Call it what you will, a trap game or a bad matchup or a gamble gone wrong, but the high-flying Buffalo Bills went up against the Tennessee Titans on Monday and were grounded, losing 34-31. Both offenses matched each other blow-for-blow, but with the Titans leading and seconds left in the game, the Bills faced a decision to gamble for the win or play for overtime. They wanted the win, but Josh Allen wasn’t able to cross the line of scrimmage, and that was the end of the story.
GAME RECAP LINKS:
- Buffalo Bills 31, Tennessee Titans 34: Rapid recap and notes (BuffaloRumblings.com)
- Titans 34, Bills 31 | Game recap, highlights & photos (BuffaloBills.com)
- Tennessee hands the Bills a 34-31 loss to snap four-game win streak (WIVB.com)
- 5 takeaways from the Bills’ 34-31 loss to the Titans (BillsWire.com)
MEDIA:
Heartbreaker.#BUFvsTEN | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/8tAUCwf19F
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 19, 2021
The Bills decision to go for it on 4th & inches from the Titans 3 (trailing 34-31) was unequivocally the optimal call according to the NGS Decision Guide.
? Conversion Probability: 75%
? Win Probability: 63% if GO, 42% if FG
? Recommendation: GO FOR IT (by 21.3%)#BUFvsTEN— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 19, 2021
That’s Josh Allen’s first loss when topping 300 yards passing.#Bills have only lost to 4 teams since start of 2020 season, including playoffs.
Chiefs, 2x
Titans, 2x
Cardinals
Steelers.— John Wawrow (@john_wawrow) October 19, 2021
In that moment you trust Josh Allen to get a yard. Can’t fault McDermott for that, but just a little surprised. We’ve seen the #Bills take the safe plays before. Tough, tough way to lose the game going into a BYE. Gonna dwell on this one.
— Bradley Gelber (@BradleyGelber) October 19, 2021
Coach McDermott: I’ll take Josh Allen ten out of ten times with the game on the line. I trust him and believe in our coaches and players. #BUFvsTEN pic.twitter.com/mwA2COPpy1
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 19, 2021
Some very quick thoughts:
– Thought Allen was very good
– Worst game of the year for the defense
– Red zone efficiency is a concern. Offense settled for too many FGs
– No sacks for defense. There is more too pressure than sacks but they didn’t do great job tonight
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) October 19, 2021
Easy to say you should have kicked the FG and gone to OT. Going for it to win it is belief, and probably a shade too much arrogance. But we've waited 25 years to see this kind of swagger, right? Sometimes it goes against you. #Bills
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) October 19, 2021
.@stefondiggs (rec TD on #MNF) and @TrevonDiggs (INT return TD on Sunday) both scored in Week 6
It marks the first time that a player scored an offensive TD while his brother scored a defensive TD in the same NFL week since Vernon and Vontae Davis in Week 4, 2009
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) October 19, 2021
Josh Allen finds Tommy Sweeney in the back of the end zone for this third TD throw of the game.
That marks Sweeney, an avid fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, first career touchdown.
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) October 19, 2021
That catch marks Cole Beasley's 500th career catch, making Beasley the ninth undrafted player in league history to reach 500 career receptions.
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) October 19, 2021
GAME PREVIEW:
Social media and video have made it impossible for the Buffalo Bills to forget their last game against the Tennessee Titans.
Derrick Henry stiff-arming Bills cornerback Josh Norman off his feet through the air literally was everywhere as a highlight, gif or meme.
Time hasn’t eased the memory either.
“We get reminded every time I see highlights,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said of that now infamous play. “I see that play and then, you know, look, give them credit. They outperformed us, they outcoached us, they outplayed us. They’re a good football team.”
The Titans added insult to injury by routing Buffalo 42-16 on only the second Tuesday night game since 1946, rescheduled because of Tennessee’s COVID-19 outbreak last season. The Bills chose not to forget that loss.
“You can learn from those experiences,” McDermott said. “And we weren’t very disciplined in that game, detail-oriented. We didn’t take care of the football. I mean, it was like I told you, they outperformed us.”
Now the schedule takes the Bills (4-1) to the second straight stop on their redemption tour. The Bills just routed the Chiefs 38-20 in Kansas City in a rematch of the AFC title game. This visit to Nashville offers a little payback while the Bills try to keep rolling in Monday night’s showdown of divisional leaders.
Buffalo sits atop the AFC East having won four straight. The Bills have both the NFL’s highest-scoring offense and stingiest defense.
The Titans (3-2) aren’t dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. Injuries are the problem, with 16 players on injured reserve but down to just 14 on this week’s injury report. The defending AFC South champs are coming off a 37-19 win over the Jaguars.
GAME PREVIEW LINKS:
- Top 5 storylines for Bills at Titans | Week 6 (BuffaloBills.com)
- Bills at Titans: 3 key matchups in Week 6 (BillsWire.com)
- Buffalo Bills protect three on practice squad before game against Tennessee Titans (BuffaloRumblings.com)
- Bills open as road favorites in prime time vs. Titans (BillsWire.com)
- Bills’ top-ranked defense handled Patrick Mahomes, but now face Titans star Derrick Henry (D&C.com)
- Sean McDermott offers an optimistic outlook on Matt Milano’s status for Monday Night (BuffaloBills.com)
- Bills at Titans: How to watch, listen and stream (BillsWire.com)
MEDIA:
#LeadingTheCharge: Week 6 (#BUFvsTEN) game release: https://t.co/4zrNjUIDb7
? Nissan Stadium
? 8:15 PM EST
? ESPN (Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, Brian Griese & Lisa Salters)
? @WGR550 / @WestwoodOne pic.twitter.com/6gkplbLccF— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) October 12, 2021
Monday Night Football in the Music City. ?#BUFvsTEN | @EnergyMark pic.twitter.com/5pvlYFGBVh
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 14, 2021
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].