Bills-Titans Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Bills-Titans

SCOUTING REPORT

Bills-Titans: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Bills-Titans matchup. 1. Focus on the peripheral weapons: Vince Young has shown little ability to push the ball deep downfield to wide receivers. He prefers short throws -- often to the flats, to tight ends or running backs. Buffalo might attempt to leave its corners in some one-on-one situations while crowding the line of scrimmage. Buffalo's defense is often thought of as just a Cover-2 group, but it can be aggressive and go man at times. The Titans' wide receivers as a unit have been quite disappointing.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
BUF	3-6	140	210	1-3	2-3	1-2	1-5
TEN	3-6	189	255	2-2	1-4	1-3	2-6
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Buffalo Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Edward... 60.2 1170 6 7 Fitzpa... 49.4 362 2 4

Tennessee Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Collin... 54.8 1071 5 8 Young 65.7 507 2 2

Buffalo Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jackso... 120 493 4.1 0 Lynch 79 254 3.2 1

Tennessee Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Johnso... 170 1091 6.4 8 White 59 204 3.5 1

Buffalo Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Evans 27 381 14.1 5 Owens 26 366 14.1 1

Tennessee Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Britt 22 351 16.0 0 Gage 22 302 13.7 1

Full Player Stats: Buffalo | Tennessee

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	BUF	268.0
	TEN	332.0
Yards Passing	BUF	160.6
	TEN	170.2
Yards Rushing	BUF	107.7
	TEN	161.8
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	BUF	373.0
	TEN	379.8
Pass Yds Allowed	BUF	200.0
	TEN	270.4
Rush Yds Allowed	BUF	173.0
	TEN	109.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Tennessee leads 3-0
Dec 24, 2006	BUF 29, @TEN 30
Dec 14, 2003	BUF 26, TEN 28

The Tennessee Titans have spent much of the last two seasons embroiled in streaks of some kind. They're hoping they've begun another one heading into the season's second half.

Vince Young looks to continue to lead the team's revival on the heels of an 0-6 start as the Titans go for a third straight win Sunday against the visiting Buffalo Bills.

With quarterback Kerry Collins struggling and an injury-riddled defense falling apart, the Titans -- the AFC's top seed last season -- lost their first six games in increasingly lopsided fashion, apparently hitting rock bottom with a 59-0 loss at New England on Oct. 18.

Young, who was benched in favor of Collins during Tennessee's 10-0 start last year, replaced the veteran after the bye week and the Titans have responded with a pair of victories, beating Jacksonville 30-13 at home and winning 34-27 at San Francisco last Sunday.

"Guys feel rejuvenated, guys are happy about what we've done over the last two weeks," center Kevin Mawae said. "Things kind of snowballed on us the first six weeks of the season, but we overcame that. We're starting to overcome the penalties and starting to overcome the things that don't go our way."

While Young hasn't been prolific in his two starts, throwing for 297 yards and a touchdown, the former No. 3 overall pick has completed 73.0 percent of his passes and hasn't turned the ball over.

His responsible play has allowed the Titans, who had 18 turnovers in their first six games, to rely on Chris Johnson, who has racked up 363 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the last two.

The second-year back easily leads the NFL with 959 yards on the ground, and his electrifying speed has helped him score five touchdowns from more than 50 yards out, including a 69-yard catch.

Tennessee (2-6) has also been boosted by a rejuvenated defense, which was embarrassed after the team fell behind 45-0 at halftime against the Patriots. The unit forced four turnovers versus San Francisco, with Cortland Finnegan returning an interception for a touchdown to seal the victory.

Finnegan and Vincent Fuller have returned from injuries to help anchor a young secondary, with cornerback Rod Hood also contributing two interceptions in three games after being signed last month.

"The team's healed up, we're healthy. It's good to get the DBs back," coach Jeff Fisher said. "We're running the football, and we're protecting it. When you can do that, you can win games."

The Bills (3-5) have a better record than Tennessee, but they lack a similar confidence as they emerge from a bye week with their 29th-ranked offense in tatters and coach Dick Jauron's job potentially in jeopardy after fans rented out a billboard asking owner Ralph Wilson to make a change.

Quarterback Trent Edwards has been cleared to return following a month-long absence due to a concussion, but he wasn't much better than backup Ryan Fitzpatrick before the injury, throwing one touchdown and five interceptions with a 54.6 passer rating in his last four games.

The offense was supposed to improve this year after the arrival of Terrell Owens, but the veteran receiver has seemingly gotten quieter by the week, totaling just 281 yards. He was held out of practice Wednesday and Thursday, but returned and declared himself ready to play Friday.

"I think with the expectations of the season, myself included by coming here, the bar was raised," Owens said. "And so, we're nowhere near it. And I think that's where the air's kind of been let out a little bit."

The Bills went 2-1 under Fitzpatrick, thanks mostly to a defense that forced 10 turnovers in road victories over the New York Jets and Carolina. Buffalo had two interceptions and a fumble recovery Nov. 1 against Houston and led entering the fourth quarter, but still lost 31-10.

Rookie safety Jairus Byrd has been the bright spot in the last three games, totaling six interceptions. Byrd, tied for the NFL lead with seven picks, injured his groin against the Texans but has returned to practice.

Several other defensive starters could be out for Buffalo, however, including end Aaron Schobel (groin), cornerback Terrence McGee (right knee) and strong safety Donte Whitner (ankle).

The Bills have failed to reach the postseason since their dramatic playoff loss in Nashville on Jan. 8, 2000, a finish dubbed the "Music City Miracle."

Titans' Gage to miss second consecutive game

Tennessee receiver Justin Gage is out for the Titans' game against the Texans with broken bones in his lower back.

Bills' Ellison goes on IR; Stroud out vs. Jaguars

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcus Stroud has been ruled out and linebacker Keith Ellison was placed on injured reserve Friday, leaving the NFL's worst run defense further depleted against Jacksonville this weekend.

Jaworski: Titans saving lost season

Ron Jaworski emerges from the film room and discusses what jumps out at him about Monday's game.

Pasquarelli: Rookie CBs lift Dolphins

Rookie cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Sean Smith have helped the Dolphins get back in the playoff race, writes Len Pasquarelli.

Kim brings new tips to Bills' defenders

The Buffalo Bills have a martial arts expert working with their players this week.

Bills' Maybin offers path to success

Buffalo Bills rookie defensive end Aaron Maybin asked a question of about 180 high school football players getting ready to practice at the team's fieldhouse Tuesday evening.

BILLS: Road back for Bowen nearly complete

The road has always been long for Alvin Bowen. Originally, Bowen's football odyssey took him from New Jersey to a Kansas junior college, then later to Iowa State - a long way from a New York City suburb.

BILLS: Corner not afraid of competition

Good thing Reggie Corner isn't afraid to come back clawing and scratching after getting picked on.

To Help at Receiver, Buffalo Adds Fire to Ice

Count Lee Evans as a fan of Terrell Owens . With teams preparing for the coming season, keep up with all the off-season news on the Times's pro football blog.

Vince Young: play me or let me go

If the Titans don't want him to play, Vince Young is ready to move on. The No. 3 pick of the 2006 NFL Draft told a Baltimore television station Monday that he wanted to become the starting quarterback for the Titans - regaining the job he lost last season to Kerry Collins in dramatic fashion - or find another team.

Quarterback steps out of bounds again

Will Vince Young ever get it? Just when you believe the Titans' backup quarterback is beginning to absorb the big picture of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback, he gives you reason to doubt him.

Titan sharpens focus after eye surgery

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.

McNair says he believes Young is maturing

Steve McNair touched on a variety of subjects at his eighth annual football camp at Goodpasture Christian School on Friday.

Nick Harper overcomes age, vision to stick in Titans' secondary

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.