3 KEY MATCHUPS
Jon Feliciano vs. Jurrell Casey
Buffalo's hard-nosed right guard will have a challenge on his hands in four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. Casey is quick off the ball and powerful. He had a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery all on the same play in the win over Atlanta last week.
Levi Wallace vs. A.J. Brown
The rookie receiver for the Titans isn't even a starter, but he's proven to be a game-breaker after turning in a three-catch 94-yard performance that included a pair of touchdowns last week. Buffalo's right cornerback is all too familiar with the former SEC opponent and should be up to the task.
Bills run 'D' vs. Derrick Henry
Henry is their workhorse and the Titans will stick with the run even if it's not working early as evidenced by Tennessee's sixth-ranked run percentage on offense (45.2%). Since Week 14 of last season, Henry leads the NFL in rushing yards (895) and rushing touchdowns (10).
2 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Stingy defense
The Titans defense might not have as many top 10 rankings in a host of defensive categories like the Bills, but they have been every bit as stingy when it comes to points allowed. Tennessee has given up 62 points in four games, one better than Buffalo's opponent total (63).
Taking care of the ball
While the Bills are tied for the league lead in giveaways with 10, Tennessee has been the best in the league at protecting the football with just one turnover thus far this season, a lost fumble. QB Marcus Mariota has thrown seven touchdown passes with no interceptions on 119 pass attempts.
1 THINGS THAT COULD DECIDE THE GAME
Buffalo's pass rush
Tennessee's pass protection has been suspect all season. Mariota has been sacked at least four times in three of the Titans first four games this year, including a season-high nine against Jacksonville. They're last in the league in sacks allowed per play. If Buffalo's front four can get home it could dramatically alter the Titans effectiveness in the pass game.
The Bills don't blitz a whole lot and they'd be wise to keep it that way this week. According to NextGen Stats, Mariota has a 122.8 passer rating against the blitz this season (6 TD, 0 INT), which is 5th-best in the NFL.
UNDERCURRENTS
- LT Taylor Lewan is back from a four-game suspension to start the season. His return to the lineup could provide more consistent protection up front as he's expected to replace Dennis Kelly on the blind side.
- Elsewhere on the offensive line there's been some rotation at right guard most recently between Jamil Douglas and rookie Nate Davis. The two are splitting time, not unlike what the Bills have done at right tackle between Cody Ford and Ty Nsekhe.
- The Titans have a pass rush of their own with 13 sacks already this season. Tennessee ranks fifth in the league in sacks.
- Buffalo's offense could benefit this week going from the Patriots to the Titans. Tennessee has many similar defensive concepts to that of New England with Bill Belichick disciples in Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Dean Pees running things in Tennessee. The Titans however, don't play quite as much man coverage as the Patriots.
- Buffalo and Tennessee have engaged in some nail-biters of late. Each of their last three games have been decided by a single point, with the Bills winning the last two.
As the Bills prepare to play on the road against the Tennessee Titans, scroll through to view photos from previous matchups between the two opponents.
December 24, 2006 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Kyle Williams #95
October 7, 2018 | Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) strips Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) of the ball in the fourth quarter of the Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans at New Era Field.
October 7, 2018 | Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams (95)
Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans at New Era Field.
Buffalo Bills back Alvin Wyatt is upended by two Houston Oilers in third period action of game played at the Buffalo War Memorial Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 12, 1971 in Buffalo. The Oilers went on to win in the last 24-secondsof the game 20-14. Zeke Moore, 22, and the other unidentified Oiler nailed Wyatt in front of the Houston bench. (AP Photo/RHS)
October 7, 2018 | Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) Buffalo Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander (57) Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans at New Era Field.
October 7, 2018 | Buffalo Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) - Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans at New Era Field.
October 11, 2015 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Kyle Williams.
Buffalo Bills kicker Steve Christie, right, celebrates his game-winning field goal with quarterback Frank Reich as the Bills beat the Houston Oilers in overtime 41-38 on Jan. 3, 1993 in Orchard Park. (AP Photo/John Hickey)
October 11, 2015 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Kyle Williams.
October 7, 2018 | Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans at New Era Field.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed (83) and teammate Keith McKeller celebrate Reed's third touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Houston Oilers, Jan. 4, 1993 at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills staged the biggest comeback in NFL history to beat the Oilers 41-38 in overtime. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes)
October 21, 2012 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Fred Jackson.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Frank Reich looks to throw during third quarter action against the Houston Oilers on Sunday, Jan. 3, 1991 at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park. Bills tackle Wil Wolford (69) blocks Oilers defensive end Ray Childress (79) as Sean Jones (96) closes in. Reich led the Bills to a 41-38 overtime victory. (AP Photo/Harry Scull, Jr.)
October 21, 2012 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Stevie Johnson.
Buffalo Bills Cornelius Bennett, (55) forces a fumble after Houston Oilers Haywood Jeffires, (54), made a reception from quarterback Warren Moon during the fourth quarter of the AFC playoff in Orchard Park, N.Y., Jan. 1, 1988. The Bills beat the Oilers 17-10. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
December 4, 2011 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. CJ Spiller.
Houston Oiler's Mike Rozier (30) pulled down by Buffalo Bills' Dwight Drane (45) in the first quarter if the NFL game at Houston, Aug. 5, 1988. Coming in to help with the stop is Bills Mark Kelso (38). (AP Photo/Ed Kolenovsky)
October 21, 2012 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Eric Wood
October 7, 2018 | Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans at New Era Field.
October 11, 2015 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Jerry Hughes.
Buffalo Bills Bruce Smith, (78), gets a hand on a pass by Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon during the second quarter of the AFC playoff game in Buffalo, Jan. 1, 1988. The Bills beat the Oilers 17-10. (AP Photo/Mark Lennthan)
October 11, 2015 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Dan Carpenter
October 21, 2012 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Fred Jackson. Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y.
November 15, 2009 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Lee Evans
December 24, 2006 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Aaron Schobel #94
November 15, 2009 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Marshawn Lynch
December 4, 2011 | Buffalo Bills against the Tennessee Titans. Lee Smith
