Tennessee Titans

Titans bracing for difficult matchup with Gronkowski

Published Dec. 17, 2015 1:47 a.m. ET

foxsports

As the Tennessee Titans prepare to face the New England Patriots Sunday in Foxborough, containing New England star tight end Rob Gronkowski will be a priority for the Tennessee defense.

Actually doing it, will be the challenge.

Gronkowski has 61 receptions for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He missed New England's 35-28 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles Dec. 6 with a knee injury, but returned to catch four passes for 87 yards and a touchdown in last week's 27-6 win over the Houston Texans.

Titans interim head coach Mike Mularkey acknowledged defending Gronkowski is no easy task.

Via Tennessee's official website:

Mularkey added that defenses tend to have problems tackling the three-time Pro Bowler, so the Titans will need to "rally to the ball."

“It’s a tough matchup for whoever you put out there -- linebacker, safeties, anybody,’’ Mularkey said. “I think you have to change your defenses up. Their scheme is to try and find the mismatch, someway, somehow. And it really is a mismatch unless you put two on him, tightly on him. So it will be a challenge.”

If the Titans don't succeed in slowing Gronkowski and the Patriots down, they're liable to face a long afternoon at Gillette Stadium.