Post-game analysis: Patriots 34, Titans 13

As expected, the Patriots received strong performances by Tom Brady and both of his highly regarded tight ends in the opener. But New England also received a boost from RB Stevan Ridley and DE Handler Jones in the win.

By Matt Rybaltowski

Sep 9, 2012 at 5:59 pm ET • 4 min read

Tom Brady returned quickly after suffering a bloodied nose in the second quarter and achieved several milestones in the Patriots' 34-13 win over the Titans. (AP Images)

When Tom Brady returned to the sidelines after a vicious second-quarter hit by Tennessee Titans’ DE Kamerion Wimbley, several trainers raced to his side to attend to his bloody nose.

The hit may have knocked a quarterback with less fortitude out of the opener, but Brady quickly bounced back and didn’t miss a single play. After the hit, Brady completed more than 73 percent of his passes and added a touchdown in the New England Patriots’ 34-13 opening-week win Sunday over the Titans at LP Field.

“I need more of that, I never mind a little blood,” Brady jokingly said at his postgame press conference.

The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player eclipsed the 40,000 yard passing mark for his career in the first quarter. Brady became the 14th player in NFL history to reach the milestone. The 13-year quarterback also improved to 125-35 as a starter, reaching 125 wins faster than any other quarterback. Brady targeted TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez on 13 passes and completed 12 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns to the duo.

The Titans appeared to gain momentum following a 29-yard touchdown catch by Nate Washington in the third quarter. Washington’s touchdown cut the Patriots’ lead to 21-10. On the ensuing drive, Tennessee faced a third-and-10 from its own 10 when Jake Locker ran up the middle on a 21-yard draw. The play was nullified by a holding call on left guard Steve Hutchinson. Following a Titans’ punt, the Patriots responded with a six-play, 48-yard touchdown drive to put the game out of hand.

When the game turned: Facing third-and-13 from the Titans’ 7, Locker dropped back into the end zone and had the ball stripped by Patriots’ DE Chandler Jones. New England LB Dont’a Hightower recovered the fumble and returned it six yards for a touchdown. The Patriots’ lead didn’t dip below 10-points for the remainder of the game.

Highlight moments: Locker connected with Nate Washington on a 24-yard completion along the left sidelines on a 4th-and-1 on the game’s opening drive. Three plays later, Titans WR Damian Williams was unable to haul in a pass from Locker in the end zone. Williams claimed he was interfered with on the play... Gronkowski made his first touchdown catch of the season on a 2-yard reception in the right corner of the end zone in the second quarter... Locker spent several minutes on the ground after making a tackle on Patriots' S Patrick Chung in the fourth quarter... Chung returned a Nate Washington fumble 49 yards to the Titans' 26, but the play was ruled an incomplete pass. Neither Locker, nor Washington returned after suffering injuries on the play.

Top-shelf performances: Patriots RB Stevan Ridley looked sharp and decisive in rushing for 125 yards on 21 carries. The shifty Ridley changed directions quickly, and he easily found creases in the defense throughout the game. After finishing 20th in run offense in 2011, the Patriots’ running attack wasn’t expected to be a strong point this season.

What they said about Steve Hutchinson’s third-quarter holding penalty:

• Titans coach Mike Munchak -- “The Patriots are a great team; that’s a huge play in the game on a draw for a first down. It’s field position, it’s all kinds of things. And after that drive, we punt and they score points on that drive. Those are things good teams don’t do.”

• Locker -- “It’s something you can’t control, it was a good play for us, and unfortunately it didn’t stand.”

• Center Fernando Velasco, who helped open a gap for Locker on the 21-yard run -- “It was a big blow, it didn’t look like Hutch was holding him intentionally. It’s going to happen sometimes. You just have to minimize that.”

Numbers you should know: Although Ridley averaged more than five yards a carry in 2011, he only received 87 rushes while playing behind former Patriots’ RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Ridley may receive more carries after his breakout performance.

Injury update: Locker suffered a sore left shoulder on a hit on his tackle on Chung early in the fourth quarter. Locker is scheduled to undergo additional testing on Monday, but he expects to be ready for next Sunday’s game at San Diego. Washington suffered a leg contusion on the play, and his status for the Chargers' game is unknown. Titans LB Colin McCarthy had his foot placed in a boot at halftime and missed the entire second half. Munchak is unsure if McCarthy suffered a fractured foot. Patriots C Dan Connolly left the game with a head injury but passed concussion tests afterward, the Boston Globe reported. New England T Sebastian Vollmer (back) split reps with backup Marcus Cannon.

Going forward: The Patriots will host the Cardinals in their home opener next Sunday. New England will then face two stout defensive lines in successive weeks when they face the Ravens and the Bills. The Titans have three challenging games to close out the month of September against San Diego, Detroit and Houston.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Tennessee Titans, follow Matt Rybaltowski @CBSTitans.