NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jerod Mayo and Brian Callahan are going through the challenges first-year NFL coaches usually face. Balancing the need to win now with the patience needed when developing young quarterbacks.
It's not easy, and Mayo brings his New England Patriots to Music City on Sunday to play Callahan's Titans with both near the bottom of the NFL standings. That has fans either seeing a tank job in progress or clamoring loudly for more losses for a better draft pick next April . That's not a coach's top priority as the calendar flips to November.
“Our job is to go put the best product on the field every single week, play as hard as we can, do everything we can to win a game,” Callahan said. “And I’ll always take that stance.” His Titans (1-6) have matched the franchise's worst start since 2015, which cost Ken Whisenhunt his job in his second season.
Tennessee was routed 52-14 in Detroit , and the Titans return home desperate for their first win in Nashville after an 0-3 start. Tennessee is one of only two NFL teams with only one win along with Carolina. Mayo and his Patriots (2-5) aren't far behind only thanks to last week's 25-22 win over the Jets.
Fans forget jobs are on the line no matter the record, especially with so much of the season remaining. “There’s too much at stake and too much at risk for anybody to do anything other than everything they possibly can to go win a game,” Callahan said. As the Patriots wait for rookie Drake Maye to emerge.
