The Buffalo Bills suffer their first loss of the season to the Tennessee Titans in a disheartening 42-16 thrashing.
On the national stage of Tuesday Night Football, the eyes of the football world were on the Bills and Titans. The Titans had barely practiced in two weeks, were without coaches and players and looked vulnerable after their self-inflicted COVID-19 outbreak. A matchup of two undefeated teams that almost didn’t happen, it was Buffalo’s opportunity to prove themselves as a super power in this league.
Welp, that didn’t happen.
I want to make excuses, I do, but this was every bit as bad as the score suggests. Yes, injuries and rescheduling threw a wrench into the Bills’ prep and game-planning, but we were out matched last night. The Bills were completely outplayed, outcoached and almost seemed almost uninterested for a majority of Tuesday night.
Alright, so let’s get into what happened:
The game started with two straight carries for Devin Singletary, who was expected to have a workhorse role tonight, for 6 yards. Okay, establish the run game early then let Allen do his thing. Sounds good on paper, until Allen throws a ball a little behind Andre Roberts (he should have caught it, but the pass wasn’t perfect) which pops off his shoulder and is intercepted by Titans’ CB Malcom Butler and taken to the Bills’ 16-yard line. Not the start we expected.
One play later, Ryan Tannehill finds A.J. Brown for a 16-yard TD just 2:15 into the game. A beautiful pass by Tannehill and a good job by Brown to beat Josh Norman (this was a trend last night). Titans lead 7-0 early.
The pressure to produce was on Josh and the Bills’ offense early and that they did on this drive. We saw T.J. Yeldon get a first down run, Stefon Diggs route running on display and Allen’s elusiveness in the pocket. The rollout on third-down to hit Gabe Davis for the first down was textbook Josh Allen play-extension. The next third down Allen escapes pressure and, runs it for a first and actually falls down to avoid the hit. Then BOOM, Allen throws a deep ball to the Titans’ end zone and Gabriel (not Gabe) Davis climbs the ladder and comes down for the TD…but it’s called back for an illegal shift on Diggs (penalties would prove killer tonight). The next play on third-and-13, Allen once again escapes pressure and hits Andre Roberts for a first down. A couple plays later Isaiah McKenzie takes a toss pass (?) around the edge for Buffalo’s first score. Bills tie the Titans 7-7 with 6 minutes left in the first.
Buffalo finally got some pass rush, something we’ve been lacking, the next drive as Quinton Jefferson almost sacks Tannehill on third down and forces a Titans’ punt.
The next drive we tried to get Singeltary going again early to no avail. Another penalty from a Bills’ receiver proves costly on third-and-1 and the next play Allen almost throws another INT. Bojorquez bombs a punt, which is then returned 40 yards by the Titans’ Raymond. It would have been a TD had Bojo not made the classic “last resort Kicker tackle”. Not great.
The Bills looked solid in the beginning sequence of the next drive. Forcing the Titans into a third-and-19 we let Raymond burn us again for 20 yards and a first down. The middle of the field getting absolutely abused by the Titans would become a trend . Three plays into the second quarter Derrick Henry has a wide open hole up the gut for a 1-yard TD. Titans now lead 14-7.
Buffalo, wanting to respond, had another rollercoaster of a drive. We got a Dawson Knox stiff arm (and a Dawson Knox drop), another awesome route and catch by Diggs and then T.J. Yeldon missing a block and letting Allen get lit up for and 11-yard loss on a sack. A couple of completions to Davis and Diggs get us in scoring range, but we settle for a 43-yard FG from the Bass man. Bills trail Tennessee 14-10.
There’s only one thing to highlight from the next drive. No, it wasn’t forcing Tannehill to throw it away on third down. No, it wasn’t the Titans floundering a potential FG due to a penalty. This was the Josh Norman getting sent into oblivion drive. It was called a no-play due to offsetting penalties, but Derrick Henry showed us once again why he’s one of the biggest, baddest players in the NFL. I mean Josh Norman went full horizontal on a stiff arm from Henry in the second quarter. Am I that impressed a 6′ 3″ 250 pound RB was able to launch an older, 6′ 200 pound CB? Not really, but we won’t be able to escape the memes this week #BillsMafia.
With the ball and a chance to take the lead, Josh Allen started to look flustered. Allen was doing a solid job thus far of facing pressure and forcing receivers open, but not this drive. The forced throw to Diggs into coverage and another deflected ball were not good for our signal caller’s confidence and we punt after three plays… BUT NOT JUST ANY PUNT! Bojo LAUCNHES the ball 71 yards paired with a penalty switches the field from the Buffalo 10-yard line to the Tennessee 10-yard line.
The Titans, backed up in their own territory, really started picking apart the Bills’ defense at this point. It was clear they were targeting the shallow middle of the field and sidelines against a banged up Bills’ defense. On a crucial third-and-4, Josh Norman surrenders a pass interference call to set the Titans up in FG range. If only we had held them to a FG, but a few plays later Ryan Tannehill walks the ball unscathed into the end zone for an easy score. The Titans lead 21-10 heading into halftime.
Trailing 11 points after 2 quarters, the Buffalo Bills looked like they were already beat.
Halftime Grades:
Bills – C-… straight up, this was an awful half of Football for the Bills. Penalties, a costly turnover, sloppy special teams and a stiff arm heard around the world highlight the first half for the Bills. Josh Allen wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t playing at an MVP level. The pass defense was absolutely abysmal and missing Milano, White and Wallace.
Titans – A… Ryan Tannehill looked awesome. A.J. Brown looked awesome. The Titans’ “banged up” offensive line looked awesome. Their defense hadn’t missed a step having not played in 2 weeks and got consistent pressure on Allen. Mike Vrabel outcoached Sean McDermott and his double mask this first half.
Tennessee started the second half with the ball. Tannehill was picking on the A.J. Brown mismatch again, hitting him across the middle once again. Then ANOTHER PI call against Norman, who had no answer for the Titans’ top receiver. Norman looking completely outmatched was becoming a trend this game. Needing a play on third-and-4, Tremaine Edmunds finally stepped up and made a huge play, getting a nice pass break up to force the punt.
Josh Allen with the ball at his own 2-yard line, started to make a lot of comfortable passes pretty much alternating targets between Cole Beasley and Stefon Diggs here. Smart, efficient offensive execution gets us into FG range. BUT WAIT! Josh Allen forces a bad ball to Gabriel (not Gabe) Davis and it’s picked off once again by Malcom Butler who takes the ball 68 yards and puts the Titan’s offense at the Buffalo 12-yard line. To be honest, this was the first “real” INT Allen has thrown this season. It was a terrible decision by Allen and the first time all game I had ZERO hope of coming back.
With the ball on a platter at our 12-yard line, the Bills defense forced an incompletion on third down just to have a roughing the passer penalty called on them and granting the Titans a first-and-goal. The next play Tannehill takes advantage of another mismatch and hits TE Jonnu Smith for a short score that Dean Marlowe had no chance of preventing. Titans increase their lead 28-10.
Down 18 points with a little over 16 minutes left in the game, the weight of the world was on his shoulders to deliver. A nice third down conversion to Gabe Davis and a few great plays by Beasley put us in scoring territory. Penalties were hurting us again this drive, getting two false starts in three plays…sloppy. Then, Josh Allen flashes the magic he displayed the first four games and hits a tightly covered T.J. Yeldon in the end zone for a BEAUTIFUL TD. Just a gutsy, well-executed throw to put the ball right into a Yeldon’s hands. Buffalo trails 28-16 after a failed 2-point conversion.
A small spark of hope, trailing by two scores in the fourth quarter still, we needed a big defensive stand. Long story short, the defense did not deliver. Cam Lewis fails to tackle Titans wide receiver Cody Hollister on a third down, Tannehill scampers to the right again for 23 yards and more penalties. What’s not to love? The Titans capped off an 11 play, 75-yard drive with a 9-yard TD run by Derrick Henry. The final nail in the Bills’ coffin was hammered in and the Titans take a 35-16 lead late.
Already defeated, Buffalo prepare to take the kickoff just for it to be fumbled on the return by Andre Roberts and recovered by the Titans at the Buffalo 9-yard line. Not a great day for Roberts at all. An uninspired Bills’ defense allows the Titans to convert on fourth down and a play later Tannehill hits Jonnu Smith for his second TD of the night with under 2 minutes. Embarrassing. Yeah, it was an illegal forward pass, but who cares at this point. The way their offense was humming, they probably would’ve score the next play. The Titans increase their lead to 42-16.
Matt Barkley goes in for the final drive. A smart move to keep Allen from injury in a game that’s more than lost already. Nothing really happens. The game is over. Buffalo fans around the country collectively lose their minds.
After 60 minutes, the Titans emerge victorious in a 42-16 dismantling.
Fulltime Grades:
Bills – D+… SOOOOOO, this sucked. The Titans won in every facet of the game. Buffalo’s defense proved inept without Tre White and Matt Milano out there. Way too many penalties for a team with extra prep and a coach like McDermott. Allen wasn’t THAT bad outside of forcing some throws and missing check downs, but he missed John Brown 100 percent. A terrible loss overall with a few bright spots.
Titans – A-… Tannehill looked incredible, I’ve been a hater and he was throwing against a depleted secondary, but he did everything right today to dominate the Bills. Mike Vrabel clearly outcoached McDermott tonight and for a team that went two weeks without practicing, they looked polish and prepared.
The loss that drops the Bills to 4-1, so we can’t brag about being undefeated anymore. Josh Allen looked human. Glaring issues across the whole defense were highlighted and a blueprint was provided to other teams on how to beat us. The team’s discipline was non-existent and the will to fight dissipated early. But despite all of that, we should not lose faith in this team to be a real contender. The Titans are a very good team and we were missing key players. I’m more interested to see how we bounce back against the Chiefs then dwelling on this loss. Don’t lose faith folks.
Plus, you love to see this out of Josh. He’s a true leader. He wasn’t bad tonight and this loss is not on him at all. Will the MVP talks die down a little? Sure, but we should have continued faith in Allen as or franchise QB. His ceiling last year is his floor this year and that’s very encouraging.
Kat’s Korner Game Takeaways:
- The defensive line is a problem. We lost Star Lotulelei to an opt-out and Jordan Phillips to free agency. We made additions like Quinton Jefferson, Vernon Butler and A.J. Epenesa to add depth and fills in those holes, but it hasn’t helped. Yesterday we did a good job of clogging the middle of the line and holding Derrick Henry to just 57 yards on 19 carries but had NO CONTAIN. Trent Murphy, Jerry Hughes and co. were nonfactors all night as the Titans continually took advantage of running plays to the outside. Both Tannehill’s long runs and Derrick Henry’s second TD run. The gap integrity hasn’t been there which makes things even harder on the linebackers as well. A TERRIBLE performance overall setting an edge, holding contain and getting any resemblance of a pass rush.
- The Titans became the first team ever to score a TD on every red zone trip they had (six times..yes SIX), not have a turnover and allow 0 sacks. Fuck that. Just such a poor defensive performance to let the Titans cruise to a win in this one. They gave the Titans FOUR TD drives of 30 yards or less. You won’t win a game in the NFL surrendering that kind of field possession.
- The running game isn’t effective right now. I’m not faulting Singletary here, the offensive line has been ROUGH in executing run blocks and getting any major push. It might be play calling, but I can’t fault Daboll with what he’s done for the rest of the offense. Hopefully getting a healthy Moss back will prove to be improvement over Yeldon (who wasn’t that bad yesterday).
- Overall, the offensive line has been shaky. There’s been a lot of fluctuation and moving guys around constantly which prevents any continuity from being formed. I hope as Feliciano gets back into the swing of things he returns to last year’s level of play…and what’re we doing with Spain and Ford? We need to get the line figured out ASAP (and launch Brian Winters into the sun).
- Labeled as one of the “deepest” defenses in the league and in the face of adversity, the defense did not show up at all tonight. We looked lost without Tre White shadowing A.J. Brown and Milano flying all over the middle of the field. The Titan’s took advantage of guys like Josh Norman, Cam Lewis and A.J. Klein all game. They had a ton of success throwing to the middle of the field under the safeties all game abusing crosses and slants in big situations.
- Why is Andre Roberts on the active roster? Honestly. He had a few great seasons as a return man, but has done nothing but hurt the Bills. Last night he was playing far too much receiver with the absence of John Brown. Allen’s first INT was a ball he should have caught, a costly drop and the late fumble on the kick return. He’s added very little ST value in his time here and isn’t good enough to be a rotational receiver. I hate that I’m about to join “that crowd”…BUT JUST BRING UP DUKE WILLIAMS. Why is he being wasted on the practice squad when he makes plays in practice very week and flashed last season when given a chance. I just don’t get it sometimes.
- Also, fuck the Titans with the “whole world and league was against us” shit last night. You guys did this to yourselves. But yeah, pat yourselves on the back for compromising the whole NFL and putting other teams in difficult positions. Taylor Lewan, shut up asshole.
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-Merekat (@Merekatkat)…Go Bills Baby.
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