Six things to watch for the Titans’ game against the Bills on Sunday

NASHVILLE – The Titans face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

Here’s a look at six things to keep in mind leading up to the competition:

Connect with Calvin Ridley

Titans receiver Calvin Ridley expressed some frustration after last Sunday’s game with the lack of targets early in games. Ridley said he would like to get into the flow of the game quicker after a contest in which he was targeted eight times but had no catches. Ridley leads the Titans with 27 targets but only has nine receptions. Ridley and his coaches said this week that they are on the same page heading into Week 7. What that means for goals and receptions remains to be seen. This much is certain: The Titans and Ridley need to find a way to make plays.

Can the defense hold firm?

The Titans are still No. 1 in the NFL in total defense, allowing just 248.8 yards per contest. The pass defense ranks 2nd overall, allowing 137.0 yards per game. But the bills pose the biggest challenge yet. Quarterback Josh Allen, who makes his 100th career start on Sunday, has thrown for 1,160 yards with 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions this season. The Bills have also proven they can run the ball effectively regardless of the running back. This week the Bills added receiver Amari Cooper to the roster. It’s a must for the Titans to slow these Bills down, or at least play a defense that bends but doesn’t break.

The Titans listed quarterback Will Levis as questionable for Sunday’s game on Friday after his right shoulder injury left him limited for the second time in three practices this week. Veteran quarterback Mason Rudolph replaced an injured Levis against the Dolphins and he would be the next man in line again against the Bills. On Saturday, the team made quarterback Trevor Siemian a gameday upgrade for Sunday’s game. Offensively, regardless of quarterback, the Titans face a Bills team averaging 28 points per game.

The Titans could make life easier for the team’s quarterback and defense if they can run the ball effectively and control the clock. Running back Tony Pollard is coming off his best game of the season – 93 yards against the Colts – and leads the team with 339 rushing yards, three touchdowns and 421 scrimmage yards in 2024. With Tyjae Spears sidelined with a hamstring injury, Pollard , who also leads the Titans with 16 receptions, will likely have an even heavier workload on Sunday. Of note: The Bills rank 31st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (5.22) and 26th in rushing yards allowed per game (144.0).

Tennessee’s struggles in the takeaway/giveaway category are well documented. This is one of the main reasons the team is in the situation it is in right now. If the Titans want to challenge the Bills on Sunday, they won’t be able to turn the ball over and will likely have to make some game-changing plays. However, Buffalo has been enjoying turnovers lately. Since the start of the 2023 season, the Bills have forced 40 takeaways, which is the third-highest number in the NFL. The Bills scored 140 points from these turnovers, which is the most in the NFL. The Titans can’t make things harder for themselves by losing the turnover margin again.

The Titans are 1-4 and are nine-point underdogs against the Bills. Let’s be honest: Things are looking bleaker every week here, so the Titans desperately need to find a way to win this game. Here’s how the odds change based on Sunday’s result: Since 1990, teams that start 2-4 have made the playoffs 10.7% (24/224) of the time, 4.5% (10/224) Won the division and won a Super Bowl 0.0% (0/224) of the time. The playoff percentage for teams that started 1-5: 2.4% (3/123) made the playoffs, 0.8% (1/123) won the division, and 0.0% (0/123) made it it’s to win the division, win the Super Bowl. The Titans need to keep this category relevant going forward.