Defense Lifts Tennessee Titans Over Buffalo Bills, 34-31

The Tennessee Titans have defeated the Buffalo Bills 34-31 this Monday night, after a dramatic ending that saw them executing a superb defense in the closing moments of the game.

Titans’ defense stopped Josh Allen on fourth-and-1 with 18 seconds to go, with the guests’ QB trying to sneak into the end zone. Even though Derrick Henry had a great night, all the credit for this win goes to Tennessee’s relentless defense.

“We got some dogs over there,” Derrick Henry said of his teammates from the defense. “They fight to the end. They showed it right there.”

With 3:05 before the end, Henry carried the ball into the end zone for the third time in this match, bringing the lead to Titans, 34-31. There was enough time for the Bills to go down the field and score at least a field goal, which would secure them the overtime.

But Josh Allen brought the Bills to one yard away from the victory, and with 18 seconds to go, his head coach, Sean McDermott, decided to gamble, eventually losing all. Jeffrey Simmons was there to stop the fantastic QB from penetrating into the end zone, securing his team the fourth win of the year, stealing the show from Henry.

Up until that point, the Titans’ running back was in the middle of attention. He ran 20 times for 143 yards and three touchdowns. One of his scores came after a 76-yard rush once he powered his way through the rivals’ defense.

“We continue to jump on Derrick’s back, and he’s willing and able to carry us,” Mike Vrabel said following the match, praising arguably the best player in his team.

Titans were scoring only on the ground in this match, as Ryan Tannehill added one more rushing TD.

Tannehill had 216 yards thrown, 18-for-29 for only one pick. Seven of his passes ended in AJ Brown’s arms. The strong TE finished the night with 91 yards, while Julio Jones added 59 in three catches, one of them 48 yards long. The legendary WR didn’t play in the second half, probably due to an injury.

Last time the Titans and Bills played, Derrick Henry gave us one of the nastiest stiff arms ever 💪😤

Monday Night Football | 8:15 PM ET | @espn

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/7h5KPyi1gT

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 18, 2021

On the other side, Josh Allen had another good game, completing 35 of his 47 passes for 353 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick. The Titans’ defense sacked him three times, but Allen kept on coming back. In the end, he had to lay down his weapon before the hosts.

“I was just trying to find a window to get in there, and quarterback sneaks aren’t the funniest play by any means,” Allen said.

Emmanuel Sanders caught 91 yards for the Bills, Stephon Diggs 89, and Cole Beasley 88. The latter two had a TD reception. Tommy Sweeney also caught a TD pass.

Allen didn’t have any help from his running backs, Devin Singletary and Zach Moss, who combined 51 yards on the ground in 13 runs. Also, Buffalo’s defense didn’t reach Tannehill in this match.

The Bills won’t play next weekend as they have a bye week. After that, Buffalo hosts the Dolphins, before visiting the Jaguars.

Meanwhile, the Titans will have another tough challenge at their Nissan Stadium, as the Kanas City Chiefs arrive next Sunday. Following that match, Tennessee hits the road for two consecutive games against the Colts and the Rams.

Both the Bills and the Titans are 4-2 right now and continue to fight for the top of the AFC conference.