Bills Breakdown: Cooper to make debut against Titans
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 19: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills calls a play against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of the game at Highmark Stadium on September 19, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills are back home this week for the first time since Week 3 as they host the Tennessee Titans. While the Titans aren’t a top team in the league, it’s a very important game for the Bills.
In a long 17-game regular season, games against a bad team like the Titans can’t be dropped. The Bills will have to go out and play the way they did in the first three weeks for the fans to go home happy.
The Titans come in and will look for any bright spot they can find. It’s been a rough season so far for them as their only win has come against a Tua Tagovailoa-less Miami Dolphins team.
Injury report
- QB Josh Allen (Left Hand/Ankle) – No Designation (Full practice)
- LB Terrel Bernard (Pectoral) – No Designation (Full practice)
- RB James Cook (Toe) – No Designation (Full practice)
- RB Darrynton Evans (Hamstring) – DOUBTFUL (Full practice)
- FB Reggie Gilliam (Hamstring) – No Designation (Full practice)
- WR Mack Hollins (Shoulder) – No Designation (Full practice)
- CB Taron Johnson (Forearm) – No Designation (Full practice)
- DT Austin Johnson (Oblique) – No Designation (Full practice)
- DT DaQuan Jones (Foot/Vet Rest) – No Designation (Full practice)
- TE Dalton Kincaid (Collarbone) – No Designation (Full practice)
- G Connor McGovern (Shoulder) – No Designation (Full practice)
- TE Quintin Morris (Shoulder) – No Designation (Full practice)
- DT Ed Oliver (Hamstring) – No Designation (Full practice)
- WR Khalil Shakir (Ankle) – No Designation (Full practice)
- QB Mitchell Trubisky (Knee) – No Designation (Full practice)
- RB Ray Davis (Calf) – QUESTIONABLE (Limited practice)
- S Mike Edwards (Illness) – QUESTIONABLE (Did Not practice)
- DL Keondre Coburn (Knee) – OUT
- WR DeAndre Hopkins (NIR – Rest) – UNSPECIFIED (Full practice)
- LB Ernest Jones (Illness) – UNSPECIFIED (Full practice)
- CB L’Jarius Sneed (Quad) – QUESTIONABLE (Did Not practice)
- RB Tyjae Spears (Hamstring) – OUT
- WR Treylon Burks (Knee) – OUT
- QB Will Levis (Rt. Shoulder) – OUT
- LB Kenneth Murray, Jr. (NIR – Rest) – UNSPECIFIED (Full practice)
- DT Jeffery Simmons (NIR – Rest) – UNSPECIFIED (Full practice)
- LB Cedric Gray (Shoulder) – OUT
- NT T’Vondre Sweat (Knee) – UNSPECIFIED (Full practice)
Everybody eats
The Buffalo Bills mantra on offense this year: everybody eats. It worked great for the first three weeks of the season but has struggled in the past three. In order to fix that, the Bills have traded for wide receiver Amari Cooper. The 30-year old will be a huge help for a Bills passing game that ranks 25th in the NFL in yards per game. Cooper is a fantastic route runner that has never had under 1,000-yards in a season in which he started at least 15 games. While I wouldn’t expect a big game this week, he should still make a couple nice plays as he gets familiar with the offense and quarterback Josh Allen.
The run game for the Bills has been a huge positive as they rank 12th going into Week 7 in ground yards per game. Rookie running back Ray Davis had a breakout game against the Jets with the absence of James Cook. He finished the game with 97 yards on the ground and 55 yards through the air, both team-highs. The Bills know they have a great duo and should continue to utilize both despite Tennessee’s 10th ranked run defense.
The Titans will most likely be without starting cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. This should allow the Bills offense to move the ball with ease through the air, as long as they take care of the ball. I’d expect Davis and Cook to put an emphasis on holding onto the ball as they continue to lean on the run game.
Back and better than ever
The Buffalo defense could have all their starters healthy this week (besides Matt Milano) for the first time since Week 1. That doesn’t bode well for the Titans offense. With Will Levis leading their passing game, they rank 2nd-last in the NFL in passing yards. Will Levis is out for Tennessee this week, which leaves Mason Rudolph as the leader of the Titan offense. This could be a slight upgrade over Levis in the turnover department, but it’ll still be a struggle for the Titans to move the ball consistently. Christian Benford and Rasul Douglas could be in store for phenomenal games.
The Titans rushing game has been better but still ranks only 15th in the NFL. Tony Pollard hasn’t been able to get it going consistently but the Titans offensive line is solid. Ed Oliver coming back will be a big help for the Bills 22nd-ranked run defense. Despite the run game being the Titans’ strength, they could be losing early in this game. This will force them to throw the ball more than they might want to. I wouldn’t expect a big game from Pollard unless he breaks a big run.
There’s not much to be hopeful for if you’re a Titans fan. The offense has been embarrassing considering how much they have spent upgrading their wide receiver room. From the play calling to the execution, it’s been a long season already. I’m expecting the Bills defense to be aggressive and get after Rudolph.
Gameday expectation
You could guess what my expectations are after reading the above. It should be a blowout. However, I think the score could look better than it will be. The Bills should get off to a hot start but then take the second half to run clock and go home as healthy as possible. Buffalo is 9.5-point favorites heading into this game with the over/under set at 41.0 total points. I have the Bills coming away with a 27-17 win at Highmark Stadium.
