This match wouldn’t have been close if Drake Maye hadn’t been able to make plays with his legs. His ability to get by in the pocket extended drives and constantly created opportunities for the Patriots.

Make no mistake, the Titans are no joke defensively. All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was a particular problem for the Patriots. He dominated the offensive line so much that the coaching staff benched rookie Layden Robinson and kicked Mike Onwenu at guard just to give the team a fighting chance.

That still didn’t stop the Titans from wreaking havoc with four sacks and nine quarterback hits. They also completely shut down the Patriots’ ground game outside of Maye, with running back Rhamondre Stevenson limited to just 16 yards. Run blocking hasn’t been good for the Patriots in recent weeks, and while pass protection has improved, they took a giant step backwards against the Titans on Sunday.

The Patriots made an effort to get the ball into DeMario Douglas’s hands, but not much happened as a result. He finished the game with seven receptions and a measly 35 yards, while Kendrick Bourne had four catches for 41 yards.

The primary receiver was once again tight end Hunter Henry, with running back Rhamondre Stevenson making the top three. This once again showed that the Patriots weren’t getting enough production at receiver.

Ja’Lynn Polk was targeted once and ended up with zero catches and two penalties, and Kayshon Boutte had just two receptions for 18 yards. Maye was forced to scramble in most situations because receivers weren’t getting open. There were times when the young quarterback was dodging incoming defenders like Neo in “The Matrix,” and despite gaining extra time, there was still no one for Mayo to throw the ball downfield.

You have to think the Patriots will consider a possible receiver trade between now and the trade deadline if he becomes available this week.

If the Titans hadn’t missed a third down in the red zone, the Patriots never would have gotten the ball back in overtime. The writing was on the wall as Tennessee’s offensive line dominated New England’s defensive front during a slow, agonizing drive that lasted 7:28.

And that was the story of the game. It was the Patriots’ inability to stop the running game that ultimately led them against the Titans. They led for almost 10 minutes in terms of possession and the defense stayed on the field too long. What happened to the same effort we saw against Breece Hall and the New York Jets last week?

The Titans totaled 167 rushing yards in Sunday’s game. It’s hard to beat any team on the road when there is clearly no answer for the ground game.

The trade deadline is Tuesday, November 5. Most expect the Patriots to be sellers with a 2-7 record and little to no chance of competing this season. However, the Patriots should leave no stone unturned in their efforts to add talent to their roster.

The three most needed positions are wide receiver, offensive line and defensive tackle. They need to take advantage of this opportunity to get a head start on the heavy roster build-up they will be forced to undergo during the offseason.

It would be difficult to leave Maye out to dry for the remainder of the season with few offensive weapons and a poor offensive line. If they can find ways to improve the offense around him, they should make every effort to do so. As unbelievable as it is to see him trying to do everything on his own, it won’t last if he continues to take the kind of punishment he withstood against the Titans.