Buffalo Bills: Key matchups against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7

The Bills and Josh Allen were confident in their wide receivers before the 2024 season started, even with the new guys filling in the shoes of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Curtis Samuel signed a 3-year, $24,000,000 contract over the offseason, but that isn't working out too well.

The Bills signed Mack Hollins and drafted rookie Keon Coleman in the second round. Coleman is the only receiver besides Khalil Shakir to make a somewhat dramatic impact so far. However, the Bills decided that they still needed a number one guy to draw some attention within the passing game, especially against better defenses.

The Bills monitored the situation with Devante Adams, but he cost a bit of money and ultimately wanted to reunite with Aaron Rodgers. The Bills then went after a much cheaper short-term option: Amari Cooper.

The five-time Pro Bowler wasn't a very hard player to obtain, as the Browns have been shopping him for a while. Cooper was also a lot cheaper compared to Adams, as the Bills are paying $806,667, the remaining money on Cooper's 2024 salary. Now with a new veteran star at wideout, the key matchups for this week will be a little different.

Josh Allen vs. Titans pass defense.

The Titans' defense has quietly been one of the more solid groups in the league in terms of passing yards allowed. However, those stats are a bit skewed, as the best opponent they've faced in terms of quarterback play was Aaron Rodgers. The other opposing quarterbacks were Malik Willis, Tyler Huntley, Caleb Williams (in his first game), and Joe Flacco.

Skewed is not putting it lightly, as their pass defense is ranked at number one in passing yards allowed. The Titans' defense will face their first elite quarterback of the season and their statistically great pass defense will likely get humbled. Allen and the Bills should still lean on a pass-heavy day, testing the statistically overrated Titans' pass defense.

Bills' run defense vs. Tony Pollard

The Bills' run defense has been lacking so far this season, allowing the most yards per carry so far this season. The Bills have also allowed the ninth most rushing yards with 841, which comes out to around 140 rushing yards per game.

The run defense needs to step up in this game if they want to dominate. The Titans will try their best to establish a run game and keep the ball out of Josh Allen's hands, while also limiting the amount of mistakes with their second-year quarterback Will Levis.

Making the Titans pass the ball will help the Bills win, as Levis leads the league with eight turnovers so far, even with him having a bye week. The Bills defense plays their best against young, inexperienced quarterbacks, especially against ones like Levis, and will continue to feast as long as they force the Titans to pass.

Amari Cooper vs. L'Jarius Sneed

Cooper is probably the one piece the Bills needed on offense to have them live up to their potential. The Bills' receivers are okay but not great, and they needed someone who's a true threat on the outside to give the offense some more life.

For this upcoming week, Cooper may not get the acquired amount of snaps that fans would want, but probably more than some other fans are expecting. He is a seasoned veteran who's been in the league for nine years. He already knows his role and the offense's scheme, and Joe Brady's offense is relatively simple, so Cooper may be more of a factor in this game than some may think.

On the other hand, if Cooper does play more snaps than expected, L'Jarius Sneed will be the one guarding him all game. Sneed was one of the best, if not the best corner last year with the Chiefs, but that has not been the case this year as he's been one of the worst corners this year, receiving a PFF grade of 36.3, which is 180 out of 184 corners listed.

Cooper has been solid but also leads the league in drops with 10. However, with Sneed's struggles this season, Cooper and the offense will look to take advantage of that and possibly be a game-changer in his first game as a Bill.

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