🏈🏈🏈🏈
The Buffalo Bills entered last night's game against the Titans in Nashville with a head full of steam. They had four straight wins, and had just beaten the Chiefs in Kansas City the week before, getting some revenge for the AFC Championship Game loss last January, which kept Buffalo out of the Super Bowl. Their offense is one of the most dangerous, and the defense seems to get the job done when it absolutely needs to. It sure felt like they had a ton of momentum, too.
But the Titans had their backs up against a wall. Despite being in first place, the Titans were a suspect 3-2 entering the Monday Night Football showdown against the Bills. Plus, they had lost to the Jets, something that many felt undermined the credibility of the Titans as a serious contender. Also, the Colts appear to be coming on, and Tennessee wanted to keep some margin of comfort there, as well.
As a result of all of this, what we got was a very entertaining, well=played game. There were seven lead changes in the game, which ties a Monday Night Football record. And this game came down to the final seconds, and had all sorts of up and downs and points that many will likely be discussing for some time.
In the end, it came down to a decision. Sean McDermott, the head coach of the Bills, took a chance. On 4th and less than a yard, very deep in Tennessee territory and trailing by a field goal, he had the choice of either going for a first down, and the chance at the go ahead touchdown for the win, or a chip shot field goal to get the game into overtime. He went for the first down for a chance at a touchdown to win it. But Bills quarterback Josh Allen slipped on the play, as the video shows, and Buffalo fell short of the first down. They turned the ball over to the Titans with 12 seconds left. Ball game.
Obviously, when a game comes down to the final seconds like that, it will likely have a thrilling and/or controversial, and certainly a memorable, end. This one had that, and then some. Indeed, both teams showed just why they are in first place in their respective divisions.
For Tennessee, Ryan Tannehill had himself a solid game, completing 18 of 29 passes for 216 yards and one INT. However, he also had one rushing touchdown, which proved to be key, given the closeness of the game. His favofrite target was A.J. Brown, who had 7 catches for 91 yards. On the ground, the Titans really benefited by the hard work of Derrick Henry, who pounded the Buffalo defense like they have not been pounded yet this season. He collected 143 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries, and kept killing them at key times, when they otherwise might have shut down drives. He was instrumental in helping to lift Tennessee past Buffalo in this one.
In a losing cause or the Bills, quarterback Josh Allen completed 35 of 47 passes for 353 yards, with three touchdowns and one INT. Emmanuel Sanders had 5 catches for 91 yards. On the ground, the Bills were not very effective. Devin Singletary led Buffalo with just 27 yards on 5 carries, underscoring a lack of balance for the Bills on offense, at least on this particular night.
Buffalo actually had the advantage in most statistical categories. They held onto ball for almost 33 minutes, outgained the Titans 417 yards to 362. They also had a decisive advantage in terms of first downs gained, with 28 to just 16 for the Titans. Still, all of that was not quite enough to push Buffalo past Tennessee in this one.
As a result, both teams are now 4-2. For Buffalo, this snapped a four game winning streak, and they still remain two games ahead of the Patriots. But for Tennessee, who most believed would lose, this lifts them to 4-2, and maintains some cushion between them and the second-place Colts. The Titans will next host the Chiefs. The Bills, meanwhile, will have a bye week. They will next host their division rivals, the Miami Dolphins, on Halloween day.
No comments:
Post a Comment