By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans are 1-4 going against a 4-2 Bills team.
On paper, it doesn’t look good for the Titans. They can’t play it safe anymore. Buffalo has holes, and the Titans must not be afraid to attack those weak areas. The Bills’ defense is not the same as it has been in previous seasons. The team lacks overall speed, and it lacks experience in some crucial positions.
The back seven players for the Bills are the weak area, but that will require the Titans to air it out. Are they willing? If they play it safe their record will most likely be 1-5. They must use Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd against the Bills' very average corners and safeties. [Unlokced this week}
Matchup that favors the Titans:
*Bills LBs vs the Titans running backs: Veteran Bills linebacker Matt Milano is hurt again and that is a big loss for the defense. Milano is the unquestioned leader and captain of the defense. He is in charge of adjustments and aligning the defense. His replacements are solid athletes who run well but will struggle to take on the run game that the Titans were able to show last week. Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams are better in coverage and make plays on theoutside of the defense, not taking on runners in the hole and playing physically.
Matchup that favors the Bills:
*Greg Rousseau vs. Leroy Watson: Watson was just adequate in his first start, but he wasn’t facing the size and athletic ability like he will when facing Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau. Also the Bills have game film on Watson now and can take advantage of his weaknesses. Watson has a tendency to overset to take away the outside speed rush and is susceptible to good counter rushers who can work all three angles on a rush, outside, inside and power. Rousseau can do that. Watson is also slow to reach and wall off his backside DE in the run game. I am sure the Bills see that and will make sure they have defenders putting pressure in that B Gap.
Players I am curious about, Titans:
*Will Levis needs to turn it loose this week. He will play within the designed game plan, but he can’t be afraid to trust his eyes and instincts if he feels a play can be made. It is time to play free.
*L’Jarius Sneed is coming off his worst game in a Titans’ uniform last week. Sneed has been very good so far this season and the Titans will need him at his best against the Bills. Whether it is Amari Cooper, Keon Coleman or Mack Hollins he will face a tough cover. All three players can stretch the field from the short areas to the vertical routes and Allen obviously has the arm to make all the throws. The passing game of the Bills is tough to play against because of the elite arm of Allen and his ability to extend plays in the pocket and force corners to cover longer.
*Kenneth Murray Jr will be an active player on Sunday. He will be a part-time spy for Josh Allen and also be forced into coverage against Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. The success on the defense will be on the shoulders of Murray and how much he can handle and how productive he can be.
*Calvin Ridley was not happy with his lack of production after the game on Sunday. I expect Ridley to get targets early in the game, and the Bills should expect it too. This has been a trend with the Titans offense, if a player is not getting his targets or touches one week, the coaches appease him the next week by calling his number more often.
Players I am curious about, Bills:
*DaQuan Jones/Austin Johnson are two former Titans who continue to have success in the NFL. Jones is in his 11th season but hasn’t slowed down yet. He is still a stout run defender who can push the pocket and be disruptive against the pass. Johnson is a ninth-year pro who has a three-down presence and position flexibility to align all over their defensive front.
*Dalton Kincaid/Dawson Knox are playmakers at a crucial position. Both tight ends create mismatches and force the defenses into personnel changes, declaring how they are going to cover the big receivers. Will the Titans match the 12 personnel looks with a base defense or nickel? Can nickel Roger McCreary cover a much bigger player? Using Murray in coverage will take him away from spying Josh Allen. The tight ends for the Bills create huge problems for a defense.
*I advocated for the Titans to select Kincaid over Peter Skoronski in 2023 so the Titans could have a legitimate offensive playmaker. Tight ends are a critical position for successful teams in the NFL because of the mismatches they create. The Chiefs, 49ers. Bills, Ravens, Vikings and Lions all have elite tight ends.
*Cooper is now on his fourth NFL team. He has been productive at each stop and now he is playing with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Allen. I don’t expect a big role in his first week with the team, but he should be a big addition moving forward.
*Ray Davis is a rookie fourth-round pick who played like an NFL starter in his first game filling in for the injured James Cook. Davis is a power runner with the ability to hit holes quickly, run through poor arm tackles and get positive yards. He is especially productive in short-yardage situations.
Coaching impact:
*The Bills in 2024 have finally understood that to have success in the playoffs the team must become more balanced and not force Allen to be the quarterback, running back and entire offense. They found a run game with Cook and Davis; they just brought in Cooper to give the passing game a legitimate go-to receiver to compliment the rookie Coleman.
*The Titans in 2024 haven’t found their identity on offense. It was supposed to feature veteran receivers Ridley, Hopkins and Boyd, but with Will Levis’ struggles, they haven’t found that comfort level. To win this game the Titans will need to highlight those players and allow Levis to cut it loose.
Monday’s conversation topics:
Will it be the same story we have seen all year from the Titans? Poor offensive football, solid defense, poor special teams play, and just not good enough to win versus even backup quarterbacks and average NFL teams?
Or will they play against a playoff-caliber team like the Bills and show promise, competitive play, and the ability to make plays on both sides of the ball? I don’t expect the Titans to win this game, but I hope to see a competitive game.