It’s Monday Night Football in the Music City, baby! We’re all kinds of fired up for this big time showdown between the 3-2 Tennessee Titans and the 4-1 Buffalo Bills. It’s a huge game in the early AFC race, and really, it’s kind of an underrated NFL rivalry in general. I don’t know how many people outside of Nashville and Buffalo truly appreciate it. Nonetheless, that matters not, as this rivalry is plenty appreciated here and in western New York.
For the Titans, it has been a rocky 3-2 start. While the defense has played noticeably better than it did in 2020, the offense has been the surprising clunker so far. But, it’s also worth noting that this Titans team has been awfully banged up over the last several weeks. They’re getting healthier, and after they got AJ Brown back last week, they’re getting Julio Jones and Bud Dupree back this week. For the Bills, they’re on a roll and have made a compelling argument as the best team in the AFC so far. After dropping their season opener to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they’ve won four in a row, and come to Nashville boasting the best scoring offense -and- the best scoring defense in the league. This isn’t going to be an easy task for the Titans like it was in Nashville last year on *checks notes* Tuesday Night Football. The Titans had been off for two weeks, half the damn team had covid, and no one gave them a shot against the Bills. But, all they did was go out and kick Buffalo’s shit in.
Y’all know the Bills haven’t forgotten that game, and they were salty about it to begin with. But, crazier things have happened, of course. The point total is set at over/under 53.5 and both offenses have the fire power to light up the scoreboard. At the time of this writing, the Bills are favored by six, with 56% of the money against the spread coming in on Buffalo. I would’ve thought that percentage would’ve been much higher if you’ve actually watched the Titans this season. But, then again, I don’t know that a national audience is watching the Titans. That number opened at Bills -3.5, but was bet up to -6. That would usually be a massive red flag to me, and I’d be saying “this is how they build all those big tall buildings in Vegas.” But, I just don’t see the Titans pulling this one out given the way the Bills are playing right now. Obviously, I hope I’m wrong. So, if they are going to improve to 4-2, what do they have to do to get there?
Titans Keys to Victory: vs. Buffalo, 10/18/21
*That Bills defensive line – I really have no fucking clue how to put this ‘key to victory,’ but I think the Bills defensive front is going to be an absolute factor in this game. The Titans have struggled in pass protection all season long, and the Bills have nine guys they can rotate in and out along that defensive line. They clog up running lanes, so that could be a factor in slowing down Derrick Henry. If Henry’s unable to put this team on his back like he’s done at times this season, I wonder how effective this offense can be. Not to mention, Henry usually becomes more and more effective as the game wears on. But, if the Bills have some fresh bodies along the defensive front, maybe they’ll be a little less worn-down by the 4th quarter, and will be better-equipped to handle the King. The offensive line and run game will be crucial in this one.
*Dirty the pocket for Josh Allen – How this Titans defense plays Josh Allen is going to be another huge factor in this game. Clog up the running lanes, set the edge to keep him from getting outside, and make him throw off balance. It’s easier said than done, but the Titans defense has the horses to be successful at it. We’ve seen Denico Autry and Jeffery Simmons play well together. Harold Landry is having a career year. And, they get Dupree back. The Titans will need them all. Allen has shown that, like many a quarterback, he’s prone to make mistakes and throw inaccurate balls when he’s uncomfortable. The Titans have to make him uncomfortable. But, he’s also a threat to run the ball as well, so they also have to limit his ability to run, or else it’ll be Zach Wilson all over again. It might not be as deep as Buffalo’s, but this Titans defensive front hasn’t exactly been a slouch either. If the Titans are going to win this one, it’ll be because they’ve won it in the trenches.
*Punch Buffalo in the mouth – Like I said, if the Titans are going to win this game, they’re going to have to win the trenches, but more importantly, they just need to play their brand of physical football. They need to come out early and establish that physical presence – they need to push back that Bills defensive front, utilize the physicality of Brown and Jones against the Bills defensive back when the opportunity calls for it, and they need to hit these Bills play-makers. This is an attitude game – the Titans have shown a propensity for playing their best under Mike Vrabel with their backs against the wall. Bring that fucking energy, and never let up.
If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to The Unofficial Titans Podcast on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Spotify, or wherever you take in your podcast, and be on the lookout for my game reaction podcast tomorrow – win, lose, or draw.
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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