It’s a box of chocolates matchup. When the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans face off, you never really know what you’re going to get.
The teams played in two of the most memorable playoff games in recent history, classics that swayed the fortunes of both franchises. Four years after 1993’s Greatest Comeback of All Time (I was there!), Bud Adams packed up the Oilers and moved to Nashville. “Homerun Throwback” sent the Bills into a 12-years-and-counting postseason tailspin.
Sunday marked the teams’ sixth meeting since the Music City Miracle, at a time when we couldn’t even be sure which 2012 version of the Bills and Titans we would see. Would it be the ground-and-pound Bills we saw in Arizona seven days ago or the Bills that were pounded the two previous weeks? And is there more of a wildcard in the NFL right now than Chris Johnson?
Johnson, the up-and-down Tennessee running back, got just what the doctor ordered in the last-ranked Buffalo run defense, getting healthy to the tune of 195 yards on 18 carries. But with the game on the line, it was a 15-yard pass on fourth down from Matt Hasselbeck to Nate Washington that provided the decisive points in Tennessee’s 35-34 win at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
“It’s a great feeling,” Hasselbeck said. “To pull through once again in a close game for our third win in a game that came down basically to the last play was a great feeling.”
Tennessee rushed for 197 yards in the game with a 7.3 yards per carry average. Buffalo’s running tandem of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller was nearly as impressive, grounding out 141 yards on 21 combined totes (6.7 ypc).
The teams traded blows throughout an action-packed first half that featured 41 points. The Titans had been scoring 10.3 points per game on the road this season. Buffalo held a 34-28 edge entering the fourth quarter as both defenses seemed to finally settle in for the final 15 minutes.
In fact, the only scoring in the final frame occurred when Hasselbeck capped off his 22nd career fourth quarter comeback by finding Washington on a post pattern in the back of the west endzone with 1:09 to play.
“I personally feel like it was on me,” said Bills safety George Wilson. “I had an opportunity to get an interception and I did not come up with the ball, which would’ve sealed the victory. Those are the plays we need to make in order to be a good football team. I did not make the play and feel like this one is on me.”
Hasselbeck completed 22 of 33 for 205 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Washington caught six balls for 43 yards to lead the Titans.
Ryan Fitzpatrick finished 27 of 35 for 225 yards and three scores, but had two costly turnovers. Jackson ran nine times for 71 yards while Spiller finished with 12 for 70. Jackson also paced Buffalo in receptions with eight.
Tennessee (3-4) has now won consecutive games against favored opponents and heads home to take on Indianapolis on Sunday. Meanwhile, Buffalo (3-4) can lick its wounds during the bye week while preparing for tough road contests against Houston and New England.
“(We’re) very disappointed we let this one get away,” Spiller said afterward. “(We) definitely had our opportunity to go into the bye with a great record. We’re 3-4, it is what it is; we’ll regroup and get ready.”
