Location: New Era Field, Orchard Park, NY
Regular season records: Buffalo (2-3), Tennessee (3-2)
In a nutshell:
Buffalo's defense had its best outing of the 2018 season in the team's Week 5 matchup with the Tennessee Titans. The unit forced three turnovers and contained Marcus Mariota for most of the contest, never letting the Titans into the end zone. Some late game heroics from the offense allowed the team to pick up their second win of the season.
LeSean McCoy played his best game of the season on Sunday, rushing for 85 yards on 24 attempts. Chris Ivory played well also rushing for 43 yards.
The defense was a brick wall throughout most of the game, limiting the Titans to just 221 net yards.
The game lifted the Bills to 2-3 on the season.
How it went down:
- The Bills took possession at midfield early in the first quarter when Tremaine Edmunds forced a fumble on Tennessee's opening drive. The offense took advantage of the turnover, driving down the field to put up their first points of the game. Josh Allen capped off the 11-play, 47-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run (7-0).
- A 38-yard Nick Williams punt return set the Titans up at Buffalo's 25-yard-line. The Bills' defense stood strong, coming up with a few big tackles and forcing a field goal. Ryan Succop put the ball through the uprights from 25 yards out to cut Buffalo's lead to four (7-3).
- Tennessee closed out the half with an 11-play drive that stretched more than half the length of the field. Buffalo's defense stood strong yet again, keeping the Titans out of the red zone and forcing a long field goal attempt. Succop was good from 54 yards out (7-6).
- Buffalo relied on its rushing attack to put up its second score of the day. After Shaq Lawson forced a fumble at midfield midway through the third quarter, the Bills leaned on their running backs to move them down the field. LeSean McCoy and Chris Ivory combined for 28 rushing yards on the drive. Tennessee ultimately forced a fourth down, and Stephen Hauschka was true from 40 yards out (10-6).
- The Bills' defense continued its strong play into the fourth quarter. Tennessee constructed a 14-play series in which Marcus Mariota showcased his accuracy and athleticism. Buffalo was able to keep the Titans out of the end zone yet again, forcing another Succop field goal and keeping its lead in tact (10-6).
- Tennessee took its first lead of the day with less than five minutes remaining in the contest. An Adoree' Jackson interception set the Titans up at midfield. Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis led Tennessee down the field and into field goal range. Buffalo's defense forced yet another Succop field goal, his fourth of the day. The 50-yard make gave the Titans a two-point lead (12-10).
- Buffalo's offense saved its best drive of the day for last. McCoy and Ivory led the team down the field in the dwindling moments of the game, and a seven-yard pass from Allen to Ray-Ray McCloud put the Bills in field goal range. Hauschka sank the ball through the uprights from 46 yards out to give Buffalo the win.
Subplots:
- Josh Allen recorded his third career rushing touchdown on Sunday. With the score, he became the only rookie quarterback in team history to rush for at least three touchdowns in his debut campaign.
- LeSean McCoy finished the game with 108 total yards, the 74th time he's finished with more than 100 scrimmage yards.
- Rookie CB Taron Johnson recorded the first interception of his NFL career on Sunday.
- DT Jordan Phillips, OL Jeremiah Sirles, and S Dean Marlowe made their Bills debuts on Sunday.
- Marlowe got the start at strong safety, the first start of his NFL career.
- RB Chris Ivory played in his 100th NFL game on Sunday.
- The announced attendance for the game was 68,202.
- Inactive for the game were S Rafael Bush, S Micah Hyde, CB Dontae Johnson, RB Marcus Murphy, OG Ike Boettger, OT Conor McDermott, and OG Wyatt Teller.
Up next:
- The Bills will face off against another AFC South team next Sunday when they take on the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
