Pre-Game Thread Bills @ Titans Pre-game

Good for us tho lol

 

IDK, we really struggle with the unknown, but if we can game plan for a guy we're usually good limiting what they do...

How many back-up RB's have torched us over the years? Feels like a ton.. Same with back-up TE's...

 

We really really really need this win obviously. With Warmack and J-Mac returning and coming off a bye week I actually feel pretty good about this game.

 

is warmack back? havent seen or heard anything, we're honestly better off with Meredith in his place

 

But that's just the way things go for the Titans. Dude will come out hungry, kill us and fade away. Hope I'm wrong. Also hope we don't see Watkins. Let McCourty get settled back with an easier match up.

 

Here's my Bills breakdown / Matchup with Titans:

Bills Passing Game vs Titans Passing D:

The stats say that Tyrod Taylor has been a very efficient passer. Through 4 games, he is averaging 247 yards/game, has 8 TDs to only 4 ints and has a QB rating of 104.4 ... However, upon closer inspection, these stats may be slightly misleading

So far, Taylor has only faced 1 team in the top half of the league in passing Defense (Dolphins - ranked 15 in passing ypg). He has also faced the Giants (32 ranked passing D), Colts (23 ranked passing D) and Pats (18 ranked passing D) ... Also 3 of his 8 passing TDs came in a blow out loss to the Pats (down 37-13 heading into the 4th Q)

The Titans (6 ranked passing D) will be the toughest test for him yet. Not to mention we should have a boost with McCourty coming back. Also reports are that Sammy Watkins could miss this game due to injury as well, leaving the passing attack with 1 less weapon.

Edge: Titans defense

Bills Running Game vs Titans D:

Running game is a strength of this Buffalo Offense. The Bills come into the game with the NFL's 6th best rushing offense, averaging 128 yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry. However, it looks like their top 2 RBs, Karlos Williams (5.4 ypc, 3 TDs) and LeSean McCoy (3.4 ypc), will be out for this game. Bills will be starting Boobie Dixon (0 yards on 8 carries this year).

This is very good news for the Titans (19 ranked rush D), as this is the matchup that the Bills were likely going to try and exploit during this game.

The one wild card will be Tyrod Taylor, who is has shown he can pickup yards with his legs as well. He has 111 rushing yards on the season so far.

Edge: Titans defense


Titans Passing Game vs Bills D:

Everyone has seen that Mariota has major talent throwing the football, and he seems to be learning and improving after each game. He now has the Titans 14th in the league, averaging 249 yards per game. He is a rookie however though, so you know that we will see growing pains from time to time ... Rex Ryan is the type of coach that can expose those growing pains.

However, the Bills Passing D has not been all that stellar this year. They are currently ranked 29th against the pass (take out the Brady beat down, and they would be ranked around 19th). So there could be an opportunity for MM to take advantage.

In theory, the Titans should be able to find success passing the ball against the Bills suspect passing D, however I think the "Rex Ryan vs a Rookie" effect may help to even this matchup.

Edge: Tied



Titans Running Game vs Bills D:

Bills are no slouch when it comes to stopping the run. They are only giving up 78 ypg on the ground right now, and are currently ranked 3rd in the NFL against the run.

Titans run game though isn't as bad as you would think. With a current average of 128 ypg, they are ranked 10th in the NFL. However, I still think that Sankey and co will be hard pressed to see any running room against this Bills D. A heavy dose of Antonio Andrews may be in order for this game.

Edge: Bills


Overall

Overall, I like how the Titans match up against the Bills (when you take injuries into consideration). I think the loss of 2 RBs will prove to be too much for the Bills to overcome, and is very fortunate for the Titans.

If the running game is impacted as significantly as I think it will be, it will be interesting to see what type of effect this has on Tyrod Taylor. Without a strong run support, will he still be as effective as a passer?

I think that this could be a low scoring game, but as long as the Titans D doesn't give up the big plays (hopefully JMac helps with that), then the Titans should come away with a W.

The pick: Titans 24 - Bills 10

 

Week-1 we came out firing, week-2 we wanted to establish the run, week-3 we tried being balanced. Hopefully we go back to week-1 and attack thru the air, we seem more efficient that way... And we know the Bills D is better stopping the run than the pass, so pass.

Also worth mentioning, in each of the BIlls loses, their opponents came into the game off a long week. So Im thinking our bye gives us an edge, we'll be fresh while they're losing bodies left and right...

Titans 24 - Bills 13

 

I was initially pretty worried about this game. I had it marked as a Loss. Mainly because it just was not a good matchup for the Titans ... We have trouble stopping the run, and the Bills have a strong running game.

But the injuries the Bills have could not come at a better position for the Titans matchup wise. It takes the Bills strength and makes it probably a weakness ... now rather than matching up the Bills strength vs Titans weakness the playing field has evened, and probably even shifted into the Titans favor.

That will in turn put more pressure on the Bills passing game, and force them to put more focus on the matchup against the Titans defensive strength.

And while Taylor has shown some good things, they have attempted a league low (ranked 30th) in passing attempts. Meaning that, while Taylor has played well, he has not been 'featured' and is likely hiding some behind a good running game.

It will be very interesting to see how he fairs when he becomes the focal point of the defensive attack, and has more pressure on him to make plays for the team throughout the entire game

 

If I know Whiz like I think I do, he will try to run against the 3rd ranked run defense.

 

How about "Merry Yoda"? That way he's a happy ole Jedi