{"id":195051,"date":"2024-10-17T17:00:20","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T21:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=195051"},"modified":"2024-10-17T13:24:15","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T17:24:15","slug":"titans-bills-preview-josh-allen-buffalo-tennessee-week-7-nfl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/10\/17\/titans-bills-preview-josh-allen-buffalo-tennessee-week-7-nfl\/","title":{"rendered":"Titans vs. Bills Preview: Josh Allen, Buffalo on Week 7 Upset Alert"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Buffalo Bills (4-2) picked up an important, albeit ugly, win over the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/jets\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">New York Jets<\/a> on Monday to create some separation atop the AFC East. Now they&#8217;ll attempt to keep climbing the conference standings as they welcome the Tennessee Titans (1-4) to Highmark Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>Bills quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/09\/24\/josh-allen-mvp-biggest-hurdles-buffalo-bills-qb\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Josh Allen<\/a> is putting together an MVP-caliber season, and he&#8217;ll have a new weapon to work with Sunday following the team&#8217;s acquisition of wide receiver <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/10\/16\/how-the-amari-cooper-trade-reshapes-the-bills-offense\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Amari Cooper<\/a> from the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/browns\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Cleveland Browns<\/a>. It was a much-needed addition as the offense&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/09\/25\/everybody-eats-inside-phrase-fueling-buffalo-bills-josh-allen\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">&#8220;everybody eats&#8221; approach<\/a> began to stall out in recent weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Titans&#8217; season is already on the brink as they prepare to play on the road three times in the next four weeks. They&#8217;ll visit the Bills, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/lions\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Detroit Lions<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/chargers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Los Angeles Chargers<\/a>. Their play must improve considerably, or the focus will soon shift from the playoffs to the No. 1 pick conversation.<\/p>\n<p>Buffalo and Tennessee are scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday on CBS.<\/p>\n<h2>Titans-Bills Game Preview and Score Prediction (Week 7)<\/h2>\n<h3>X-Factors<\/h3>\n<h4>Titans: LB Kenneth Murray Jr.<\/h4>\n<p>Tennessee&#8217;s offensive struggles have overshadowed an outstanding start by its defense. Here are some notable rankings under defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Yards allowed per game: 248.8 (1st in the NFL)<\/li>\n<li>Yards allowed per play: 4.3 (1st)<\/li>\n<li>Yards allowed per pass attempt: 5.0 (1st)<\/li>\n<li>Opponent completion percentage: 58.7 (3rd)<\/li>\n<li>Opponent third-down conversion rate: 31.8% (5th)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are even some numbers that show the defense is playing better than those already strong results:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Week 7 <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NFL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#NFL<\/a> Power Rankings!<br \/>&#8211; Top-5 Teams: Lions, Bills, 49ers, Vikings, Ravens<br \/>&#8211; Vikings have the best defense<br \/>&#8211; Jets trying to fix their below average offense with Adams<br \/>&#8211; Texans continue to be carried by their defense<br \/>&#8211; Chiefs O &amp; Titans D are better than their results <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9oTu9o8z51\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/9oTu9o8z51<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sam Burch (@sburch323) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sburch323\/status\/1846243653234110891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Those stats show the unit is strong at baseline, and it also features an inside linebacker in Murray who does the one thing that really throws off Buffalo&#8217;s offense: pressure through the middle. The 2020 first-round pick has tallied 39 total tackles and two sacks through five games.<\/p>\n<p>Allen tends to escape and make plays when pressured around the edge. When the pass-rushers come through the &#8216;A&#8217; gaps, however, he&#8217;s far less dynamic. It forces him to make quick throws, and Buffalo receivers have struggled to gain instant separation. That was a key reason for the Cooper trade.<\/p>\n<p>While Murray has made an impact as a blitzer, he&#8217;s struggled in coverage. He&#8217;s a potential liability against <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/10\/15\/buffalo-bills-fantasy-outlook-after-trading-for-amari-cooper\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Dalton Kincaid<\/a>. So, Wilson will likely lean on Murray&#8217;s pressure skills and hope fellow linebacker Ernest Jones IV can slow down the Bills tight end.<\/p>\n<p>Interior linemen Jeffery Simmons and Sebastian Joseph-Day can also help the Titans&#8217; chances by getting pressure in Allen&#8217;s face early and often.<\/p>\n<h4>Bills: WR Keon Coleman<\/h4>\n<p>Buffalo finally started to use Coleman properly against the Jets. Twice on the team&#8217;s go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, he faced single coverage on the outside. Allen gave him a pair of nice back-shoulder throws that resulted in first downs.<\/p>\n<p>Coleman faced sky-high expectations as the 33rd overall pick in this year&#8217;s draft. The 21-year-old Florida State product doesn&#8217;t have game-breaking traits, though. He&#8217;s more of a situational matchup winner rather than a clear-cut No. 1 receiver, and that&#8217;s OK.<\/p>\n<p>Cooper will likely be limited in his first game while getting up to speed with the team&#8217;s playbook. Shakir is still working his way back to full strength from an ankle injury. There will be a lot of mixing and matching with receivers against the Titans as a result.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Oh you mean Keon Coleman now gets to work with and learn from Amari Cooper? Yeah that sounds like a good thing.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Jon Helmkamp (@JonHelmkamp) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JonHelmkamp\/status\/1846261525088293349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>When those three are on the field together, however, Coleman should exclusively see single coverage. His ability to take advantage of those situations will be a crucial determining factor in the Bills&#8217; true offensive upside.<\/p>\n<p>For this week, Buffalo could lean more heavily on the rookie now that he&#8217;s starting to find a rhythm with Allen on those intermediate routes.<\/p>\n<h3>Key Matchup<\/h3>\n<h4>Titans RB Tony Pollard vs. Bills LB Dorian Williams<\/h4>\n<p>Pollard is enjoying a productive start to the campaign. He&#8217;s recorded 421 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns in five games. He accumulated those numbers despite a modest 64.8 percent snap share while splitting work with Tyjae Spears.<\/p>\n<p>Now, with Spears sidelined by a hamstring injury, the former <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/cowboys\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a> running back should assume a three-down workhorse role for the Titans. It&#8217;ll make him the most important player on the field Sunday not named Josh Allen.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Tony Pollard will not be brought down. 23-yard TD run on 3rd and 19!<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa: <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/INDvsTEN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#INDvsTEN<\/a> on CBS\/Paramount+<br \/>\ud83d\udcf1: <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/waVpO909ge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/waVpO909ge<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Zx4OG9pDwW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Zx4OG9pDwW<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1845539157734769114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Pollard matches up with a Bills defense that ranks 23rd in rushing yards allowed per game (140.2) and dead last in rushing yards allowed per carry (5.3).<\/p>\n<p>Williams is a major reason for those struggles stopping the run. Although he&#8217;s tied for third in the NFL with 60 total tackles, his underwhelming 62.6 overall grade from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pff.com\/nfl\/players\/dorian-williams\/97694\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pro Football Focus<\/a> is a better representation of his lackluster play.<\/p>\n<p>The second-year linebacker&#8217;s play identification has been brutal at times. It&#8217;s led him to take some downright terrible routes to ball carriers. A 42-yard run by the Jets&#8217; Breece Hall on Monday night was a perfect example of those issues:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Breece Hall goes 42 yards!<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udcfa: <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BUFvsNYJ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#BUFvsNYJ<\/a> on ESPN\/ABC<br \/>\ud83d\udcf1: Stream on <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NFLPlus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#NFLPlus<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1WSizWkvzS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/1WSizWkvzS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1846011877434052841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Buffalo is hoping Pro Bowl linebacker <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/08\/15\/bills-matt-milano-biceps-injury-2024-nfl-season\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Matt Milano<\/a> will return by December. Williams&#8217; problems, both against the run and in pass coverage, may force the front office to at least <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2024\/10\/16\/bills-deadline-targets-amari-cooper-trade-jets-davante-adams\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">consider a trade<\/a> before the Nov. 5 deadline in case Milano suffers a setback in his recovery from a bicep injury.<\/p>\n<p>For now, opponents will likely continue to attack Williams when he&#8217;s on the field.<\/p>\n<h3>Final Score Prediction: 21-20 Bills<\/h3>\n<p>Don&#8217;t be surprised if this game ends up far closer than it looks on paper. The Titans may even pull off a road upset in Orchard Park.<\/p>\n<p>Buffalo&#8217;s offense isn&#8217;t clicking on all cylinders right now and Tennessee&#8217;s defense is one of the NFL&#8217;s best. That alone is enough to make it a low-scoring contest where field position is paramount.<\/p>\n<p>Correspondingly, turnovers will be critical. Although that sounds like good news for the Bills on the surface\u2014their turnover differential is plus-eight (second in the NFL) and the Titans&#8217; is minus-seven (31st)\u2014those things tend to regress over time. Last year, the best regular-season turnover differential across 17 games was only plus-12. So, Buffalo isn&#8217;t going to enjoy its current fortune forever.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s purely a guess, but it feels like the bounces in Sunday&#8217;s game may favor Tennessee. Add in a strong defense and a rushing attack that should be able to control the clock, and all it may take is an ill-timed turnover or two to flip this game toward the underdog.<\/p>\n<p>That said, Allen&#8217;s presence is the one thing that should allow the Bills to pick up another win. He&#8217;s one of the few players capable of completely taking over a game by himself. He&#8217;ll likely rise to the occasion if Buffalo does find itself on upset alert in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It genuinely amazes me people on this app disrespect Josh Allen every chance they get<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s incredible <\/p>\n<p> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zw4EjXpUah\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/zw4EjXpUah<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Football Analysis (@FBallAnalysisYT) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FBallAnalysisYT\/status\/1845994831580995620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In the big picture, the Bills&#8217; stock may rise throughout the season. Cooper will be a difference-maker for the offense and the defense should get healthier over time. In particular, the possible return of Milano would be massive.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, however, they are trying to work through struggles in all three phases. That makes every opponent dangerous, even a struggling one like the Titans.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo: [Lucas Boland] &#8211; USA Today Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Buffalo Bills can&#8217;t afford to overlook the Tennessee Titans, who will be desperately seeking a season-altering win in Week 7 on Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5175,"featured_media":195141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,3,11],"tags":[7705,2599,32244,7700,5087],"class_list":["post-195051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorials","category-bills","category-titans","tag-buffalo-bills-news","tag-josh-allen","tag-keon-coleman","tag-tennessee-titans-news","tag-tony-pollard"],"modified_by":"Michael Zimmelman","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5175"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=195051"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/195051\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/195141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=195051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=195051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=195051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}