2 min read • September 19, 2022
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Injuries around the defense, which grades out with a 78.1 SIC score this week, is the No. 1 concern for the Bills' team that is considered to be among the best in the NFL.
Despite the concerns Buffalo is a 10-point favorite, the largest spread of the week on FanDuel Sportsbook, and the over/under is 47.5 for -106 and -114, respectively.
Tre'Davious White is on the PUP list and will miss the first four games with his ACL recovery and defensive tackles Ed Oliver and Tim Settle are out and doubtful, respectively, for Monday night.
Oliver suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and Settle practiced only once with a calf injury, pushing edge rusher Boogie Basham and rookie tackles C.J. Brewer and Prince Emili into larger roles.
Cornerback Dane Jackson is questionable with a knee issue after missing two days of practice, further slimming out the Bills' pass defense, which has a game-low 70.3 SIC score against an unproven Titans' passing attack.
On offense, Gabe Davis is questionable with a non-contact ankle sprain that popped up late in the week. Davis reportedly suffered an inversion ankle sprain and, if so, has a strong chance to play, but because our information is limited, there is no way to make an informed guess.
If Davis is out, wide receivers Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder would be in line for a greater target share.
The top questions heading into the season for the Titans were: will Derrick Henry return to his dominant form, and can Robert Woods and Treylon Burks do enough to replace A.J. Brown?
Henry was effective but unremarkable in Week 1, rushing 21 times for 82 yards with a long of 18 a in his first healthy game back since suffering a Jones fracture midway through 2021, and has an SIC score of 93 this week.
The Titans' passing game was uneven in Week 1 as Woods continues to recover from his mid-season ACL tear: Rookies Kyle Phillips and Burks paced the team with 6/66 and 3/55 receiving games, respectively, but running back Dontrel Hilliard had 61 yards and two touchdowns.
The 27-year-old Hilliard was ruled out with a hamstring injury, potentially leaving more targets for Burks, Phillips, and even Henry.
The Titans' defense is missing three central figures this week in starting cornerbacks Caleb Farley and Kristian Fulton and edge-rusher Harold Landry III.
Landry is out for the season after tearing his ACL, while Farley is on his way back from a torn ACL and Fulton suffered a hamstring injury that will hold him out at least one game.
Tennessee's pass defense has the team's only score below 85, grading out with an 80 SIC score.
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