Saw a NFL Tweet about “The King Vs The Buffalo” referencing Derrick Henry vs Josh Allen, and I’m just gonna stop right there to remind everyone that Josh Allen’s forever nickname is going to be THE GENERAL coined by your boy preseason last year ;).
Let’s take our weekly look at the Titans and what to watch for.
Same Old Titans
Vrabel, Tanny, Henry and co come back to Buffalo to battle the Bills for the 5th time in the Allen era. The series sits at 2-2. We know this team well, and they know us well. Despite an early exit last season, the Titans entered the playoffs as the number 1 seed because of their hard nosed, physical culture. The year before they were bounced in the first round also, mainly due to a lack of an elite QB, and leaning so much on Superstar King Henry. Vrabel is a lifelong winner, and knows how to build a team that no one WANTS to play, but ultimately they haven’t won a thing yet.
Weather Factor
The skies should clear for a beautiful home opener, but wind and rain could also become a factor. Hopefully we won’t see any weather delays due to lightning or anything like that, but as my father Randy always put it, we may see a battle in the “mud, the blood, and the guts” if it gets shitty out. A muddy bloody game seems to lean toward what the tough-guy Titans preach, but I’m not so sure they’ve practiced that preach versus this new look Bills D. Last season the Bills D was #1 in all categories, but I never felt as though TOUGH teams ever feared the Bills.
With Von Miller’s influence, both on the field and off of it, I don’t think tough guy teams like the Titans feel so Tough against Leslie Frasier’s bend but don’t break D.
Nice Guys Finish Last
I don’t want to see any kindness tonight from the Bills. This Titans team continues to pride itself as “the bully” and will not stop tonight. They aren’t going to play nice, and will almost CERTAINLY try to test the Bills mental toughness as much as they test it’s physical toughness. Mental fortitude is something this Bills team shouldn’t lack, with 3 levels of playoff runs over the last 3 years, and 3 different levels of disappointment. The Bills can taste a SuperBowl, and are playing like a playoff team in September. I don’t expect them to take their foot off the gas pedal after what I saw from a desire standpoint and intensity level last week.
Kill. Kill. Kill.
Jim Morrison once shouted those words in a echoey demonic Shining like way at the end of THE END. The end of the track THE END is what the Bills need to see. They need to see through all the shit and all the noise and all the disappointment and all the Josh Allen Hate and Hype and just ride the snake all the way to the lake baby. This team is so close, so united, so one that win or lose, this team is going to be FUN AS HELL all season long, and I just want to remind everyone to enjoy this band, because it’s not going to be around forever, just like Jim Morrison and the Doors.
My Prediction
I am hoping that Von Miller and Josh Allen start the final chapter of the Vrabel, Tannehill, Henry Titans. It’s time for an IN CONFERENCE STATEMENT, and I think this roster is up for it. Despite the losses on the DL, opportunities present themselves for Jordan Phillips and Boogie Bashem, who I fully expect to both take full advantage of. I will once again pray for The General’s safety, and courage to be smart in the eye of the beast, but I know he will be a beast when the battle begins. Corners will be challenged to hit and make tackles, something that is a clear emphasis on this defense with changes and depth. Elam and Benford are babies, but not baby back bitches, and they’re big. I look forward to seeing what type of toughness they add to Taron Johnson, Jordan Poyer, Siran Neal and the rest of the defensive backfield. Bills usually stay Nickel against tough-guy teams, but I’m intrigued to see the rotation tonight. Offensively hopefully no Gabe means Shakir gets a shot, but the “others” in the WR are going to need to step up behind Diggs. Knox too will need to have a big night in Buffalo.
I don’t think the Bills are afraid of anyone, especially Mike Vrabel. I think his shtick is getting old and they’re in trouble. Burks is an athlete who will surprise many, just hope his first breakout isn’t in Buffalo. Cook coming out party tonight in OP, and our RUN GAME gets nasty and turns Vrabel inside out. Bills big 44-17.
GOBILLS.
