Buffalo Bills vs. Tennessee Titans - Final Score Prediction
Now back in the win column, the Buffalo Bills return home from a three-game away stretch to tackle the Tennessee Titans. Much has changed, and much has stayed the same, but the Bills are 4-2 with a very tough stretch of their schedule behind them. With the acquisition of WR Amari Cooper, they stand to build on what has been a largely successful start to the season. With his play time currently unknown for this weekend, we must focus on what we know; prepping for the Tennessee Titans.
Meet The Titans
The 1-4 Titans are out of the NFL's last place ranking by virtue of an early bye week, and nothing else. As fun and entertaining as they have been this year, the Titans are not contenders. As they begin their race for the first overall pick in the draft, they are still not to be taken lightly. The Titans may be flawed, ineffective, and crude, but they still are loaded with NFL-caliber talent that can beat you in a variety of ways. At receiver, they have a solid combination in DeAndre Hopkins, Treylon Burks, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd. Their offensive line holds some punch, and RB Tony Pollard is perfectly capable of beating you on the ground. They're defensively stout, offering the league-lowest yards per play and lowest yards per game to their opposition.
But we won't give them too much credit. This is the team that just cut Jamal Adams at his request earlier this week. The Tennessee Titans are stagnant through the sky with a dismal 135 passing yards per game, second-worst in the NFL, only 0.7 ypg ahead of the last-place New England Patriots. They only work effectively in the red zone, where they punch it in at an above-average clip, but beyond that they struggle in every area of the offense.
Prediction #1 - Tony Pollard Carries Tennessee
It's hardly a stretch to believe that the Tennessee Titans will be running the ball a lot. No player has thrown more interceptions league-wide than the Titans' QB, Will Levis. They've thrown the third-fewest touchdowns, and are dead last in passing and receiving yards. If stats aren't the preferred choice of analysis, simply watch the tape. They do not have the QB play necessary to be competitive in this league. Levis is a liability, and there's no better alternative on the roster.
As a result of this, it's inevitable that Tony Pollard will have a solid outing. He's been productive, and he's alone in that. They will rely on the run early, to try and stay in this game, and then rely on the run some more when it gets out of hand. Pollard will be the benificiary of volume touches.
Prediction #2 - Buffalo's Run Game Counters
Though it may not be as exciting, it's the path of least resistance for Buffalo. The Titans have the league's most effective pass defense, despite their flaws, allowing only 5.5 yards per attempt. Can the Bills beat them by throwing? Absolutely, Josh Allen is a prolific passer. But we're not in the business of 'Can they?', rather settling on 'Will they?'. James Cook returns from a one-game absence, Josh Allen has no more ankle injury designation, and Ray Davis is finding his groove. There's no reason to believe that Buffalo steps outside that safe and comfortable offense this Sunday.
Prediction #3 - Final Score
Let's be honest: This prediction is simple. The only question left is 'How much do the Buffalo Bills win by?'. A simple gameplan fueled by power running and topped off by regular play-action, to keep them guessing, is the remedy for a nice, normal weekend following the absolute carnage of Week 6. Get to 5-2, then worry about the division.