by Big Al Staff
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2020The NFL will have a rare game on a Tuesday night, which will feature two of the remaining five unbeaten teams in the league.
The COVID outbreak in the Tennessee Titans organization caused the postponement of their game with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Continued positive tests last week prompted the league to delay this scheduled game from Sunday until Tuesday. Presuming that there are no further positive tests in the Titans organization on Tuesday, this game will finally take place.
Tennessee will not have played football in seventeen days since September 27th when they defeated the Vikings in Minnesota by a 31-30 score to raise their record to a 3-0 mark. Since that game, over twenty players and organizational staff members have tested positive for COVID.
The following Titans players are currently on the Reserve/COVID-19 list: Khari Blasingame (FB), Beau Brinkley (LS), Kamalei Correa (LB), Corey Davis (WR), Kristian Fulton (CB), Adam Humphries (WR), DaQuan Jones (DL), MyCole Pruitt (TE), Jeffery Simmons (DE). The absence of wide receivers Davis and Humphries, along with Simmons at defensive end would be the most impactful for this team.
Tennessee has also listed left tackle Taylor Lewan and wide receiver A.J. Brown as questionable with injuries from their Saturday injury report. The extra days of rest may aid their ability to play on Tuesday.
The Titans re-opened their practice facility on Saturday, which has afforded the team two practices before this game. Their preparation is similar to what they would have received if playing on a short week on a Thursday night. The team has conducted zoom meetings to prepare for the Bills. Players also got together at a local private high school for informal workouts (violating league policy), for what that is worth.
Buffalo has had a relatively normal week of preparation in comparison after their 30-23 victory in Las Vegas on October 4th against the Raiders. The team is scoring 30.8 points-per-game with the elevation of play from quarterback Josh Allen.
The third-year pro has thrown 12 touchdown passes with just one interception this season. Allen is completing over 70% of his passes for 1326 passing yards, which is the second-most in the league. Allen is averaging 332 passing yards-per-game in this suddenly powerful passing attack. The offseason addition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs not only gave Allen a legitimate number one target but also allowed John Brown to shift into a complementary role as a second option where he has thrived.
Allen ranks second in the NFL with a 9.0 yards-per-attempt passing average. His twenty-one completions over at least 20 yards is also second-most in the league. He is being helped by an offensive line that is providing him 3.04 seconds to throw the football, which is the third-best mark in the NFL.
Allen is handling the blitz better this season after completing only 52% of his passes while posting an 81.3 Passer Rating in those situations last season. He has a 117.1 Passer Rating against blitzes this season while completing 61% of his passes. Allen is also completing 77% of his passes with five touchdown passes on third down with a Passer Rating of 146.6. Of the Bills’ 24 first downs this season, 20 have come from Allen throwing the football. Allen completed only 56% of his passes on third down last season.
BetOnline has Buffalo as a -3.5-point favorite with the total set at 51.5. CBS has the broadcast starting at 7 PM ET.
The COVID outbreak in the Tennessee Titans organization caused the postponement of their game with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Continued positive tests last week prompted the league to delay this scheduled game from Sunday until Tuesday. Presuming that there are no further positive tests in the Titans organization on Tuesday, this game will finally take place.
Tennessee will not have played football in seventeen days since September 27th when they defeated the Vikings in Minnesota by a 31-30 score to raise their record to a 3-0 mark. Since that game, over twenty players and organizational staff members have tested positive for COVID.
The following Titans players are currently on the Reserve/COVID-19 list: Khari Blasingame (FB), Beau Brinkley (LS), Kamalei Correa (LB), Corey Davis (WR), Kristian Fulton (CB), Adam Humphries (WR), DaQuan Jones (DL), MyCole Pruitt (TE), Jeffery Simmons (DE). The absence of wide receivers Davis and Humphries, along with Simmons at defensive end would be the most impactful for this team.
Tennessee has also listed left tackle Taylor Lewan and wide receiver A.J. Brown as questionable with injuries from their Saturday injury report. The extra days of rest may aid their ability to play on Tuesday.
The Titans re-opened their practice facility on Saturday, which has afforded the team two practices before this game. Their preparation is similar to what they would have received if playing on a short week on a Thursday night. The team has conducted zoom meetings to prepare for the Bills. Players also got together at a local private high school for informal workouts (violating league policy), for what that is worth.
Buffalo has had a relatively normal week of preparation in comparison after their 30-23 victory in Las Vegas on October 4th against the Raiders. The team is scoring 30.8 points-per-game with the elevation of play from quarterback Josh Allen.
The third-year pro has thrown 12 touchdown passes with just one interception this season. Allen is completing over 70% of his passes for 1326 passing yards, which is the second-most in the league. Allen is averaging 332 passing yards-per-game in this suddenly powerful passing attack. The offseason addition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs not only gave Allen a legitimate number one target but also allowed John Brown to shift into a complementary role as a second option where he has thrived.
Allen ranks second in the NFL with a 9.0 yards-per-attempt passing average. His twenty-one completions over at least 20 yards is also second-most in the league. He is being helped by an offensive line that is providing him 3.04 seconds to throw the football, which is the third-best mark in the NFL.
Allen is handling the blitz better this season after completing only 52% of his passes while posting an 81.3 Passer Rating in those situations last season. He has a 117.1 Passer Rating against blitzes this season while completing 61% of his passes. Allen is also completing 77% of his passes with five touchdown passes on third down with a Passer Rating of 146.6. Of the Bills’ 24 first downs this season, 20 have come from Allen throwing the football. Allen completed only 56% of his passes on third down last season.
BetOnline has Buffalo as a -3.5-point favorite with the total set at 51.5. CBS has the broadcast starting at 7 PM ET.
