Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans Picks and Predictions October 20th 2024

Bills punch up offense with Amari Cooper trade, face Titans

The Bills are heavily favored in their week seven matchup against the Titans, with the money line sitting at -450 for Buffalo and +355 for Tennessee. The game, set for 1:00 ET on Sunday, is being televised on CBS. The Titans and Bills will face off at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY, with Buffalo favored by -8.5 points. The over/under line is at 42.5 points.

Tennessee vs. Buffalo Key Information

• Teams: Titans at Bills
• Where: Highmark Stadium Orchard Park
• Date: Sunday, October 20th
• Betting Odds BUF -450 | TEN +355 O/U 42.5

The Titans Can Win If…

Heading into week 7, the Titans are 1-4, putting them 3rd in the AFC South. Their playoff chances are at 7.8%, and they rank 23rd in our NFL power rankings. Tennessee is 1-1 on the road and 0-3 at home, with their only win coming in week 4 against the Dolphins. They couldn’t build on that victory, losing 20-17 to the Colts in week 6. The Titans were 2.5-point favorites in that game but couldn’t get the win at home.

Against the spread, Tennessee is 1-4, with their only win coming as underdogs vs Miami. They have an average scoring margin of -2.8 points per game. Their O/U record is 2-2-1, with their games averaging 41.2 points per game.

Heading into week 7, the Titans rank 27th in our offensive power rankings. They are 19th in the NFL in points per game, averaging 19.2, but they are 31st in passing yards per game (135) and total yards per game (253.2). Tennessee ranks 15th in both rushing attempts and rushing yards per game, with 118.2. On 3rd down, they are 27th in the league, converting just 29.3% of their attempts, but they have been efficient in the red zone, ranking 6th with a 61.5% conversion rate.

In week 6, Will Levis threw for 95 yards (16/27) with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Tony Pollard led the rushing attack with 93 yards on 17 carries, while DeAndre Hopkins had 4 receptions for 54 yards. The Titans scored 17 points against the Colts, with 7 coming in the 1st quarter and 7 more in the 3rd. They converted 4 of 11 3rd-down attempts and scored on both of their red zone trips.

In their 20-17 loss to the Colts, the Titans’ defense gave up 189 passing yards on 22 completions. The Titans’ offense allowed just 269 total yards, with the Titans’ defense holding the Colts to 80 rushing yards on 28 attempts. Despite this, the Titans gave up two passing touchdowns and failed to record any sacks in the game.

Tennessee’s defense did come up with one interception and limited the Colts to a 57.9% completion percentage. However, the Titans struggled on third downs, allowing the Colts to convert 46.7% of their third down attempts.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Titans have gone 1-2 straight up. The team’s record vs the spread was just 1-2, in addition to an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Titans have gone 3-7 straight up. This includes going 3-6-1 vs. the spread along with an over-under mark of 4-5-1.

The Bills Can Win If…

Heading into week 7, the Bills sit atop the AFC East with a 4-2 record, giving them an 86.1% chance of winning the division and a 94.7% chance of making the playoffs. After two straight losses, Buffalo got back on track in week 6, defeating the Jets 23-20. The Bills were 1-point favorites in this game and covered the spread, bringing their ATS record to 3-3.

Buffalo ranks 5th in our NFL power rankings and has a +6.5 scoring margin this season. Their O/U record is 3-3, with their games averaging 48.5 points and the O/U line averaging 46.2 points.

After struggling in weeks 4 and 5, Josh Allen bounced back in week 6, posting a passer rating of 127 against the Jets, going 19 of 25 for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns. Buffalo’s offense started strong, scoring 20 points in the first half, but managed only 3 points in the second half. Ray Davis led the team in rushing with 97 yards on 20 carries and also had 3 catches for 55 yards.

Buffalo ranks 6th in the NFL in scoring, averaging 27.5 points per game, but they are 21st in total yards, with 309.7 per game. They rank 28th in passing attempts and 25th in passing yards per game. On 3rd down, they are converting 34.3% of the time, which ranks 22nd in the league.

In their 23-20 win over the Jets, the Buffalo Bills’ defense gave up 393 total yards. The Jets ran for 121 yards on just 21 attempts, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. Against the pass, the Bills allowed 272 yards and two touchdowns, with the Jets completing 65.7% of their passes.

Buffalo’s defense managed to sack the quarterback three times and came up with one interception. They also held the Jets to a 33.3% conversion rate on third down.

• Spanning across their last three games, Buffalo have gone 2-1. However, they have only gone 1-2 vs. the spread over this stretch. Their over-under record in these three games was 3-0.
• Buffalo has put together a record of 8-2 in their last ten games (regular season). Against the spread, Buffalo went 4-6 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

For this week seven matchup between the Titans and Bills, we have a point-spread pick and an over/under pick. Starting with the point spread, the Titans are our pick to cover as road underdogs. The current line has the Titans at +8.5, and we have them winning 23-14, making them a good pick to cover at +8.5.

As for the over/under, with the line sitting at 42.5 points, we have a projected combined score of 37 points, making the under a great pick in this one.

NFL Latest Picks & Previews

The Buffalo Bills, currently leading the AFC East by 1 ½ games, have made a strategic move to address their struggles at wide receiver, trading for veteran Amari Cooper. As they gear up to host the Tennessee Titans at Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday, the Bills hope Cooper’s arrival will bring immediate impact to their offense, which has lacked a go-to target following the offseason trade of Stefon Diggs.

Buffalo Bills: Aiming for Offensive Firepower

Despite their solid 4-2 record, the Bills have faced noticeable challenges at wide receiver throughout the first six games of the 2024 season. Without a dominant target, Buffalo’s offense has relied heavily on quarterback Josh Allen, who has excelled with 156 passes this season without an interception. However, the absence of a reliable wide receiver has limited the team’s ability to stretch the field consistently.

To remedy this, Buffalo turned to Amari Cooper, who arrives from the Cleveland Browns after posting a career-high 1,250 receiving yards last year. Yet, Cooper’s 2024 campaign has started sluggishly, with just 24 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns across six games. His current average of 10.4 yards per catch is on pace for a career low and significantly below last year’s mark of 17.4 yards.

While Cooper’s early struggles are evident, his move to Buffalo could spark a resurgence. “As far as playing with Josh [Allen], I’ve always been a fan of his game,” Cooper remarked. “I’m excited to contribute and be a part of something special.” Being paired with one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks could provide Cooper the opportunity to get back to his high-production form.

Cooper’s Impact Still Uncertain for Titans Game

As the Bills prepare for their Sunday matchup against the Titans, Cooper’s game status remains undecided. Head coach Sean McDermott has not yet confirmed whether Cooper will suit up for this crucial game. Nevertheless, the mere addition of Cooper has generated optimism in Buffalo, signaling the team’s intent to bolster its receiving corps as they aim to solidify their playoff prospects.

Buffalo could also receive further reinforcements with the possible return of running back James Cook (toe) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (hamstring). Cook sat out the Bills’ 23-20 victory over the New York Jets on Monday night, but rookie Ray Davis stepped up admirably, amassing 152 total yards (97 rushing, 55 receiving) on 23 touches. Even so, having Cook back in the lineup would provide additional depth and versatility to the Bills’ backfield.

On the defensive side, Ed Oliver, one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the league, could make his return after missing the last two games. His presence would be a significant boost to Buffalo’s defensive line, adding another challenge for the Titans’ struggling offense.

Tennessee Titans: Defensive Strength, Offensive Struggles

While Buffalo looks to shore up its offense, the Tennessee Titans come into the matchup facing serious issues on the offensive side of the ball. Currently sitting at 1-4, Tennessee’s season has been derailed by poor quarterback play and turnover problems, particularly from second-year quarterback Will Levis. Levis has thrown seven interceptions in five games, including a crucial fourth-quarter pick in last week’s 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Levis’ struggles are compounded by the fact that he’s playing through a shoulder injury sustained in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins. His inability to protect the ball has severely limited Tennessee’s ability to close out games, as seen in their latest collapse against the Colts, where they gave up a 17-10 fourth-quarter lead.

Even more concerning for Tennessee is the lack of chemistry between Levis and veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley. None of Levis’ completions last week were directed toward Ridley, who voiced his frustrations in a postgame interview that quickly went viral on social media. Though Ridley later apologized for his outburst, the incident underscored the disconnect between Tennessee’s quarterback and its top receiver. Head coach Brian Callahan acknowledged Ridley’s concerns, stating, “I’m doing everything I can to keep him involved in the game plan.”

Titans’ Defense: A Lone Bright Spot

Despite the offensive woes, Tennessee’s defense remains one of the best in the NFL, ranking first in both total defense (248.8 yards per game) and passing defense (137.0 yards per game). Their ability to stifle opposing offenses has been the primary reason the Titans have managed to stay competitive, even in losses.

Led by a fierce pass rush and disciplined secondary, Tennessee’s defense will be tested against Buffalo’s potent offense, particularly if Cooper suits up. With the Bills’ offense looking more dynamic, the Titans’ defense may need to shoulder even more responsibility in keeping the game close, especially given the continued struggles of their offense.

Historical Rivalry: Bills vs. Titans

The Bills and Titans share a long-standing rivalry dating back to the days of the American Football League, when the Titans were known as the Houston Oilers. Tennessee leads the all-time series 30-20, including postseason matchups. However, Buffalo decisively won their last encounter, a 41-7 blowout at home two years ago.

As the two teams prepare for this critical AFC showdown, both are in search of momentum. Buffalo aims to solidify its standing atop the AFC East, while Tennessee looks to salvage its season by capitalizing on its defensive prowess and overcoming its offensive misfires.

Conclusion: What’s at Stake?

The Bills’ acquisition of Amari Cooper marks a clear effort to address their offensive shortcomings and position themselves as a more formidable playoff contender. Whether or not Cooper plays in Sunday’s game, his presence alone signals Buffalo’s commitment to improving its passing game, especially after trading away their previous star receiver, Stefon Diggs. With the potential returns of James Cook and Ed Oliver, Buffalo looks poised to be a well-rounded team on both sides of the ball.

On the other side, the Titans face an uphill battle. With Will Levis continuing to struggle and Calvin Ridley’s frustrations mounting, Tennessee’s sputtering offense will need to find a way to move the ball effectively if they hope to keep up with a Bills team that is reloading offensively. Tennessee’s top-ranked defense will be critical in giving them a chance, but unless their offense finds a rhythm, the Titans may find themselves falling further behind in the AFC South standings.

As Sunday’s game approaches, all eyes will be on how quickly Amari Cooper can make an impact in Buffalo, and whether the Titans’ defense can carry their team past their offensive woes.