Via Henry McKenna
FOX Sports AFC East Writer
Even Buffalo Bills had to field their players for their first attempt of the season in Week 2, they went away with a positive result.
Tennessee Titans Ball receiver and returnee Kyle Phillips misread the shot and put it on the mask. Invoice has been restored. And Buffalo’s first and only shot of the season somehow ended by winning 30 yards.
That’s the kind of night the Bills enjoy, especially in the second half of their 41-7 win over the Titans. Part of it is the product of absolute excellence from Josh Allen and Buffalo’s defenses. And that’s partly due to self-inflicted wounds from the Titans. But mostly, they won thanks to a transcendent performance from Allen, who stood 26/38 for 317 yards and four touchdowns in just three-quarters of his team’s game. Buffalo beat Allen throughout the fourth quarter.
The Bills’ failure to the secondary Titans was so bad that Janoris “Jackrabbit” Jenkins offered to help Tennessee – at the right price.
It was not a perfect night. The Bills have faced a number of injuries, nothing as significant as the corner kick By Dane Jackson neck injury. Thankfully, he was able to move his extremities after a terrifying injury that sent him to the hospital in an ambulance.
But aside from those scary minutes, the night was bright for Buffalo – and bleak for the Titans, who simply had no answers for Allen and Stefon Diggs. Diggs made 12 catches for 148 yards and three touchdowns. Their attack has a conventional domination – a smooth way to steal points from the Titans defense. The third exposure to Diggs is a natural example.
Allen completely blew the ball to Diggs, who was facing a coverage gap. Poor Chris Jackson didn’t stand a chance. The game shouldn’t be easy. In classic Buffalo style, Allen and Diggs make it look effortless.
That said, there was one touch they made that looked tough – and that’s because it highlighted their one-of-a-kind connection, with Diggs running down the pitch after burning his defender. ta. Allen hit Diggs in stride, sending the ball into a near-perfect position. I’d say it’s reminiscent of Brady and Moss or Manning and Harrison. But it’s not. The closest comparison is Patrick Mahomes and Tireek Hill. But even that feels guilty.
It is the only one. It’s Allen and Diggs.
Even the cruise receiver Jake Kumerow and full-back Reggie Gilliam looks like rivets. Gilliam had a touchdown and Kumerow finished with two catches for 50 yards. Allen and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey spent the night playing with their food for three quarters. In the first three quarters, they scored all 41 points – with help from a line-six picker Matt Milano that’s over Ryan Tannehill’s night. Midfielder Case Keenum into the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
What scares every NFL team is that the Bills aren’t just built around their dominant offense. Their defense is a force. They placed two sacks after compiling seven in Week 1. Those nine sacks ranked second in the NFL after two weeks. The Bills’ defense created four options (two defeats, two interceptions), and simply overwhelmed the Titans.
Credit to Von Miller for being a monster and doing Ghost Rush for the second week in a row (inexplicably he ran fast and simultaneously and crouched under an attacker’s armpit). Miller’s unstoppable power helped spring Jordan Phillips and Gregory Rousseau. But Miller didn’t just reinforce the hasty pass. He also recorded an excellent tackle to lose, with a single tackle Derrick Henry in the backyard. Those things don’t come along very often.
Buffalo’s injuries piled up late in the game. Jackson went to the hospital. Linebacker Matt Milano (nib), safe Micah Hyde (neck) and a defensive save Jordan Phillips (hamstring) left the match and did not return. Center Mitch Morse Leave the game and come back. They join the ranks of the defense settlement Ed Oliver and recipients Gabe Davis. Those injuries will be worth keeping an eye on, largely because injury seems to be the only thing that can stop this Bills team.
Where else can you find weakness?
Maybe they lack experience in blocking Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford. But White Tre’Daviousone of the best corners in the NFL, will be back from his ACL injury in the next few weeks.
Maybe they can work on their footballing ability. But we won’t really know if it’s a weakness until someone tests their attack.
This Bills team doesn’t feel like the kind of team that got off to a strong start before losing momentum at the end of the season. Buffalo looks like it has the potential to be a great football team in history. The Bills are better built than any team in the NFL in terms of offensive, defensive and special teams. And they have Allen, who is playing as the best quarterback in the league.
Henry McKenna covers the AFC East for FOX Sports. Prior to that, he spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @McKennAnalysis.
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