‘“My initial reaction whenever they moved me to the left side, I was just like, ‘All right. I’m just going to go back to left guard. I’m not going to dwell on it or be mad about it,’ ” Ford said during a video conference call last week. “They make decisions that they feel comfortable with, and I don’t think that at any point they’re saying, ‘We’re going to try to mess this guy over by putting him in a different position.’’
Archives for October 13, 2020
Take Five: Bills face tough task in trying minimize Covid-induced uncertainty
‘This ranks among the greater coaching challenges of McDermott’s career. He has spent the week trying to keep his players dialed in to game preparation when, as they have admitted publicly, they’ve been anxiously seeking information about when and even who they would play next.’
Scouting Report: Stefon Diggs on pace for historic season in first year with Bills
‘Prediction: Bills 30, Titans 16.’
3 matchups to watch when Bills face Tennessee Titans
‘The Titans use three wides just 36%. They play 12 personnel (one RB, two TEs) 27%, 21 personnel (two backs, one TE) on 19% and 13 personnel (one RB, three TEs) on 10%. With the wide receiving corps banged up, expect a heavy dose of power and Derrick Henry. That means A.J. Klein will be on the field a bunch as part of the Bills’ regular 4-3 front. The Bills safeties will need to watch for hard play action.’
How will Bills fare against Titans in rare Tuesday night football?
‘On top of that, the Bills have had more practice time and have the more explosive offense and the better team overall. Bills, 30-20.’
View from Vegas: Titans have struggled against spread vs. AFC East
‘The feeling here is the unwanted week off last week and the limited practice times are momentum breakers for the Titans as the sharp-as-a-tack database points out that 3-0 NFL teams in Game 4 are just 5-8 straight up and 4-9 against the spread when playing with rest.’
If the Bills-Titans game happens, it will be without Jim Nantz and Tony Romo
‘Because of Covid-19 protocols, it may be difficult for Fox’s No. 1 team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman to do the game if they work this Sunday’s late Fox game between the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers and Tampa Bay and Tom Brady.’
At last, the Bills and Titans will get after each other in a battle of unbeatens
‘My pick: Bills 23, Titans 17.’
Plenty at stake in Bills-Titans rematch
‘Buffalo left Nissan Stadium with a 14-7 victory that didn’t exactly have the Pro Football Hall of Fame clamoring for a game tape.’
Titans are now ‘the Astros of pro football…’
‘While Tennessee paid the price for its cavalier approach to Covid-19 protocols, that didn’t stop its players from having unauthorized workouts away from the team facilities in direct violation of league regulations.’
Bills’ Josh Allen to throw all over Titans? (5 things to watch)
‘Adoree Jackson is currently on the injured reserve and Kristian Fulton remains on the Reserve/COVID-19 list as of this writing. If Fulton does not return in time for the game, Tennessee’s cornerbacks will be Malcolm Butler, Johnathan Joseph, Chris Jackson, Chris Milton and Tye Smith.’
Buffalo Bills vs. Tennessee Titans 2020: Preview, odds, predictions for Week 5
‘Under the circumstances it’s difficult to think the Titans are going to have the manpower and the conditioning to hang with the Bills in this one. Sean McDermott has had extra time to prepare for a Titans team that’ll be missing a few of their weapons and the defense seemed to start to click against the Raiders. I expect Allen to spread the ball around once again and the Titans defense, which is allowing more than 400 yards a game, to struggle to contain the Bills offense.’
How to watch Bills at Titans: TV channel, time, live stream information
‘Regardless of who ends up suiting up for the Titans, Buffalo has the opportunity to pick up their fifth win of the year against a Tennessee team that has had limited practices over the past few weeks.’
Sabres’ Taylor Hall: How Bills played role in joining Buffalo
‘“It’s a team that has elite players, ownership committed to building a winner,” Hall said in a Zoom call with Buffalo media. “I’ve see what they’ve done with the Bills – and a coach that gets the most out of his players.”’
Five things to watch: Focuses heading into Week 5 vs Titans; Bills looking for first 5-0 start since ‘91
‘While Buffalo has avoided the major back-breaking injury this season, the Bills have been banged up the past few weeks, and it’s only a matter of time before the injury bug comes back to bite them.’
Sullivan: Bills finally on the right side of NFL’s offensive explosion
‘Couldn’t it simply be that young quarterbacks are coming on the scene and hitting their stride? Allen is a prime example. He has made remarkable progress in his third NFL season, and I suspect he’d still be on pace to break most of the team passing records if there hadn’t been a pandemic.’
Tuesday’s Tennessee Coverage
Titans’ COVID-19 outbreak: Bills game on track after clean tests Monday (Nashville Tennessean)
Jon Robinson on Titans’ COVID-19 outbreak: ‘I certainly wouldn’t wish this on any other GM’ (Nashville Tennessean)
What to expect as the Titans’ season resumes? Who can know anymore? | Estes (Nashville Tennessean)
Titans vs. Bills: Who has the edge in Week 5? (Nashville Tennessean)
Titans vs. Buffalo Bills game score predictions from our experts (Nashville Tennessean)
From the first positive test to the second postponement, here’s what has happened (Nashville Tennessean)
As Titans welcome back fans to Nissan Stadium, Safe Stadium Plan goes into effect (Nashville Tennessean)
Pre-Snap Read: Titans vs. Bills (Nashville Post)
Titans host Bills in battle of unbeatens (WKRN-TV)
Titans on track to play Bills after no new COVID-19 positives reported (WKRN-TV)
Titans GM updates status of NFL investigation, mask compliance (WKRN-TV)
Titans report no new COVID-19 cases Monday, still expected to play Bills on Tuesday (WTVF-TV)
Titans set to take on Bills after no new positive cases (WSMV-TV)
Six Things to Watch in Titans vs. Bills on Tuesday Night (TennesseeTitans.com)
Behind Enemy Lines: An Inside Look at the Buffalo Bills (TennesseeTitans.com)
AP Source: Bills-Titans On With No Positives For TN, Pats
‘The Titans (3-0) had the NFL’s first COVID-19 outbreak with the league shutting down their facility Sept. 29, reaching a total of 24 players and personnel, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the NFL the Titans commented on all the test results.’
Undefeated Bills, Titans Set To Face Off If Testing Allows
‘“As a team that’s off to a good start, we feel like we’ve got a good thing rolling here and we want to play,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “That’s our mindset.”’
Newest Sabres forward Taylor Hall ready to go, jokes about partaking in Bills Mafia tradition
‘”I was going to smash into a fold-up table for my intro but it’s probably safest if I don’t. Hopefully, we get back to playing hockey again sometime soon, but until then, go, Bills.”‘
Titans have no new positive COVID-19 tests
‘The Tennessee Titans had no new positive COVID-19 test results from Sunday’s round of testing, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.’
Opinion: Bills at Titans: Sal’s keys, notes and stats
‘The Bills certainly have plenty of reasons to not be in sync in this game. They had no idea who their next game was even against as of Saturday and essentially had to game plan for two different opponents over the weekend. They’ve had to think, and worry, about their opponent having a Covid outbreak just days before they have to block and tackle them. But no matter what the circumstances, they have to do their best to stay focused on the task at hand and playing a football game against likewise unbeaten team. The Bills are very fortunate to have people like general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott in charge. They’re on top of everything, and extremely measured. Their players are usually a reflection of them and don’t let get too caught up in things they can’t control. They need to keep doing that Tuesday night.’
Allen’s turnaround is unprecedented in NFL history
‘Through statistical analysis and research via Pro Football Reference, not only was Allen’s touchdown-to-interception ratio jump unheard of, but throughout the history of the game, Allen is one of only 15 quarterbacks to throw at least 29 touchdowns in Games 17 through 32. What’s even more incredible is that he has the fewest interceptions of every one of them over that time.’
Patrick Mahomes sets bar for Josh Allen to beat in potential throw-off
‘“I’ve never seen Josh throw a football. I know how far I can throw it and I can put it out there,” Mahomes said. “If he can beat how far I can throw it, he got me, but I know it’s pretty far.”’
Bills place LB Del’Shawn Phillips on injured reserve
‘Linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips has been placed on IR after dealing with a quad injury. He’s only appeared in one game for the Bills this season, against the New York Jets, when he stepped in for the injured Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds.’
WKBW Week 5 predictions: Bills travel to Nashville for undefeated battle with Titans
‘I’ve gone back and forth with this pick all week and think it will come down to the wire. A win for the Bills would be massive and would catapult them into their best start since 1991.’
Bills still scheduled to play Titans after no new positive tests
‘These latest testing results come a day after the NFL juggled the schedule affecting nine teams after both the Patriots and Titans had a positive result apiece Sunday. Both teams closed their facilities, though the NFL gave the Titans permission for an afternoon practice involving only players, coaches and trainers.’
Bills fans finding creative ways to watch Tuesday’s game
‘Nick Giammusso is the president of VIP Tix, an organization that allows people to buy and sell tickets to events like football games. He says just a few weeks ago people were contacting him to head to Nashville.’
4 the Fans: Bills vs. Titans
‘The Titans, of course, are also undefeated at this point, so it’s a battle to keep that status.’
Bills fans cheer on team at Buffalo Airport
‘Some Buffalo Bills fans turned up in high spirits Monday night to cheer on the team as they left for Nashville, Tenn.’
Thad Three’s Things: Bills at Titans
‘However, the Titans aren’t much better against the pass then they are against the run and Josh Allen is just humming right now. No need to out think yourself. The Bills should be fine going to the air early and often. If Allen and the receivers happen to have an off day, Singletary is probably available as a highly effective plan B.’
No new positive COVID-19 test, Bills Titans appears to be set for Tuesday
‘The Titans have had 13 players and 11 team personnel test positive over the last two weeks.’
Player safety in question with Bills-Titans game still on
‘Reports are the Titans met privately outside their closed facility to have practices and while some around the league are proposing Tennesee should forfeit, Micah Hyde says it’s been unclear what the NFL policies surround the virus have been.’
Bills Titans preview and keys to the game
‘The Bills haven’t reached 5-0 since 1991, on Tuesday they’ll look to get back to that mark.’
5 Bills-Titans players to watch on Tuesday Night Football
‘If I am the Titans, I am giving this guy the ball early and often and seeing if the Bills run defense can hold up. The power back rested up for the last two weeks and his numbers look strong. Henry has 82 carries in 3 games for 319 yards. That pace is even better than a year ago when he led the NFL in rushing yards. The Bills defensive line did a good job slowing down Josh Jacobs last week in Las Vegas (that seems like a month ago). But Henry is even more of a beast.’
Bills-Titans game set to go on Tuesday, one team to lose undefeated status
‘Despite the back and forth about whether or not this game would kick-off, the Bills have maintained that they were preparing to play in week five.’
Bills promote Deon Lacey to 53-man roster; Phillips placed on injured reserve
‘The Bills announced the promotion of linebacker Deon Lacey to the 53-man roster. Linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips (quad) was placed on injured reserve.’
NFL analysts | Bills at Titans game predictions | Week 5
‘The Bills have a chance to improve to 5-0, against a Titans team that has been affected by COVID-19. Forget about the “Music City Miracle” replays. The Bills improve to 5-0 heading into a Week 6 TNF showdown with the Chiefs. That’s a big line on the road.’
Bills at Titans Week 5 | How to watch, listen, and stream
‘Play-by-Play: Tom McCarthy. Analysis: Jay Feely.’
Bills Today | A statistical look at Buffalo’s offensive growth from 2019 to 2020
‘Here’s a look at some offensive stats so far this year compared to last.’