MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME 1: TENNESSEE TITANS AT BUFFALO BILLS

BY ADAM GREENE

Last year’s No. 1 seed in the AFC gets to face off with the team everyone expects to finish in the top spot in 2022 as the Tennessee Titans head to upstate New York to take on the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.

This has been a surprisingly one-sided rivalry in its history, especially in recent years. The Titans lead the all time head-to-head match up 30-19 and have really dominated it since the 1995 season. Over that nearly 30 year span, the Bills are 5-10 against Tennessee, including a 34-31 shootout win in Nashville last season. Ryan Tannehill threw for 216 yards, no touchdowns and a pick in the win. Derrick Henry was a monster, rushing 20 times for 143 yards and three scores. AJ Brown (now with the Philadelphia Eagles) caught seven passes for 91 yards. Josh Allen threw for 353 yards, three touchdowns and a pick in the loss and added 26 yards on the ground. Stefon Diggs caught nine passes for 89 yards and a TD. Cole Beasley (now an unemployed COVID-19 superspreader), hauled in seven passes for 88 yards and a score.

Of course, the two teams will forever be linked by two famous and historic playoff games. Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, then the back up quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, led his team to a 41-28 overtime win in the 1992-93 playoffs over the then Houston Oilers, coming back from a 28-3 halftime deficit. The Titans got their revenge in the 1999-2000 postseason, using the “Music City Miracle” last second kick return touchdown to win 22-16 in the AFC Wild Card Round. Tennessee would go on to Super Bowl XXXIV and lose to the then St. Louis Rams.

TENNESSEE TITANS AT BUFFALO BILLS (-10, O/U: 47.5)

Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.

Broadcast: ESPN/ESPN 2

Kickoff: Sep. 19, 7:15 p.m. EST

TENNESSEE TITANS (0-1)

Tennessee needs to bounce back in a big way after taking an embarrassing 21-20 loss to the New York Giants in Week 1. Tannehill finished 20 of 33 for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Henry had 21 carries for 82 yards. Kyle Phillips caught six passes for 66 yards. Tannehill was sacked once.

The Defense sacked Daniel Jones five times, picked him off once and forced a fumble.

BUFFALO BILLS (1-0)

The Bills shocked the world last week too. Not with a loss, but in the methodical and thorough beat down they delivered to the defending Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams, 31-10. Allen threw for 297 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while leading the team with 56 rushing yards and a score. Stefon Diggs caught eight passes for 122 yards and a touchdown while eating Jalen Ramsey’s lunch in front of him. Gabe Davis caught four passes for 88 yards and a TD. Allen was sacked twice.

Buffalo’s defense sacked Matt Stafford seven times and picked him off three times. They held the Rams to a total of 52 yards on the ground.

THE PICK

Tennessee played terrible a week ago and draws the worst possible team to try to get right against. They could find a way to surprise us all and beat Buffalo for the third time in three years, but this Bills team looks too strong for that. They may slip, but not this early. Bills 31, Titans 20

Last week

Straight up: 10-5-1

Against the spread: 9-7

Season

Straight up: 10-5-1

Against the spread: 9-7

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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