(Mandatory Photo Credit: Steve Roberts - USA Today Sports)
Written By: Joseph Yun
Twitter: @2Yoon2ZeroBlitz
The Titans travel to rowdy Buffalo to take on the high-powered Bills for another Monday Night showdown. Buffalo is the far superior team heading into the match this time, given the wounded Titans’ state after last week. Tennessee has won two consecutive matchups with their eternal and annual rivals. Can they continue the good mojo and pull off the upset as heavy underdogs? The Bills certainly have the tools to continue the winless start to Tennessee’s season. Can they shed off the bugaboo to do it, though?
Bills key numbers + info
HC: Sean McDermott (Sixth Season, 50-32)
OC: Ken Dorsey (First Year)
DC: Leslie Frazier
2022 Record: 1-0 (0-0 AFC East)
PPG: 31
PPG Against: 10
Rush yards: 121
Rush yards allowed: 52
Avg. per rush attempt: 4.8
Avg per attempt allowed: 2.9
Pass completion rate: 83%
Pass completion allowed: 71%
Leading Rusher: Josh Allen (10 attempts for 56 yards and one touchdown)
Leading Receiver: Stefon Diggs (8 receptions for 122 yards and one touchdown)
Leading Tackler: Tremaine Edmunds (10 tackles)
Key Additions: LB Von Miller, OL Rodger Saffold, DL DaQuan Jones, WR Jamison Crowder, RB James Cook (rookie), CB Christian Benford (rookie), CB Kair Elam (rookie), P Sam Martin
Key Losses: OT Andre Smith (suspension), CB Tre’Davious White (PUP), OL Ike Boettger (PUP), Marquez Stevenson (IR), DT Star Lotulelei, WR Cole Beasley, TE OJ Howard, OL Daryl Williams, OL Jon Feliciano, LB AJ Klein,
Series History
The Titans lead the all-time series 30-19-0. Tennessee has won eight possible from twelve games since moving to Nashville, including two consecutive matchups.
Keys to a Titans Victory
Ball Control
- Establish. The. Run. Sad it is, the defense cannot stop the almighty Josh Allen-led offense so it’s critical that the offense dominate TOP. How do you do that? Throw in a healthy dose of Derrick Henry and a few runs for Henry acolyte Hassan Haskins. The offense can’t go blow for blow with the Bills so the best way is to contain the damage. Heck, throw in some rookie UDFA Julius Chestnut as well. Maybe a zone read or two for Ryan Tannehill as well. Luckily for the Titans, star Ed Oliver is listed as out for the game. Tannehill is a very effective play-action passer so the mere threat of Bills’ nightmare Henry should be enough to get some statistics.
Fix the run defense
- The great run defense that was last season’s stop unit leaked 238 yards to the hapless Giants, including 164 and a touchdown to Saquon Barkley last week. Hopefully, they get it repaired in time to face the three-headed law firm of Allen, Singletary, and Moss. The young star passer actually leads the Bills in rushing and is a brute force with the ball.
Man Management
- Tennessee has some injuries to key personnel to manage through. Injuries to pivotal backup rusher Dontrell Hilliard and star corner Kristian Fulton are hammer blows. Swing backup OL Jamarco Jones and Dillon Radunz hurt the depth as well. Can the Titans scheme through these already damaging injuries against a powerful team just like last season? Or will it be too much to overcome?
Test the young secondary
- The Bills are without superstar corner Tre’Davious White for a couple more games as he’s on PUP at the moment. Rookies Christian Benford and Kair Elam have played significant roles thus far and will do so going forward. Young veteran Dane Jackson is listed as questionable so it will be even more imperative for the dominant Bills front to get home on Tannehill.
Keys to a Bills Victory
Let Todd Downing be Todd Downing
- The much-maligned offensive coordinator was beyond abysmal last week. Downing called for an egregiously asinine TE sweep on a potentially game-ending third and one attempt. He tends to get “cute” when simple plays are sufficient. Leslie Frazier needs to sit back and let him outsmart himself on costly errors. It’s grotesquely inexcusable that Downing was retained after his horrific playoff performance last season. Sure, the Bills might give up a splash play or two, but like a moth to a light, Downing cannot resist himself although he admitted the failure was his in a refreshingly candid interview last week.
Test the secondary
- Tennessee will be without their best cornerback Kristian Fulton, which has Stefon Diggs fantasy owners salivating. If Gabriel Davis plays, look for him to have a solid day testing out the youthful secondary featuring rookie Roger McCreary and pseudo rookie Caleb Farley. Allen definitely has the rocket-boosted arm to make them earn their stripes all night. Expect veterans like Ugo Amadi, Lonnie Johnson, and Chris Jackson to play a lot more than anticipated. It will be a battle of young secondaries in this one, whose will hold up the most?
Run. The. Ball
- Buffalo needs to get their run game figured out and the Titans just struggled with containing the beautiful brute force called Saquon Barkley. Can the young veterans Devin Singletary and Zack Moss play a bigger role to take the heat off of Josh Allen? Containing ascendant Jeffery Simmons would be great as he’s one of the best interior linemen in the game. Look out for Rashad Weaver and Denico Autry as well. If the Bills can get to the second level, they can have some success when the Titans use their linebacker depth.
Injury Report - Titans @ Bills
What are the Odds?
BetMGM has the Bills being 10-point favorites at -110, the money line being -455 for Buffalo, and the Titans being +350. over/under is set at 48.5
Caesar’s has the Bills being 10-point favorites at -110, the money line being -476 for Buffalo, and the Titans being +365. The over/under is set at 48.
WynnBet has the Bills being 10-point favorites at -110, the money line being -455 for Buffalo and the Titans being +350. over/under is set at 48.
DraftKings has the Bills being 10-point favorites at -115 with the money line being -435 for Buffalo and the Titans being +365. over/under is set at 48.
Prediction
Tennessee 21
BUFFALO 35