When Jake Locker makes his first career start Sunday, he must contend with Bill Belichick. (US Presswire)

Patriots at Titans -- Week 1

Where: LP Field, Nashville, Tenn. (grass, outdoors)

When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Spread: Patriots by 5.5

Forecast: Ideal conditions are expected, with forecasts calling for temperatures in the mid 70s. There is a zero percent chance of rain, according to the forecasts.

2011 records: Titans (9-7); Patriots (13-3)

Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Oct. 18, 2009: Patriots 59, Titans 0; Dec. 31, 2006: Patriots 40, Titans 23. Series record: Patriots hold a 22-16-1 edge.

What matters: Both teams have downplayed the Tennessee Titans’ 59-point loss to the New England Patriots on a snowy October afternoon when the they probably should have remained on the bus. The loss is the worst in franchise history and is tied for the sixth-most lopsided defeat in NFL history. There has been dramatic turnover on both rosters. The Titans only have 12 players on their 53-man roster who were active for that game. For the Patriots, only seven starters from the game remain with the team.

With matchups against New England, San Diego, Detroit and Houston to start the season, the Titans arguably have the toughest schedule in the league in September. The opener against the defending AFC Champions could provide an accurate barometer of the progress the Titans have made under second-year coach Mike Munchak.

Who matters: QBs Jake Locker and Tom Brady. Statistically, there isn’t a greater disparity between the starting quarterbacks in any of the 16 opening-weekend matchups. Locker will be making his first career start Sunday, and Brady will likely eclipse the 40,000 yard passing mark during the game. Locker expects Patriots coach Bill Belichick to disguise his looks often to create confusion. If Locker has problems with his accuracy and is committing turnovers early, it could be a long afternoon for the Titans.

Key matchups: Following the Patriots’ lead, the Titans have reconfigured their passing game to feature two athletic tight ends. The Patriots’ two-TE set with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez can be virtually impossible to defend. The Titans may counter by using a dime package with six defensive backs. LBs Colin McCarthy and Akeem Ayers are athletic enough to put up a fight against the duo in pass coverage. McCarthy had three interceptions in the preseason. At nickel, the Titans will use either CBs Alterraun Verner or Ryan Mouton on Wes Welker. Verner is regarded for his instinctiveness and high football IQ, and the athletic Mouton has fully recovered from a torn Achilles.

On offense, the Titans split TE Jared Cook out wide throughout training camp. Cook had 21 catches for 335 yards over his last three games in 2011. The Patriots could use rookie LB Dont’a Hightower on Cook in man coverage.

Injuries of note: If WR Kenny Britt was active, he likely would have received only 10 to 15 snaps. Britt, though, is suspended this week for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Patriots backup RB Shane Vereen missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with a foot injury.

Inside stuff: Referee Jerry Frump is among a select group of officials who worked as a replacement referee in 2001. Frump and head linesman Bill Etzler were part of the officiating crew for the Patriots-Eagles game in Week 3 of the preseason. Munchak gave the replacement crew from Wednesday’s Giants-Cowboys game high marks.

Connections: Offensive coordinator Chris Palmer served as the Patriots’ wide receivers and quarterbacks coach in the early 1990s under Bill Parcells. Belichick and Palmer coached together on Parcells’ staff in 1996. Palmer has a summer home in Cape Cod near the homes of Tom Brady and several other Patriots. Belichick was born in Nashville but moved to Annapolis, Md., after his father Steve received an assistant coaching gig with the United States Naval Academy.

Stat you should know: The Patriots were among the best in the NFL in 2011 in yards after the catch. Gronkowski ranked second in the league in yards after the catch (7.2). Just 23 defenders in the NFL had 10 or more broken tackles last season, according to footballoutsiders.com. Safeties Michael Griffin and Jordan Babineaux both earned the dubious distinction.

Record watch: K Rob Bironas will look to keep his streak of consecutive games with a field goal of 40 yards or more intact. Bironas set an NFL record with a field goal of at least 40 yards in 10 straight games last year. The eight-year kicker has hit 15 straight field goals -- the sixth-highest in franchise history.

Bulletin board quote: Defensive coordinator Jerry Gray on the best way to contain the Patriots’ two-tight end package: “Give Chris Johnson 50 carries,” Gray said.

Looking ahead: A win against the Patriots could give the Titans a boatload of confidence heading into a brutal stretch. Following the opener, the Titans will face two other explosive offenses in successive weeks in the Chargers and Lions.

Prediction: Patriots 31, Titans 23

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