FNIA Titans at Bills Preview: Is Chris Johnson due for a big day in Buffalo?

TITANS (2-4) AT BILLS (3-3)

By Football Night in America’ Eliott Kalb

• Both Tennessee and Buffalo are coming off potential season-turning wins. The Titans upset
the Steelers October 11th in Nashville 26-23 on a last second field goal, snapping a two-game
losing streak in which they were outscored 68 to 21. After being outscored 90-17 in their
previous six quarters, the Bill stunned the Cardinals with a 19-16 OT win.
• Tennessee’s -90 point differential this season is worst in the NFL. The Bills -55 point
differential is 28th. Tennessee has been outscored 106 to 31 combined in losing all three
road games this season.
• The Titans have won each of their last four meetings vs. the Bills while averaging 30.5 points
per game. Last December, Chris Johnson rushed for 153 yards and two TD in a 23-17 Titans
win in Buffalo.
• Johnson has rushed for 285 yards and four touchdowns in two career games vs. Buffalo.
• Johnson hasn’t scored a touchdown since that game in Buffalo last December, a span of ten
games. Johnson’s 3.3 yards per attempt is 40th in the NFL this season.
• Buffalo’s C.J. Spiller leads the NFL, averaging 7.6 yards per attempt in 2012.
• The Titans offense is last in the NFL, averaging 70.2 rushing yards per game in 2012.
• However, Johnson and the Titans are going up against a Bills run defense that is allowing an
NFL-worst 173.5 yards on the ground per game in 2012.
• Matt Hasselbeck will make his third consecutive start in place of Jake Locker (dislocated left
shoulder). Locker did return to practice Wednesday doing some throwing in seven-on-seven
drills. Locker could return in Week Eight vs. the Colts.
• After throwing for just 200 yards in a 30-7 loss to the Vikings in his first start, Matt Hasselbeck
bounced back last week throwing for 290 yards in the Titans win vs. the Steelers.
• The Bills offense has been a bit more conservative over the last two weeks. In the first four
games, Ryan Fitzpatrick threw 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions while averaging 7.4
yards per attempt. In his last two games, Fitzpatrick has zero touchdown passes and just one
interception while averaging just 4.8 yards per attempt.
• Despite their win last Sunday, many Bills fans were critical of Chan Gailey’s play-calling in
the game. There was a Wildcat play that resulted in an interception late in the fourth quarter
when running the ball and the clock seemed the best option. On their final drive of regulation,
the Bills went three-and-out with Arizona using all three of their timeouts, enabling the
Cards to get the ball back. An Arizona field goal attempt was partially blocked at the end of
regulation, which saved the Bills and Gailey from more criticism.
• The Bills have 15 giveaways this season (nine INT, six fumbles), third most in the NFL, fewer
than only the Chiefs (21) and Eagles (17).
• C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson have each fumbled twice this season with all four fumbles
recovered by the opposition.
• On Monday, the Bills signed Shawne Merriman after releasing him back on Aug. 20th.
Merriman played in five games last season for the Bills before winding up on IR (Achilles).
He was cut after trying to convert from linebacker to defensive end in Dave Wannstedt’s 4-3
scheme. With Mark Anderson and Spencer Johnson both out, the Bills wanted to add depth to
their defensive line.
• Titans rookie WR Kendall Wright has 33 receptions—10 more than anyone else on the roster.
• Former Bills General Manager Bill Polian will be formally inducted to the Wall of Fame at
halftime.