs — and the Patriots whose season would finally be at an end.

Derrick Henry had a fine game for the Titans, rushing for 182 yards — a new team postseason record — and scoring a touchdown. Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who had previously been 0-6 at Gillette Stadium, notched his first win there.

In the final seconds of the game, Brady threw a pass from the end zone — only to have Logan Ryan intercept the ball and run for a touchdown.

After the game, Brady revealed little about his future plans.

Tennessee’s playoff run will continue next Saturday, as they take on the Ravens. As for New England, it continued their recent run of bad news.

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