NASHVILLE, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- The Tennessee Titans host defending world champion New England Monday night in a critical clash for both teams.
The Titans have won seven of their last eight games after a 1-4 start, and are one-half game behind Indianapolis for first place in the AFC South. Also, they hold the tiebreaker edge because of a sweep of the season series.
The Pats also need a victory to move into a first-place tie. They are hoping to repeat the formula of their Super Bowl winning season of 2001, when they won their last six games to finish 11-5.
New England is one-half game behind Miami in the AFC East. It closes the season with home games against the New York Jets and Miami.
Even with a loss Monday, the Pats can win the division with wins in the final two games, but Coach Bill Belichick wants a first-round bye as well as a division title, and knows he will probably have to beat the Titans in order to get the bye.
"We'll just put everything into the Tennessee game Monday night," Belichick said. "It will take our best effort."
Belichick was able to fluster former Pats quarterback Drew Bledsoe with his defensive schemes in last week's 27-17 win over Buffalo, but now he must deal with Steve McNair, who has the mobility to escape the pocket and do damage with his legs as well as his arm.
McNair threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns in a come-from-behind 32-29 win over the New York Giants on Dec. 1, and was 19-of-23 for 237 yards and a score in a 27-17 victory over Indianapolis last week.
"I don't think I've ever been around a tougher guy week in, week out, day in, day out," said Titans Coach Jeff Fisher. "It's hard to describe what he's doing."
New England's Tom Brady isn't doing too bad, either. He leads the NFL with 26 touchdown passes, and cut down his interceptions from seven in the team's four-game losing streak in September-October to only two in the past six games.
In last week's win over Buffalo, the Patriots scored on their first four possessions and Brady hit 10 different receivers to keep the defense off balance.
The Titans likely will employ their best cover corner Samari Rolle on Troy Brown, who has 79 catches for 742 yards and nine touchdowns, but Brady has plenty of weapons, with receivers Deion Branch, Donald Hayes, David Patten and tight ends Christian Fauria and Daniel Graham along with third down back Kevin Faulk.
Tennessee will try to pound away with Eddie George, who has rushed for 873 yards, to complement McNair's passing. Derrick Mason is the Titans' leading receiver with 67 catches for 870 yards.
New England leads the series, 18-14-1, and has won six of the last eight meetings.
