Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Back at Highmark Stadium for the first time in three weeks, the Buffalo Bills, once again, failed to get out to a strong start and fell behind early in the game. However, the team rebounded to score 34 unanswered points in a 34-10 win over the Tennessee Titans in Orchard Park.
After the Bills and Titans opened the game with punts, Tennessee was able to put the first points of the game on the board on their second drive.
The Buffalo defense had no answer to stop the Tennessee offense, as they were able to get within the Bills' 10-yard line. The Bills were able to make a stop, and force a 25-yard field goal from kicker Nick Folk to claim a 3-0 lead.
Following a third-straight three-and-out from the Bills offense, Tennessee capitalized and marched right back down the field to put up seven points on the board. Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph was able to escape some pressure deep in Buffalo territory and find wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a four-yard touchdown.
With the Bills needing to get some momentum going in their favor, Josh Allen and the offense certainly got it when the veteran quarterback - making his 100th career start - connected with rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman for a 44-yard catch-and-run to the Titans' 11-yard line.
On the very next play, running back James Cook got the carry and punched his way into the end zone for a Bills touchdown.
After Buffalo's touchdown to get on the board, Tennessee gave Buffalo a chance for the Bills to take the lead in the second quarter when Terrel Bernard recovered a botched snap from Rudolph.
However, the Bills could not capitalize on the field position and ended up punting back to the Titans with 6:16 to go in the half.
Despite the missed opportunity, the Buffalo defense began to lock things down on the Titans, forcing a punt and then not allowing Tennessee to A series of punts ensued from both teams as the half was coming to a close. The Bills would go into halftime trailing by a field goal.
The Titans got the ball to start the second half and were dominated by the Bills defense. Facing a 4th-and-2 at their own 44-yard line, Tennessee elected to go for it and Bills rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, along with the help of safety Taylor Rapp, stuffed running back Tony Pollard behind the line of scrimmage.
The Bills offense took advantage of the field position given to them, as Buffalo took the lead for good.
After Allen connected with Coleman and tight end Dalton Kincaid to get into the Titans' red zone, it was newcomer Amari Cooper securing not only his first catch as a member of the Bills, but also his first touchdown from 12 yards out.
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After struggling to find answers in the opening half against the Titans offense, the Bills defense had nothing but answers for the Tennessee offense, wreaking havoc and shutting anything the Titans threw at them down. The strong defensive performance continued to put the offense in the best position to close out the game.
The Bills extended their lead to 17-10 after getting back into the red zone, but failing to find the end zone for a second-consecutive drive. Tyler Bass was called upon to kick a 28-yard field goal to allow for some breathing room on the Buffalo sideline.
Following another forced three-and-out of the Titans, the Bills offense, once again, picked apart the Titans defense deep into Tennessee territory. Allen was able to close out the drive by connecting with running back Ty Johnson for a four-yard touchdown pass.
Tennessee's offense became redundant in the second half with the Bills defense continuing to put them in the corner and forcing punts.
Once again, Allen and company drove down the field and into scoring territory, where Buffalo thought it had scored another touchdown courtesy of Coleman. However, an official deemed the pass from Allen to be incomplete, forcing the Bills into a 30-yard field goal from Bass to make it a 27-10 lead.
With Tennessee entering desperation mode, the Titans finally found a bit of a groove until a Rudolph pass intended for Westbrook-Ikhine was tipped and intercepted by safety Damar Hamlin.
With the win all but secured, at this point of the game, Allen and Coleman connected again for a huge catch-and-run into the Titans' red zone as the clock approached the two-minute warning. Then rookie running back Ray Davis puck the cherry on top of the victory Sunday with a 16-yard touchdown run to make it 34-10.
With the win, the Bills earned another victory in the AFC, while moving to 5-2 on the 2024 season.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 3-0 TENNESSEE: Titans field goal (3:00) - Nick Folk's 25-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 13 plays, 61 yards, 7:03
Second Quarter:
- 10-0 TENNESSEE: Titans touchdown (11:38) - Mason Rudolph fires short to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 4-yard touchdown. (Nick Folk's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:45
- 10-7 TENNESSEE: Bills touchdown (10:08) - James Cook rushes up the middle for an 11-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 3 plays, 61 yards, 1:27
Third Quarter:
- 14-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (10:28) - Josh Allen fires a strike to Amari Cooper for a 12-yard touchdown pass. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 41 yards, 2:32
- 17-10 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (4:12) - Tyler Bass' 28-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 9 plays, 64 yards, 3:53
Fourth Quarter:
- 24-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (15:00) - Josh Allen tosses a short pass to Ty Johnson for a 4-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 56 yards, 2:55
- 27-10 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (9:26) - Tyler Bass' 30-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 59 yards, 4:59
- 34-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (2:00) - Ray Davis breaks free for a 16-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 84 yards, 2:44
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills travel out West for an NFC showdown with the Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle. Kickoff is slated for 4:05 p.m. ET on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.