Tennessee Titans score updates vs. New England Patriots: Final NFL preseason game

The Tennessee Titans' run through the 2023 preseason ends Friday night with a matchup against the New England Patriots.

The Titans and Patriots face off at Nissan Stadium (7:15 p.m.) in each team's last test before the regular season begins. The Titans split their first two preseason matchups, with a loss against the Chicago Bears and a win vs. the Minnesota Vikings. This matchup will be the Titans' lone home game in the preseason.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel has hinted that a number of his team's veterans might see a little bit of action vs. the Patriots. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill hasn't taken a preseason snap since 2019, but Vrabel said there's a possibility Tannehill could see a little action Friday. Defensive veterans like outside linebacker Harold Landry and safety Amani Hooker have also indicated they might play a little bit for the first time this preseason.

Beyond the starters, all eyes will be on the Titans' backup quarterback battle. Second-year passer Malik Willis took all but two of the Titans' quarterback reps vs. the Vikings, getting an extended chance to win the second-team role with rookie Will Levis battling an injury. But Levis returned to practice as a full participant Wednesday and will need to make the best of his opportunities to keep pace with Willis.

This will be one of the final opportunities for Vrabel and the Titans' coaches to evaluate their 90-man roster before next Tuesday, Aug. 29, when the NFL requires teams to trim their roster down to 53 players.

Follow below for live updates as the Titans take on the Patriots.

Tennessee Titans vs. New England Patriots: Live updates

Fourth quarter

FINAL: Titans 23, Patriots 6

12:37 left: Caleb Murphy sack on third down.

14:17 left: Malik Willis with a nice strike on the run to Kearis Jackson for a touchdown. 26-yard TD pass.

Titans 20, Patriots 7

Third quarter

Malik Willis intercepted for second time

7:07 left: Malik Willis throws his second interception of the night, this one to Joe Giles-Harris who undercut the route.

8:00 left: Nice run by Jacques Patrick, running through a tackle. Mike Vrabel gave some encouragement.

10:10 left: Not that it's a surprise, but Malik Willis is starting the second half at QB. Will Levis is dressed but has a cap on.

Second quarter

Julius Chestnut touchdown catch

15 seconds left: Touchdown Titans, and it's Julius Chestnut on a 12-yard catch and run. He had two nice YAC plays on the drive. Badgley's PAT hits the upright but is good again.

Titans 13, Patriots 7

1:01 left: On back-to-back plays, the ball is on the ground. First, Malik Willis fumbles a handoff. On the next play, Chestnut fumbles. Titans recover the ball on both plays.

5:34 left: Titans backup OL in the game for this drive, sans Andre Dillard at left tackle.

7:06 left: Trace McSorley is in at QB for New England.

Michael Badgley misses from 39 yards

7:14 left: Michael Badgley's 39 yard field goal attempt is wide left. 2-3 today.

11:18 left: Julius Chestnut cutback run for 23 yards.

13:13 left: First team offensive line still in the game sans Brunskill.

13:16 left: Touchdown Patriots, on a Kevin Harris run right up the middle. That came a play after some poor tackling by the Titans defense.

Patriots 7, Titans 6.

First quarter

Malik Willis throws interception

1:11 left: Nice cutback and run (With a stiff arm, who knew a Titans RB could do that?) by Tyjae Spears for 23 yards.

1:55 left: Rashad Weaver sack. He, Autry and Weaver still in the game during that Patriots drive. NE will punt.

Daniel Brunskill to the locker room

Per Titans: Brunskill is questionable to return with a knee injury.

Denico Autry's strip sack leads to points

6:06 left: Badgley's 27-yard field goal is good. Titans running game not excelling like it did in Minnesota. Willis' third and goal pass was overthrown in the back of the end zone.

Titans 6, Patriots 0

7:32 left: Sack, fumble, Titans ball. Denico Autry sacks Zappe and strips him. Jayden Peevy recovers.

7:43 left: Michael Badgley's 44-yard field goal is up, hits the left upright and deflects through. That's a way to make a kick, I suppose.

Titans 3, Patriots 0.

10:21 left: Long DPI gets Titans across midfield, and Willis follows it up with a strike to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a first down. That was a confident throw.

11:05 left: Malik Willis is in the game at QB. The next time you'll see a fully-dressed Tannehill is in 16 days against the New Orleans Saints. First team OL stays in the game.

Kevin Byard, Harold Landry playing snaps, too

11:08 left: Denico Autry, Kevin Byard and Harold Landry among the Titans defensive starters in the game on the Patriots' first drive. Bailey Zappe and the Patriots' offense go 3-and-out.

Ryan Tannehill starts, hands off

13:07 left: Three plays, three handoffs for Ryan Tannehill. Not quite sure why he dressed for that, though he did miss the last three games last year with an ankle injury. Titans will punt.

15:00 left: Titans get the first half kickoff. Ryan Tannehill will start at QB, but a majority of the backup skill players in along with the first team offensive line.

Derrick Henry, DeAndre Hopkins also dressed

Ryan Tannehill, Will Levis in uniform

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Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans score vs New England Patriots: NFL preseason live updates