Buffalo Bills (5-2) – Tennessee Titans (1-5): 34-10
Winning without forcing, isn’t that ultimately the best way to win in the NFL? For the Bills and their new recruit at receiver Amari Cooper (4 recs, 66 yards, 1 TD), the match took a little time to get going. But once started, the Buffalo machine never slowed down. 34 points scored in 3 quarters, an opposing attack contained to 10 yards for almost 20 minutes and a victory to make a real break at the top of the division. Life is good for Sean McDermott's men.
As a welcome gift for Amari Cooper, Josh Allen (21/33, 323 yards, 2 TD) threw him the first touchdown of the game. Was Cooper really aware of the game anyway? But it was his counterpart Keon Coleman who made Buffalo progress during this match with 125 yards gained on 4 receptions. For Josh Allen, a rather quiet match. He didn't even run too much. Like the Bills in general since they finished the match with less time of possession than their opponents: 28 minutes against 32 for Tennessee.
For the Titans, it is difficult to draw any lessons from this match. We knew they would be orphaned by Will Levis, who had a shoulder injury. But Mason Rudolph (25/40, 215 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) is far from being a long-term solution. And the running game, like the passing game, clearly lacks a player or two capable of sustainably moving this offense forward. Tony Pollard (16 races, 61 yards) or Calvin Ridley (3 rec, 42 yards) are too alone. We come to feel sorry for a player of the caliber of DeAndre Hopkins who finishes with… -2 yards on one reception.
Damar Hamlin, still standing, still alive
The Bills, trailing 10-7 at the break, did not leave the slightest ounce of hope for the Titans in the 2nd period. Mason Rudolph was put under constant pressure, suffering a total of 11 pressures including 3 sacks. He also lost a ball on a fumble by Terrel Bernard and was intercepted at the very end of the game by Damar Hamlin. For Buffalo, this is already the 12th loss of the ball caused on defense this season.
But despite everything, the impression left by Buffalo is mixed, undoubtedly caused by the weak opposition of the day. These Bills are struggling to generate lasting enthusiasm and the question will arise of their true level once in the playoffs. Playoffs which seem almost promised to them given the rest of the division. For Tennessee, we will wait. What ? Difficult to say. The return of Will Levis? And again. But for now, there is no cause for celebration for the Titans before facing the Lions in week 8.
