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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills took care of enterprise within the first recreation of a Monday Evening Soccer doubleheader, knocking off the Tennessee Titans, 41-7. Tennessee evened the rating after the Payments scored on their opening drive earlier than Buffalo reeled off 34 straight factors to shut issues out.
If the Buffalo Payments’ season-opening win was an announcement, the Payments’ commanding home-opening efficiency in opposition to the Titans put an exclamation level on an already excellent begin to the 12 months. And a big a part of that comes from the connection of quarterback Josh Allen and broad receiver Stefon Diggs, who’re already off to a historic begin to the season.
Diggs caught 12 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns, becoming a member of Jerry Rice (1987, 1995) as the one gamers with a number of three-touchdown catch video games on Monday Evening Soccer, per Elias Sports activities. Two of the pair’s three touchdowns got here within the third quarter when the Payments put up 24 factors to determine a game-ending lead over the Titans.
Regardless of a sluggish begin to the sport for Buffalo, the crew by no means regarded again after the second quarter, holding Tennessee scoreless for the remainder of the sport.
Being with out No. 2 broad receiver Gabe Davis ended up not being an issue for Buffalo with eight completely different receivers catching passes. Allen now has seven passing touchdowns to begin the 12 months, the second-most within the first two video games in Payments’ historical past (Jim Kelly, eight in 1991). The quarterback completed the sport 26-of-38 (68.4%) for 317 yards and the 4 scores. He additionally had one rush for 10 yards.
Whereas the offense exploded off the web page, particularly within the center two quarters, the Payments protection greater than assist up on its finish, limiting Ryan Tannehill to 11 completions and permitting operating again Derrick Henry to choose up simply 1.9 yards per carry, his fourth lowest amongst video games with no less than 10 rushes. The protection additionally compelled 4 turnovers.
Buffalo is 2-0 for the third time within the final 4 seasons after having three 2-0 begins within the earlier 15 seasons — and it was the crew’s first residence win on Monday Evening Soccer since 1994. .
QB breakdown: A lot of Allen’s success Monday night time got here on play-action. His 4 play-action passing touchdowns are probably the most in his profession and probably the most the Titans have allowed in a recreation since ESPN started video monitoring in 2006. His 14 completions on play-action throws tied for the second-most of his profession and his 219 yards on play-action was the third-most of his profession.
Pivotal play: The 46-yard landing cross from Allen to Diggs will rightfully be remembered, however earlier within the third-quarter drive, it appeared that the Payments must punt for the primary time this season. Backed up at their very own 16-yard line on third-and-16, the offense was assisted by an offsides penalty by the Titans. Then, on third-and-nine, Allen related with broad receiver Jamison Crowder on a 16-yard cross to the center of the sphere. The play stored the drive alive, which finally led to Buffalo establishing a three-score lead.
Troubling development: That is out of the Payments’ management, however they suffered a wrath of accidents within the win over the Titans. Beginning cornerback Dane Jackson was taken off of the field in ambulance after struggling a neck damage when hit by teammate Tremaine Edmunds. Security Micah Hyde left the sphere on a cart with a neck damage, and linebacker Matt Milano (stinger) and defensive deal with Jordan Phillips (hamstring) completed the sport with accidents, however they would not have performed extra anyway because the Payments rested most of the starters on the finish of the sport. With a brief week forward, these will all be price maintaining a tally of along with Davis’ damage.
Underneath the radar stat to know: The Payments scored a landing on the opening drive for the seventh straight recreation –– together with playoffs — which is the longest streak for the reason that the Falcons in 2016 (eight straight). — Alaina Getzenberg
Subsequent recreation: at Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
The Titans have been outclassed on many ranges within the lopsided loss. It was the Titans’ worst loss beneath coach Mike Vrabel, surpassing a 40-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 15 of 2020.
The Payments outgained the Titans by 227 yards and compelled 4 turnovers. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was pulled from the sport after his second interception with the sport already out of attain.
Titans coach Mike Vrabel changed Tannehill with Malik Willis, making him the primary rookie to play quarterback this season. Willis joined the turnover celebration by fumbling when one in all his teammates received knocked into him inflicting the ball to return free.
Describe the sport in two phrases: Unhealthy protection. Even with out rising star wideout Gabriel Davis, the Payments nonetheless managed to continually roam free within the Titans’ secondary, particularly Stefon Diggs, who completed with 12 receptions for 148 yards and three touchdowns.
Eye-popping NextGen stat: Derrick Henry recorded -2.6 rush yards over expectation per carry tonight. That’s his worst rush yards over expectation per carry in a recreation courting again to 2018 when the metric started. Henry had been the NFL’s high rusher during the last two and a half seasons earlier than struggling a Jones fracture in Week 8 final season. After averaging 3.9 yards per carry in Week 1, Henry solely common 2.0 yards per carry in opposition to the Payments, his fourth-lowest common in a recreation wherein he had no less than 10 carries. Buffalo hit Henry at or behind the road of scrimmage on 5 of his 13 dashing makes an attempt.
Troubling development: The accidents proceed to mount. Working again Trenton Cannon injured his knee on the opening kickoff and was misplaced for the sport. Left deal with Taylor Lewan did not return after injuring his knee within the first quarter. The protection wasn’t proof against the accidents both. Exterior linebacker Ola Adeniyi injured his wrist whereas filling in for Bud Dupree, who injured his hip within the second quarter. Adeniyi got here out for a few collection however returned earlier than halftime. The Titans additionally misplaced defensive again Ugo Amadi at halftime for the sport.
Underrated statistic to know: Regardless of Derrick Henry’s powerful day, he scored his second dashing landing of the season. He now has 56 dashing touchdowns within the final 5 seasons, 17 greater than the next-closest gamers (Alvin Kamara and Nick Chubb every have 39). — Turron Davenport
Subsequent recreation: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. ET, FOX).