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The Speed Option: the Buffalo Bills face the Tennessee Titans on the road for the third straight year

Nashville is becoming a home away from home

Buffalo Bills v Tennessee Titans Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

For the third season in a row head coach Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills will take the trip down to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Read on to see what’s new down south before the Monday Night Football clash.

2021 Season Summary

The Titans haven’t had the greatest start to their season, but they still sit in first place in the AFC South at 3-2. They have already played in two overtime games—one a win over the Seattle Seahawks and one a loss to the New York Jets.

Head coach

Mike Vrabel is still the head coach in Tennessee and is now in his fourth season. He has a 32-21 (0.604 percent) record with two straight playoff appearances.

Offensive coordinator

The Titans have lost two straight offensive coordinators to head coaching gigs. Matt LaFleur left after the 2019 season to become the head coach of the Green Bay Packers and Arthur Smith left after last season to take over the Atlanta Falcons. This season Vrabel promoted Todd Downing from tight ends coach to OC. Back in 2017 he served as the OC for the Oakland Raiders. He also has a Bills connection—he worked as the quarterbacks coach in Buffalo in 2014 under Saint Doug. His offense currently ranks tenth in both points per game and yards per game.

Defensive coordinator

Shane Bowen is in his first official season as defensive coordinator of the Titans. Last season Mike Vrabel took over the duties when Dean Pees retired, but delegated play-calling duties to Bowen. Bowen was officially promoted to DC at the end of the Titans’ season. His defense currently ranks 24th in points per game allowed and 21st in yards per game allowed.

Offensive Starters

  • QB: Ryan Tannehill
  • RB: Derrick Henry
  • WR: A.J. Brown
  • WR: Julio Jones ^
  • WR: Chester Rogers
  • TE: Geoff Swaim
  • LT: Taylor Lewan
  • LG: Rodger Saffold III
  • C: Ben Jones
  • RG: Nate Davis
  • RT: David Quessenberry

^ = free agent / trade addition
* = rookie

Defensive Starters

  • DE: Denico Aultry ^
  • NT: Teair Tart
  • DT: Jeffrey Simmons
  • OLB: Bud Dupree ^
  • ILB: Jayon Brown
  • ILB: Rashaan Evans
  • OLB: Harold Landry III
  • CB: Jackrabbit Jenkins ^
  • CB: Kristian Fulton
  • S: Kevin Byard
  • S: Dane Cruikshank

^ = free agent / trade addition
* = rookie