TIME: 1:00 PM EST
DATE: November 15, 2009
TV: CBS
LINE: Titans -8
OVER/UNDER: 41

The Tennessee Titans started out the season a disappointing (0-6) but have since won 2-staright games against the Jaguars and 49ers. Head coach Jeff Fisher joked to media that the reason for the team’s recent success “I passed out Volume 2 of How to Coach Football to the staff during the bye week.”

While Fisher joked he changed his coaching style, the reason for the Titans recent wins could be attributed to owner Bud Adams, who told Fisher that he wanted Vince Young to be the Titans’ starting quarterback.

Since taking over the quarterback position Young has completed 27 of 42 passes for 297 yards, with one touchdown pass, one touchdown run and no interceptions.

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“Guys feel rejuvenated, guys are happy about what we’ve done over the last two weeks,” center Kevin Mawae “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.”

With Young playing the way he did when he won the 2006 Rookie of the year award, the Titans running game has opened up even more for the already great Chris Johnson. Johnson considered by many as the best running back in the league, has 363 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the last two games.

The second-year back leads the NFL with 959 yards on the ground, and has scored five touchdowns from more than 50 yards.

With the recent success of the offense, Tennessee (2-6) has improved defensively, when it comes to making the big play. The unit forced four turnovers versus San Francisco, with defensive back Cortland Finnegan returning an interception for a touchdown to seal the victory.

“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.”

Although the Bills have a better (3-5) record, they aren’t the hotter team. Buffalo has the 29th ranked offense the rumors are that head coach Dick Jauron is on the hot seat.

Quarterback Trent Edwards is returning from a concussion that has kept him out of action for a month. While he was out, back up Ryan Fitzpatrick led the Bills to a 2-1 record, thanks mostly to a defense that forced 10 turnovers in road victories over the Jets and Panthers.

While many in the organization thought Edwards was the answer to the quarterback position, time seems to running out for him in Buffalo as well. In six games, Edwards has passed for only five touchdowns, while throwing six interceptions.

The arrival of Terrell Owens was expected to make Edwards’ job easier but so far in 2009, Owens has caught only 23 balls with one touchdown.

“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.”

While most Buffalo fans would consider the (3-5) record a disappointment, rookie safety Jarius Byrd has been the bright spot in the last three games, grabbing six interceptions. Byrd, tied for the NFL lead with seven picks, injured his groin against the Texans but has returned to practice.

“Earlier in the week it was painful, but I knew I would be ready,” said Owens, who is officially listed as questionable. “My couch is very comfortable, so it’s easy to fall asleep on. (But) I don’t know if it was the couch.”

INJURIES:

-- The Titans will be playing without WR Justin Gage. Gage suffered multiple fractures in his back making a leaping catch, last week against the 49ers. It’s a blow to the offense. Gage recorded seven catches for 138 yards in back-to-back wins over the Jaguars and 49ers, including a four-catch, 97-yard game at San Francisco.

-- The Bills will be playing without three starters on defense—linebacker Keith Ellison (quad), cornerback Terrance McGee (knee), defensive tackle Kyle Williams (knee).

-- Defensive end Aaron Schobel (groin), and safety Donte Whitner (ankle), are both questionable.

-- Terrell Owens is listed as probable after missing two practices this week.

BETTING TRENDS:
The Bills are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games
The Titans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as the FAVORITE
The UNDER is 4-0 in the Bills last 4 games
The OVER is 5-2 in the Titans last 7 games