Titans vs Bills: Gameday Thoughts
By Les Bailey
It should be a nice day here in Nashville as I am in town to watch Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans take on Rex Ryan and the Buffalo Bills first hand. The rain and bad weather moved out yesterday, and it should be 63 degrees and sunny for the noon Central time kickoff.
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The Bills are limping into town after a 24-10 loss at home last week to the New York Giants and at 2-2 on the season and trying to keep pace with the New York Jets for second place in the East while the Titans will wrap up a bye week and get even at 2-2.
While there are other factors in this game, the most interesting has to be Rex Ryan’s quote that:
"“I don’t think the kid is going to have his way with us”"
Rex Ryan led teams are 8-4 against rookie quarterbacks, and it usually comes from dialing up different pass-rush schemes that young quarterbacks, and questionable offensive lines have trouble dealing with. Such as what the Titans had to deal with in Cleveland during week two.
He loves to make it uncomfortable for young signal callers, while he has been more conservative against veterans like Tom Brady and Eli Manning. The two games he lost, by the way.
Taylor Lewan and the O-line will be up against a pretty good defensive front that includes Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus and Jerry Hughes.
This group is third in the league against the run, something the Titans will need to do if they want to keep this group out of the backfield and give Mariota time to throw the ball.
If the Titans get into a lot of third and long situations, it could be a long day for the rookie quarterback.
I think the offensive mind of Ken Whisenhunt and this offense will find a way to put points on the board. The factors that for sure cost the Titans at least one more win is the defense in general, and the secondary in particular.
In the loss to Cleveland, it was two bombs from Johnny Manziel to Travis Benjamin and the home loss to the Colts was two converted third and twenty plays that bailed out the Colts.
It’s no secret that the Bills are hurting on offense with LeSean McCoy out for another month, and Karlos Williams in concussion protocol. The onus to win this game for the Bills will turn to Tyrod Taylor and his favorite target, tight end, Charles Clay.
Taylor has a completion rate at 71.1% and a passer rating that betters Mariota at 104.4. And when all else fails, he will tuck the ball and run.
Although the returm of Jason McCourty in the Titans secondary should be a big help, controlling the line of scrimmage and keeping the elusive Tayor under control could be the difference between 1-3 and 2-2 when the dust settles in Nashville today.
If they want to be taken seriously around the league, this is a must win for the Tennessee Titans. The Indianapolis Colts have already cured their early woes at the expense of their AFC South opponents, and if the Titans are to have any chance at a playoff this year, they need to win the division.
The Bills this week and the Miami Dolphins next week before the unbeaten Falcons come to town could be the season.
Next: Three Key Matchups vs Buffalo