Previewing the Buffalo Bills 2022 Opponents: Tennessee Titans
By Aaron Tully
Last year, the Buffalo Bills played the Tennessee Titans in a primetime thriller that saw the Buffalo Bills ultimately come up short on a fourth down attempt that saw Josh Allen attempt to pick up the first but slipped as he approached the line of scrimmage.
They will have a chance to make up for that loss this year with a Week 2 matchup on Monday Night Football with this year’s showdown taking place in Buffalo.
Buffalo Bills 2022 Opponent Preview: Tennessee Titans
2021 Finish: 12-5
2021 Matchup Results: 34-31 Titans
Key Additions: (WR) Robert Woods, (TE) Austin Hooper, (TE) Geoff Swaim
Key Losses: (WR) A.J Brown, (WR) Julio Jones, (G) Roger Saffold, (G) David Quessenberry, (ILB) Rashaan Evans, (CB) Janoris Jenkins
The Tennessee Titans are coming off their sixth consecutive winning season, fourth playoff appearance in five years, and second consecutive 11+ win season. Tennessee yet again went one and done in the NFL playoffs, this time falling to the eventual AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.
The Titans have had a major overhaul on the offensive side of the ball, losing their wide receiver duo of A.J Brown and Julio Jones, as well as two starters on the offensive line in Rodger Saffold and David Quessenberry to the Buffalo Bills. Brown was shipped off to Philadelphia during the 2022 NFL Draft amid contract extension talks.
In 13 games during the 2021 season, Brown caught 63 passes for 869 yards and five touchdowns. That production came in spurts, having just four games where he tallied more than 68 receiving yards. He was however, very productive in their Divisional Round loss to the Bengals, catching five passes for 142 yards.
The Titans attempted to replace Brown’s production by adding Robert Woods via trade from the Los Angeles Rams, and mid-level tight ends Austin Hooper and Geoff Swaim.
Tennessee also released Julio Jones after one major disappointment of a season in Nashville where in ten games he caught just 31 passes for 434 yards and a single touchdown. The Titans used the first round pick they got in return for Brown to add another receiver, that being the Arkansas product Treylon Burks at 18th overall.
The Tennessee Titans cut ties with cornerback Janoris Jenkins after one dismal season in Tennessee where he allowed a 100.2 passer rating and six touchdowns. They used a second round pick to replace him, selecting the promising Auburn product Roger McCreary 35th overall.
The most interesting part of the Titans’ draft haul has got to be their third round selection of Liberty quarterback Malik Willis, stopping his dramatic slide throughout the draft. He was seen as the clear-cut first quarterback off the board in this year’s draft, and his slide down the board was the number one story of the first two days of the draft. Willis seems to be the eventual replacement of aging veteran Ryan Tannehill, and he may not be getting much career advice from Tennessee’s starter.
The Tennessee Titans are a mystery entering this season. They have many of the same pieces in place that have contributed to their success in the last three seasons, however, they lost several key contributors across the board without finding adequate replacements for them.
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The Titans have won the last two meetings between them and the Buffalo Bills, and this year’s Week 2 matchup should be interesting.