Tennessee hands Bills first loss
NASHVILLE— The wait between games caused by the NFL’s first COVID-19 outbreak left the Tennessee Titans depleted. They’re still undefeated. Ryan Tannehill threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Titans routed the Buffalo Bills 42-16 on a rare Tuesday night in a showdown between two of the NFL’s five remaining undefeated teams that was pushed back two days after a couple more positive tests for Tennessee last week.
The Titans (4-0) continued their best start since winning their first 10 games in 2008 despite getting on the field just three days since their last game Sept. 27 in Minnesota. Coach Mike Vrabel said everyone in the organization would get a game ball after this performance.
“I learned a long time ago the definition of a pro is they make the hard look easy, so, whatever situation we’re presented with, we got to all come together and make the best decisions for the team,” Vrabel said.
Malcolm Butler intercepted two passes — the second he returned 68 yards — and both set up short touchdowns for Tennessee. Kareem Orr’s recovery of a fumbled kickoff set up another touchdown that gave the Titans 21 points off Buffalo’s three turnovers. Kalif Raymond’s 40-yard punt return also set up a one-yard TD run by Derrick Henry.
“We expected to win,” Butler said.
The Bills (4-1) had not won five straight games since 2004, and they came in looking for the franchise’s best start since 1991 when Buffalo reached the Super Bowl. They also played without starting cornerbacks with Tre’Davious White inactive because of a back injury and Levi Wallace on injured reserve.
Starting wide receiver John Brown also was out for Buffalo, which had scored at least 30 points in the past three games.
Buffalo centre Mitch Morse called this a gut-punch.
“It’s tough, they came out and beat us like a drum,” Morse said. “Kudos to them, and we have a lot to learn from.”
Josh Allen came in second in the NFL in yards passing. He threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Stephon Diggs had 10 catches for 106 yards.
The Titans needed the turnovers with seven key players on the reserve/COVID-19 list led by wide receivers Corey Davis and Adam Humphries and defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. They also were missing a couple assistant coaches and two players activated off that reserve list earlier Tuesday were scratched.
This was the second time in 74 years the NFL has played on a Tuesday and the first on a Tuesday night since Dec. 28, 2010, when the Eagles hosted Minnesota on a Tuesday because of a snowstorm.