No practice, no problem.
Down a number of key players after multiple weeks of battling a COVID-19 outbreak, the Tennesse Titans still brought their A-game at home against the Buffalo Bills. They forced quarterback Josh Allen and company to put together drives to score and did a great job of limiting any big-play opportunities down the field. With the win, the Titans now join the Pittsburgh Steelers as the only undefeated teams left in the AFC.
Editor's note: All of PFF's grades and advanced stats from this game will be finalized and made available to ELITE subscribers within 24 hours of the final whistle.
Story of the Game
The story of the game was quite easily turnovers. The Bills gave the ball away at crucial times, and the Titans took advantage of it. The very first one — an unfortunate clang off the hands of Andre Roberts that fell into the waiting arms of Malcolm Butler — put the Bills in an uphill battle from the start.
However, Butler wasn't done there, as he made arguably the game's biggest play when he picked off a Josh Allen hole shot late in the third quarter with the Bills driving. It was quite easily Allen’s worst decision on the young season, as he assumed Butler would be staying in the flat. That was one of two turnover-worthy plays on what will be Allen’s lowest-graded game of the season.
The Bills' offensive struggles were met with the return of the chain-moving wideout, A.J. Brown. Brown hauled in 7-of-9 targets for 82 yards, with six of those going for first downs and the other one resulting in six points. His return coincided with an impressively efficient outing from QB Ryan Tannehill, who recorded an adjusted completion percentage over 80.0%. Ultimately, it was his legs that did the Bills in, as Tannehill also scampered for three first downs — including a backbreaker on a crucial drive in the fourth quarter — and one touchdown on four carries.
Rookie Watch
There was truthfully not much to write home about for either rookie class. Bills fourth-round receiver Gabriel Davis hauled in five of his nine targets for 58 yards and had a nice touchdown reception called back by an illegal shift penalty in the first quarter, but he also added a drop in there, as well.
Teammate A.J. Epenesa didn’t have quite as many positives to write home about. After seeing the field for all of four snaps Tuesday night, Epenesa’s performance will be remembered for his bone-headed neutral-zone infraction on third down late in the game.
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