After a dominating win against the Atlanta Falcons last week, the Tennessee Titans will return home this Sunday to take on the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills are coming off a loss to the New England Patriots last week. While their offense didn’t get going, their defense played extremely well. Forcing a Patriots offense, that usually looks on schedule, into various mistakes.
Now, that same defense will get a chance to tee off against a Titans offense that is coming off its best week last week.
Both teams have some injury questions, and both are looking for a big win here in week 5.
1. Who Will The Titans Play? Josh Allen or Matt Barkley?
The Bills could be heading into this game without their 2nd year QB, Josh Allen. Allen suffered a concussion off a nasty hit by Patriots safety Jonathan Jones.
Allen has gone through practice this week, even throwing, which means he’s quite far ahead in the concussion protocol.
He’ll have to clear the protocol completely by 4 PM EST tomorrow, or he won’t be able to play on Sunday.
If Allen isn’t able to go on Sunday, then the Bills will hand the keys of their offense to backup Matt Barkley. Barkley has seen the Titans, and when he did, he had a pretty good game.
Obviously these are different circumstances however.
But whoever starts for the Bills on Sunday, the Titans’ defense should be able to have a strong game on Sunday
2. Can The Titans’ Offense Continue Their Success From Last Week?
Last week, the Titans had their best offensive performance of the 2019 season. AJ Brown and Corey Davis each had over 90 yards receiving, while Marcus Mariota looked the best he’s looked all season.
However, the Titans won’t be given the blessing of being able to play against a bad Falcons defense. This time, they’ll be facing off against a Bills defense that is physical and can win a game from their effort alone.
Ed Oliver, Jerry Hughes, and Lorenzo Alexander make up a nasty defensive line that can seemingly set the LOS on any given play.
Tremaine Edmunds is young ILB who can make plenty plays and cause fits for opposing offenses.
Micah Hyde and Tre’Davious White round out a secondary that is physical and gives nice support for the Bills’ pass rush.
It’s a defense that, on paper, can be argued as the best in the NFL.
That isn’t good news for a Titans offense, who has yet to show they can consistently put up points over the 1st 4 weeks of the season.
In other words, this could turn out to be a step back, in terms of production for this Titans offense.
3. Taylor Lewan Is Back and Ready to Roll
Taylor Lewan is back everyone.
After serving a 4 game suspension, Lewan is back and ready to anchor the left side of the Titans’ offensive line. His return means a great deal to a Titans offense that has struggled to protect over the first 4 weeks.
While his absence should help settle Roger Saffold’s play down, it should also open up more opportunities for a certain new Titans WR.
More on that later.
Not only does Lewan help on the physical side of football things, but he’s a leader of that offensive line group. A leader of this team that’s been missing over the last 4 weeks.
I’m sure Lewan is excited to get going for the first time this season.
Watch out for him, because for his 1st action of 2019, he’ll get to face off against none other than Jerry Hughes.
Welcome back.
