In today’s edition of the Buffalo Bills daily links, we do a deep dive into all of the reasons why the Bills (4-1) suffered their first loss of the season, a humiliating 42-16 setback vs. the Tennessee Titans (4-0) in Nashville.
Penalties. Sloppy and undisciplined play. Uncharacteristic turnovers. Horrible pass defense. No pressure on the quarterback. The absence of All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White, linebacker Matt Milano, and wide receiver John Brown. Those are just some of the factors that led to Buffalo’s resounding defeat on a rare Tuesday night football game against a Titans team dealing with the NFL’s first COVID-19 outbreak, though head coach Sean McDermott, quarterback Josh Allen, safety Micah Hyde and others did not use any excuses to sugarcoat the loss.
We find the good (wide receiver Stefon Diggs, the offense’s ability to convert third downs and the run defense vs. Derrick Henry) and the bad (nearly everything else, including cornerbacks Taron Johnson and Josh Norman being major liabilities, Andre Roberts, dropped passes, the failure to get the ground game going, zero pass rush to speak of, and of course, the penalties) from the loss.
We also hear beat reporters’ grades for the players and positions, analyze whether Leslie Frazier’s defense is broken, hear from McDermott about what can be done to improve this much-maligned defense, look ahead to another primetime challenge in Week 6 vs. the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, speculate on whether Buffalo should bring in running back Le’Veon Bell, and much more!
Analysis: Bills not good enough to serve scores on platter to Tennessee | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Change of possession plays were the simple problem the Bills could not overcome.
Column: Bills have no excuses for embarrassing loss to Covid-ravaged Titans | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
The Buffalo Bills didn’t have Tre’Davious White, Matt Milano and John Brown, three critical starters inactive because of injuries. They also have no excuses for what transpired Tuesday night.
‘No excuses’: Bills’ bizarre week ends with ‘punch in the mouth’ from Titans – The Athletic
Tuesday night showed what this team looks like when Josh Allen and the offense are ordinary. And when the defense can’t bail the Bills out. (Subscription required).
Penalties, sloppy play doom Bills in battle of preparedness: Insta-Graham – The Athletic
After just one practice and one walkthrough in 15 days, the Titans looked like the more prepared team, beating the Bills 42-16. (Subscription required).
Upon further review: Penalty problems plague Bills in loss | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Here is a rundown of the flags thrown against the Bills, and the result.
Maiorana: That was one ugly night for the Bills - Democrat & Chronicle
“Music City mauling shows Bills defense is playing out of tune.”
Woof. Recapping Buffalo's abysmal performance vs. the Titans - WGR 550
“The Buffalo Bills were dead on arrival last night as the Tennessee Titans, apparently, morphed into some sort of sympathetic COVID-19 warriors out to prove that they’ve been wrongly portrayed the past two weeks.”
A night to forget - WGR 550
“Well that sucked. I don’t think there’s anything more that needs to be said for this column, but the boss would be angry if I hit send at this point.”
Arrow Up/Arrow Down: Bills at Titans - WGR 550
“For the first time this season, the Buffalo Bills found themselves on the losing end of the scoreboard and in a big way, falling 42-16 to the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.”
Missing starters evident in Bills' humbling loss on national stage - Buffalo Bills Blog- ESPN
With linebacker Matt Milano and All-Pro cornerback Tre'Davious White out, Buffalo struggled to stop Tennessee as its unbeaten start came to a halt.
Eric Wood | 5 opinions on Buffalo’s loss to Tennessee - BuffaloBills.com
Mistakes doom the Bills, but they get another opportunity in the national spotlight on Monday.
The Buffalo Bills lose to the Tennessee Titans: 10 Things I Think I Think - Buffalo Fanatics - Buffalo Bills
This was ugly.
Report Card: Failing grades all around after Bills get blown out in Tennessee | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
This was easily Josh Allen’s worst game of the season. He did not look in sync with his receivers from the start, writes Jay Skurski.
Bills give up short fields to Ryan Tannehill’s Titans, Tennessee makes Buffalo pay (5 reasons to be encouraged, 9 reasons to be worried) - newyorkupstate.com
The Bills struggled to make any big plays on offense while the defense continued to let teams move the ball with relative ease.
Position grades: Bills defense won rushing battle, lost the war | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“A lot of quality play by the defensive line was negated by a bunch of mistakes,” Mark Gaughan says.
What we learned from Bills’ snap counts in Week 5 loss, game ball and more | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Plus, three things to know about the Kansas City Chiefs. The defending Super Bowl champions will visit Orchard Park for a rare 5 p.m. EDT start Monday.
Is the Bills’ defense broken? Observations from blowout loss to Titans – The Athletic
Defense has been the Bills’ strength for so long that their struggles so far this year, especially in the 41-16 loss, are amplified. (Subscription required).
Bills defense trending toward historic lows | News 4 Buffalo
“After Tuesday night’s 42-16 trampling at the hands of the Tennessee Titans on national TV, it seems only fair to address an alarming trend through the first five weeks of the season.”
Bills’ Sean McDermott diagnoses what’s wrong with his defense after blowout loss vs. Titans - newyorkupstate.com
Bills gave up season-high 42 points against Tennessee Titans Tuesday night.
Bills coach Sean McDermott: ‘I have a lot of confidence in Leslie Frazier’ | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Sean McDermott is not happy with the performance of his defense, but he declined to get into specifics on whether he planned to take a more active role.
McDermott: Key injured players improving - WGR 550
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott told the media on Wednesday that linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral), wide receiver John Brown (calf), cornerback Tre’Davious White (back), and offensive guard Quinton Spain are all improving.
Bills Today | Sean McDermott on moving past an uncharacteristic game - BuffaloBills.com
Here are three things to know about the Bills for Thursday, Oct. 15.
Top 5 storylines fans need to follow for Bills vs. Chiefs | Week 6 - BuffaloBills.com
A matchup against the Super Bowl Champs, Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes, Sean McDermott faces the coach who taught him the most and more in this week's top storylines to know.
Column: Bills fans suffered enough without hearing Feely's overpraise of Titans | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Around Western New York, the debate undoubtedly was: Is this the worst announcing team Bills fans will hear all season?
Jim Kubiak: Progression of reads part of Bills QB Josh Allen's undoing vs. Titans | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Allen’s lack of execution was a stark reminder that even great players with MVP talent have a job to do.
Five takeaways from Wednesday's Bills press conferences | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Here are Jay Skurski's takeaways from Wednesday’s calls with Sean McDermott, Brian Daboll and Leslie Frazier.
Analysis: Titans' D sets good example by showing Josh Allen respect | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“They kept everything in front of them and forced Allen to play a precision, possession game,” Mark Gaughan says.
Le’Veon Bell and Bills: 7 reasons why they may be perfect match in 2020 - newyorkupstate.com
Le’Veon Bell and the Bills could be a perfect match for one another in 2020.
Featured on Buffalo Rumblings
One Stat Recap: Buffalo Bills serve the Tennessee Titans a win on a silver platter - Buffalo Rumblings
The Bills’ mistakes gave Tennessee an easy W.
Q&A: After that loss, are the Buffalo Bills any good? - Buffalo Rumblings
We take your questions.
Circling the Wagons: Bills (4-1) lose to Titans in Tennessee, 42-16 - Buffalo Rumblings
Let’s vent together over this loss to the Titans.
Takeaways: Mistakes, coaching, and execution all lacking as Buffalo Bills lose to Tennessee Titans - Buffalo Rumblings
The Bills were outclassed on Tuesday.
Bills snap counts vs. Titans: A Tuesday night to forget - Buffalo Rumblings
Let’s take a look and then never discuss this game again.
Opinion: Buffalo Bills’ defense is a huge problem - Buffalo Rumblings
McDermott has a lot of work to do.