Bills rediscover running game in close win
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — There’s nothing wrong with LeSean McCoy and the Buffalo Bills’ rushing attack, once they elect to stick with it.
A week spent emphasizing how they weren’t going to abandon the run paid off in a 13-12 National Football League win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. McCoy and backup Chris Ivory played key roles in setting up Stephen Hauschka’s 46-yard field goal as time expired.
McCoy finished with 85 yards rushing, matching his combined total from his first three games, on a season-best 24 carries. And Ivory had 43 yards rushing, with 22 of them coming on Buffalo’s 11-play, 47-yard final drive.
“Not by accident,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said, when asked of McCoy’s 26 touches, including two catches for 23 yards. “It starts up front and then both backs played extremely well.”
Just like they drew it up, said McCoy.
“They told me they were going to get me the ball this game, that was the main focus,” McCoy said. “Today we stuck with it.”
A week after managing 58 yards rushing in a 22-0 loss at Green Bay, the Bills racked up a season-best 141 yards against the Titans, including rookie quarterback Josh Allen’s 14-yard touchdown run to open the scoring.
The defence also played a key role in helping Buffalo improve to 2-3. The Bills forced three take-aways, allowed just 221 yards offence and limited the Titans to Ryan Succop hitting four field goals.
Tennessee dropped to 3-2 and took a step back a week after a 26-23 overtime win over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
“We talked about it all week, about not coming here and laying an egg,” Titans safety Kevin Byard said. “But we did, and we lost, and we’ve got to get better.”
Rather than enjoy their best start in 10 years, the Titans blew a chance to take over sole possession of first place in the AFC South standings after Jacksonville (3-2) lost at Kansas City.
Marcus Mariota finished 14-of-26 for 129 yards and an interception.
Running back Dion Lewis and receiver Taywan Taylor lost fumbles.
Other observations from the Bills’ win over the Titans:
Help for Allen
Allen finished 10-of-19 for 82 yards and an interception, while also learning he might be getting some veteran help. McDermott confirmed he and general manager Brandon Beane have considered signing 12-year veteran quarterback Derek Anderson, but stressed “nothing is final at this point.”
McDermott and Beane were formerly with Carolina, where they both became familiar with Anderson, who spent the previous seven seasons with the Panthers. Buffalo is down to Allen and second-year player Nathan Peterman at quarterback after trading A.J. McCarron to Oakland on Sept. 1.
“I’m not going to turn any help away,” said Allen, who improved to 2-2 in four starts.
Ailing Lewan
Tennessee’s Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan aggravated a right foot injury in the second quarter and did not return.
Lewan said he first experienced pain in his foot during last season’s opener.