There’s no point in sugarcoating this. Sunday’s matchup between the Patriots and Titans will showcase two of the NFL’s very worst teams.

The Titans are favored in this one despite ranking dead last in EPA (expected points added) per play and per dropback and 25th in EPA per rush. They rank relatively well in advanced defensive stats but also just gave up 52 points to the Lions in Week 8.

Related Articles

NFL notes: The Patriots’ midseason MVP, biggest surprise and more awards

New Patriots: Getting to know starting offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs

Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye officially one of eight questionable vs. Titans

Patriots might be ready to let rookie wide receiver Javon Baker loose on offense

Patriots missing kicker, practice squad wide receiver from practice

We’ll be watching these four Patriots players on Sunday in Nashville.

WR Kayshon Boutte

Boutte has emerged as a legitimate deep threat for the Patriots this season. He’s caught four deep passes on five targets for 128 yards with one touchdown. He ranks 24th among NFL receivers in deep receiving yards despite only becoming a starter in Week 5.

The LSU product had dependable hands up until Week 8, when he dropped two passes early in the win over the Jets. He more than made up for it with two huge catches in the Patriots’ fourth quarter game-winning drive.

“Obviously not being a part of the offense first couple weeks and still sticking to it, putting the work in on the practice field and a lot of that stuff starting to come to fruition for him, as a teammate of his, it’s obviously really rewarding to see that when it finally starts to go your way,” veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett said this week. “He’s making the most of his opportunity.”

Titans top cornerback L’Jarius Sneed has struggled this season and isn’t expected to play Sunday. After facing off against Sauce Gardner in Week 8, Boutte has a much easier matchup against the Titans.

OLB Ochaun Mathis

The newest member of the Patriots’ defense, Mathis was signed off the practice squad after the Patriots traded away Joshua Uche to the Chiefs.

Mathis has played in three games this season as a practice squad elevation, but he should start to take on a bigger role on defense.

Mathis is athletic and has elite length at 6-foot-5 with 35 1/4-inch arms. Expect Keion White and Anfernee Jennings to start. But Deatrich Wise Jr. and Mathis should spell the starters.

Titans offensive tackles have been rough this season. There are opportunities for Patriots pass-rushers if they can get out to an early lead.

DT Davon Godchaux

The Titans’ offense is brutal, but running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears can be playmakers.

“When you look at their running backs, to me, it’s a fantastic one-two punch,” head coach Jerod Mayo said Wednesday. “Expect to see both of those guys, and they can hurt you in the run game.”

Godchaux has been up-and-down this season and is at his best when Mayo just lets him eat space at nose tackle. The veteran is the Patriots’ only real space-eater at defensive tackle.

The Patriots’ run defense fared better in Week 8 against the Jets than they played in previous weeks against the 49ers, Dolphins, Texans and Jaguars. Godchaux and Jennings need to hold their ground.

It would also be beneficial if the Patriots can start to get something more out of linebacker Sione Takitaki.

CB Christian Gonzalez

It would have been more difficult to nail down Gonzalez’s matchup in Week 8 before the Titans traded away DeAndre Hopkins. Now, it’s pretty obvious that Gonzalez will shadow Calvin Ridley.

Ridley has just 22 catches for 326 yards and touchdown since electing to sign with the Titans over the Patriots as a free agent this offseason. Ten of those catches and 143 of those yards came last week against the Lions, when Ridley was targeted 15 times.

Gonzalez had a strong start to the season but didn’t play his best football against the Texans or Jaguars. He bounced back in a big way against the Jets, however, shutting down wide receiver Davante Adams.

“For me, what Gonzo’s doing is what we fully expected him to do. Funny thing, look, he’s a quiet guy, but he’s a competitor. You listen to the mic’d up? That’s the most you’re going to get from that guy,” Mayo said. “He’s a guy that goes out there and plays hard every day, and he’s a great competitor.

“He’s not a very talkative guy, but he is a very good player, and I would say I’ve been around corners like that before that aren’t that talkative. [Stephon] Gilmore being one of those guys, [Darrelle] Revis being another one of those guys. They don’t talk a lot, but they go out there and get the job done.”

If Gonzalez can eliminate Ridley, then Tyler Boyd, who has just 184 yards through seven games, becomes the Titans’ next-best receiving threat.