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Titans-Bills: Live Updates, Analysis

The teams met each of the past three seasons, and Tennessee kept Buffalo's offense in check each time.
David Boclair|
Titans-Bills: Live Updates, Analysis
Titans-Bills: Live Updates, Analysis

NASHVILLE – It is the first Monday Night Football game at Nissan Stadium in just over four years.

And it pits the Tennessee Titans (3-2) against an opponent in the Buffalo Bills (4-1) that is first in the NFL in many significant categories.

The Bills lead the league in points per game (34.4), points allowed per game (12.8), point differential per game (plus-21.6), turnover ratio (plus-11), interception rate (5.14 percent), total defense (251.8 yards per game), yards per play allowed (4.25) and yards allowed per pass play (4.95) among others.

“Anytime you get to play a night primetime game at home, it is a huge opportunity,” quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. “Guys get excited for it. You love to go out there and be able to showcase what we are about. I think guys are excited. I am excited to go out and play in front of a packed house at home. There is not much better than that.”

This is the fourth straight season that the teams have met in early to mid-October. The Titans limited Buffalo to 16 points or fewer in each of the previous three but lost two of them, 13-12 in 2018 and 14-7 in 2019. The Bills come into this one having scored at least 14 points in the first half of each of their last four games.

On to kickoff.

FIRST QUARTER

Buffalo won the coin toss and deferred its option until the second half. Tennessee will get the ball first.

The Titans start from their own 10 after a holding call against Nick Dzubnar during the return.

(12:35) Four of the first six plays are passes Only one is completed, and the Titans punt after 12 yards and one first down.

Caleb Farley starts at cornerback in place of the injured Kristian Fulton. It’s a big opportunity for the 2021 first-round draft pick, and a big risk for the coaching staff.

(6:10) The Bills make their way down the field with relative ease before Tennessee’s defense finally stands its ground inside the 10. Buffalo did not face a third down until the 12th play – and was unsuccessful, which led to Tyler Bass’ 24-yard field goal. Scoring drive: 13 plays, 74 yards, 6:19. BUFFALO 3, TENNESSEE 0

Three missed tackles by the Titans defense, two by Farley, on that drive.

(5:16) Buffalo declines a penalty on second down and forces a three-and-out. The Titans punt for the second time. The Bills start at their own 21 after a holding penalty on the return moves them back.

Derrick Henry with three carries for four yards on the first two possessions.

(3:50) Harold Landry with a sack on third down, and Buffalo goes backward on its second possession, a three-and-out. That’s five and a half sacks for Landry on the season, at least three more than every other member of the defense.

(3:07) The Titans pay tribute to the Music City Miracle as Chester Rogers throws across the field to Chris Jackson. One problem: It is a forward pass, which is a five-yard penalty and forces the offense to start at its own 29. 

(1:52) Julio Jones’ first catch of the night goes for five yards on second-and-7 from the 37.

(1:12) On the next play, Tannehill tries for Jones again – this time deep down the middle – but it is an interception. 

(0:00) End of the first quarter. Buffalo has the ball at the Tennessee 30.

The Titans have been outgained 84-24. Henry has eight yards on four carries, and Tannehill is 2-8 for 16 yards with an interception.

Tennessee was held scoreless in the first quarter of only one other game this season. That was Week 1 against Arizona. 

SECOND QUARTER

(11:40) A holding penalty negates a Buffalo touchdown run, and Tennessee’s defense holds up on the next three plays to force another short Bass field goal, this one from 28 yards. The Titans are fortunate this is still a one-score game. Scoring drive: 10 plays, 38 yards 4:27. BUFFALO 6, TENNESSEE 0

(11:31) And just like that, Tennessee takes the lead. Derrick Henry goes the distance on the first play after the kickoff. Scoring drive: 1 play, 76 yards, 0:16. TENNESSEE 7, BUFFALO 6

(9:16) Caleb Farley is hurt and is helped off the field by trainers. He cannot put any weight on his left leg. 

(7:57) Three completions for 35 yards after Farley is hurt, and the Bills have their first touchdown. It’s a 14-yard reception by Stefon Diggs. A personal foul penalty against David Long got Buffalo’s offense moving early in that possession. Scoring drive: 7 plays, 72 yards, 3:36. BUFFALO 13, TENNESSEE 7

(7:02) The Titans cross midfield when Julio Jones catches a pass off the helmet of a Buffalo defender. Two penalties against the Bills on the play are declined.

(5:09) Tennessee does not go much farther and settles for a field goal. Randy Bullock’s 43-yard kick is good. Scoring drive: 7 plays, 54 yards, 2:50. BUFFALO 13, TENNESSEE 10

(5:04) Kevin Byard has his third interception of the season, courtesy of a big pass rush by Denico Autry, and the Titans have the ball at the Buffalo 11. 

(4:54) Left tackle Taylor Lewan is injured. Trainers strap him to a backboard to take him from the field. He waves to the crowd on his way off. … A short time later the Titans announce he is being evaluated for a concussion.

(4:28) On the first play after Lewan’s injury, Tannehill runs it in and puts the Titans back on top. Scoring drive: 2 plays, 11 yards, 0:31. TENNESSEE 13, BUFFALO 13

(0:47) The Bills answer as Josh Allen scrambles to his right and the Titans secondary loses track of Cole Beasley, who is wide open in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown catch. Scoring drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:43. BUFFALO 20, TENNESSEE 17

And Buffalo gets to halftime with the lead. The Bills get the ball to start the second half to boot.

THIRD QUARTER

(10:54) Buffalo’s offense starts the second half the way it did the first, a field goal attempt. But this is a long one – 52 yards – and it is good. Scoring drive: 9 plays, 48 yards 4:11. BUFFALO 23, TENNESSEE 17

Cameron Batson was injured on the Titans’ final kickoff return of the first half. He is out with a knee injury, and Marcus Johnson takes his place as the kickoff returner to open the second half. 

(9:18) Henry gets the Titans across midfield with a 19-yard run and makes Bills safety Mich Hyde pay for making the tackle. It is first down at the Buffalo 37. That run also gives him 118 yards on 11 carries for the contest.

(4:28) Henry caps the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run on second-and-goal. Four plays earlier, Tannehill and A.J. Brown connected for 14-yard gain on fourth-and-2 to extend the drive. Scoring drive: 12 plays, 67 yards, 6:26. TENNESSEE 24, BUFFALO 23

(0:31) Three plays after a Breon Borders pass interference penalty gave the Bills a first-and-goal at the 5, they convert with a 1-yard pass from Josh Allen to Tommy Sweeney. Buffalo then gets the two-point conversion on a trick play that ends with Allen catching a pass from tight end (and Nashville native) Dawson Knox. Scoring drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:56. BUFFALO 31, TENNESSEE 24

(0:00) End of the quarter. Buffalo has a 333-242 edge in yards but has a comfortable margin in time of possession, 28:22-16:36.

The only Titans receivers with multiple receptions are A.J. Brown (3-30) and Julio Jones (2-53). 

FOURTH QUARTER

(9:45) A holding penalty on Rodger Saffold derails what had been a promising drive and forces the Titans to settle for a field goal try three plays later. Randy Bullock’s 38-yard kick is good. Scoring drive: 9 plays, 45 yards, 5:42. BUFFALO 31, TENNESSEE 27

(8:09) Bud Dupree knocks down a pass and Jeffery Simmons gets a sack in a span of three plays, which puts the Bills in a hole they can’t overcome. They punt it away, and Tennessee has a chance to retake the lead. 

(3:05) Derrick Henry gets has his third touchdown run of the game, this one from 13 yards. But a tip of the cap has to go to wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who caught three passes for 27 yards (his first three targets of the night) on the march to the end zone. Scoring drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 4:45. TENNESSEE 34, BUFFALO 31

(2:54) A holding call against Buffalo wipes out a 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Isaiah McKenzie. The Bills will start at their own 18. 

Julio Jones has been ruled out for the remainder of the game with a hamstring injury. 

(0:22) After Josh Allen scrambles for five yards on third-and-6 from the Titans’ 8, Buffalo elects to go for it. Allen is stuffed on a quarterback sneak by Jeffery Simmons and NaQuan Jones. It is Tennessee’s ball and the game.

(0:21) Tannehill takes a knee and that is it.

(0:00) End of game.

Tennessee allowed a season-high 28 first downs, and Buffalo had 417 total yards to the Titans’ 363. Henry finished with 143 yards on 20 carries. A.J. Brown caught seven passes for 91 yards. Ryan Tannehill did not throw a touchdown pass but completed 18-29 for 216 yards. David Long led the defense with a career-high 14 tackles.

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David Boclair
DAVID BOCLAIR

David Boclair has covered the Tennessee Titans for multiple news outlets since 1998. He is award-winning journalist who has covered a wide range of topics in Middle Tennessee as well as Dallas-Fort Worth, where he worked for three different newspapers from 1987-96. As a student journalist at Southern Methodist University he covered the NCAA's decision to impose the so-called death penalty on the school's football program.

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