Mike Vrabel and his Patriots head to Tennessee looking to extend winning streak to four

New England (4-2) at Tennessee (1-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS.

BetMGM NFL odds: Patriots by 7.

Against the spread: Patriots 4-2, Titans 2-4.

Series record: Patriots lead 26-19-1.

Last meeting: Titans beat the Patriots 20-17 in OT on Nov. 3, 2024, in Nashville.

Last week: Patriots beat Saints 25-19, Titans lost at Raiders 20-10.

Patriots offense: overall (16), rush (26), pass (6), scoring (11).

Patriots defense: overall (16), rush (4), pass (25), scoring (T-7).

Titans offense: overall (32), rush (31), pass (31), scoring (31).

Titans defense: overall (22), rush (25), pass (13), scoring (26).

Turnover differential: Patriots even; Titans minus-1.

Drake Maye. The second-year quarterback is thriving in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' system. Maye tied a career high with three touchdown passes last week at New Orleans. He has also had five straight games with a 100-plus passer rating after finishing with a 140.1 rating against the Saints. He enters this week second in the NFL with a 73.2 completion rate. Detroit's Jared Goff is leading the league at 75.9.

Cam Ward. The No. 1 overall pick in the April draft is a big reason why the Titans fired Brian Callahan on Monday, wanting to see improvement out of the offense. Ward completed a career-high 26 passes last week for 222 yards. The rookie has more interceptions (four) than TD passes (3).

The Patriots pass defense against the rookie quarterback. New England is giving up 239 yards per game through the air and ranks last in the NFL in allowing 7.88 yards per pass play. Ward has shown a knack for throwing deep.

Patriots: WR Stefon Diggs (chest) and LBs Harold Landry (ankle) and Anfernee Jennings (ankle) practiced fully Friday and are questionable. S Jaylinn Hawkins (hamstring) was limited Thursday and Friday. He's questionable along with CB Charles Woods (knee), who missed two practices.

Titans: K Joey Slye (right calf) is available after being limited all week after missing the last game. WR Calvin Ridley (hamstring) and OLB Arden Key (quadricep) are out after not practicing all week. LB Dre'Mont Jones (knee) is questionable after being added to the injury report Thursday. DT T'Vondre Sweat (ankle) practiced all week and was activated from injured reserve Saturday, with P Johnny Hekker (illness) added to the injury report.

This will be the first game Patriots coach Mike Vrabel will coach against the franchise that gave him his first head coaching job in 2018. Vrabel coached the Titans to their most recent playoff win in this series, a wild-card victory that was the last for Tom Brady in a Patriots' uniform. These are two of the original AFL franchises, and this will be the second straight season the Patriots have visited the Titans. The Titans have won three of the past four games between these teams. That includes last season in the most recent game the Titans have won at Nissan Stadium. Mike McCoy will make his debut as the Titans' interim head coach after Brian Callahan was fired Monday.

The Patriots have won three straight games. A victory this week will give New England its longest winning streak since a seven-game streak during the 2021 season. ... New England is 3-0 on the road this season. It has started with a road record of 4-0 or better eight times in team history. ... The Patriots are fourth in the NFL against the run, allowing 83.5 yards per game. ... The Patriots are allowing just 3.46 yards per rush, the third-lowest mark in the NFL this season. ... New England is the only team that has not given up 50 yards to a running back this season. It is the first time in team history that has occurred. ... Marcus Jones leads the NFL this season with a 23.1 yards per return average ... Patriots TE Hunter Henry ranks fifth among New England tight ends with 2,482 receiving yards. He needs 6 yards to move past Jim Whalen into fourth place. ... WR Kayshon Boutte had his first NFL game with at least two touchdowns last week at New Orleans. ... LB Robert Spillane had his third game this season with 10-plus tackles after finishing with a team-leading 11 total tackles last week. ... Titans' Jeffery Simmons is the third DT in the NFL in the past 17 seasons to have at least 4 1/2 sacks and eight tackles for loss in the first six games of a season. He has joined Geno Atkins (2012 and 2018) and Aaron Donald (2015). ... Titans RB Tyjae Spears had 50 scrimmage yards last week. ... WR Van Jefferson led the Titans with 75 yards receiving last week. ... Elic Ayomanor is the only AFC rookie WR with 2 TD receptions. ... TE Chig Okonkwo had a season-high six catches last week. ... LB Cody Barton had his second interception of the season last week. LB Dre'Mont Jones had his first sack of the season last week. ... CB L’Jarius Sneed had a career-high 10 tackles last week.

Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs fared well against the Titans in his career. He has 38 catches (9.5 per game) for 446 yards (111.5 per game) and four receiving touchdowns in four games against Tennessee. That includes 12 catches for 148 yards and three TDs in his most recent game against the Titans (Sept. 19, 2022, with Buffalo).

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tennessee Titans interim head coach Mike McCoy watches his players during practice at the team's NFL football training facility Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

New England Patriots defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy reacts after New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson fumbled the ball during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) looks to throw a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks to throw during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel speaks to media after a win over the New Orleans Saints in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — C.J Stroud threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, the Texans leaned on the NFL's top-ranked defense to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and Houston came away from Arrowhead Stadium with a 20-10 victory over Kansas City on Sunday night.

Nico Collins contributed four catches for 121 yards, and Dare Ogunbowale added a go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter as the Texans (8-5) won their fifth straight overall and remained a game back of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South.

Mahomes, operating behind an ailing offensive line, was just 14 of 33 for 160 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions, the last of them late in the fourth quarter when Kansas City was trailing by a touchdown and trying to get the game to overtime.

While the win gave a big boost to Houston's playoff chances, whether it be a division title or wild-card spot, it dealt a crippling blow to the defending AFC champs. Kansas City dropped to 6-7, its worst record through 13 games since a 2-11 start to the 2012 season.

The Chiefs had won five straight against the Texans, including a divisional playoff matchup last January on their way to another Super Bowl appearance. But they were two different teams entirely when they returned for the rematch on Sunday night.

The streaking Texans were trying to keep their momentum going, and perhaps join a rare club of teams that includes Houston's 2018 version that started 0-3 and made the playoffs. And the once-dominant Chiefs were simply trying to stay in the postseason fight amid a dismal season marked by injuries, underwhelming performances and too many mistakes across the board.

The first half turned into a microcosm of all of it.

Stroud, who played so well against Indianapolis last week in his return from a concussion, connected with Collins for a 46-yard gain that set up Ka'imi Fairbairn's field goal, and a 53-yard catch that led to a short touchdown toss to Woody Marks.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs sustained two more significant injuries, this time to left tackle Wanya Morris and cornerback Trent McDuffie, leaving them without their best defensive back and Mahomes working with an offensive line consisting of three backups.

Kansas City wound up with 98 first-half yards and trailed 10-0 at the break, only the fourth time with Mahomes at quarterback and the second time in the regular season that the Chiefs had been shut out in the first half.

The Chiefs' defense held its own, though, forcing Stroud into eight consecutive incompletions to start the second half. That allowed Mahomes and the offense to pick away at the deficit, first on Kareem Hunt's TD run and then on Harrison Butker's tying field goal.

Ultimately, the game hinged on two fourth-down decisions in the first quarter.

With the score still 10-10, the Texans had fourth-and-1 at their own 35 and punted. The Chiefs were then held to fourth-and-1 at their own 31, chose to go for it, and watched Mahomes throw incomplete with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Six plays later, Ogunbowale plowed into the end zone from 5 yards out to give Houston the lead again.

The Chiefs failed on fourth down again moments later, when Rashee Rice dropped a wide-open pass that would have produced a first down. And after Kansas City got the ball back one last time, Mahomes was picked off to end any hope of a comeback.

Texans: RB Nick Chubb (ribs) left in the first half.

Chiefs: RG Trey Smith (ankle) and RT Jawaan Taylor (triceps) were inactive. Morris (knee) and CB McDuffie (knee) got hurt in the first half, leaving Kansas City with a patchwork offensive line and without its best defensive back.

Houston plays the Cardinals next Sunday.

Kansas City plays the Chargers the same day.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scrambles as Houston Texans defensive end Denico Autry, left, defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Houston Texans cornerback Ameer Speed (37) reacts to Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker (7) missing a field goal attempt during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (4) is congratulated by teammate Jalen Pitre, left, after intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale, right, scores past Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Chamarri Conner during the second half of an NFL football game Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)