The Sports Xchange

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On a day where gaining first downs seemed like a tall order for most of three quarters, the Buffalo Bills figured out a way to win.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans found another way to lose a game they could have won.

Leading two 80-yard second-half touchdown drives, quarterback Tyrod Taylor rallied Buffalo to a 14-13 win Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

After his 22-yard touchdown scramble got the Bills (3-2) on the board with 1:20 left in the third quarter, Taylor connected with wide receiver Chris Hogan on a 2-yard scoring strike at the 5:25 mark of the fourth quarter for the winning points.

Although Taylor’s overall numbers — 10-of-17, 109 yards in the air and eight carries for a game-high 76 rushing yards — were modest, Buffalo coach Rex Ryan couldn’t stop raving about his first-year starter.

“He’s the reason we won the game,” Ryan said of Taylor. “He’s courageous. Great effort on his part.”

Missing their top two running backs and their top wide receiver due to injuries, the Bills did nothing during the first half, managing only 51 total yards and four first downs. They didn’t collect a first down until the 7:10 mark of the second quarter.

Meanwhile, Tennessee (1-3) reached Buffalo territory on its first three possessions and owned the ball for 20 minutes and 56 seconds of the first half. But all the Bills managed was a 21-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Succop with 14:09 left in the half.

The Titans built on their 3-0 halftime lead when running back Antonio Andrews plunged home from the 1 with 6:51 remaining in the third quarter, cashing in a fumble by Bills wide receiver Denarius Moore at the end of a 27-yard punt return at the Bills 39.

But the Buffalo offense finally found a rhythm, creating big plays behind the gritty, elusive Taylor, who took advantage of a defense that opted not to deploy a spy, which might have kept him from scrambling.

“It was just a matter of coming together as a cohesive offensive team,” Bills left guard Richie Incognito said. “It felt like we were banging our heads against the wall, but the defense kept us in it.”

After the Bills finally took a lead, their defense made sure they kept it. Tennessee managed only one first down on its final two possessions, that coming off a personal foul. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore supplied the clinching play, intercepting a pass by rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota with 1:32 left.

Mariota completed 21 of 32 passes for 187 yards and added a team-high 47 yards on five rushes, but the Titans blew a double-figure lead for the second straight game.

“It was a team loss,” Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan said. “We’ve got to learn to finish. It’s not on the offense, it’s not on the defense, it’s not on the special teams. We’ve got to stick together, but our spirit isn’t broken.”

Ryan praised Mariota’s talent and toughness, but saluted his defense’s fight.

“They were running on the field at the end of the game,” Ryan said. “They couldn’t wait to get out there and help us win it.”

What we learned about the Titans

1. This team is good enough to win games, but needs to learn how to finish. It hacked up a 27-14 fourth quarter lead on Sept. 27 against Indianapolis, then blew a 10-0 third quarter lead Sunday in a game it totally dominated for most of the first three quarters. Tennessee is not the 2-14 dumpster fire of a year ago, and really should be 3-1, but football games last 60 minutes instead of 45.

2. Upon further review, the Titans probably should have adjusted their defensive plans to keep a spy on Buffalo QB Tyrod Taylor. With most of his top weapons out due to injury and no receiver capable of creating separation, Taylor did it with his feet, scrambling for runs of 26, 22 and 24 yards on the Bills’ second-half touchdown drives. Tennessee was out of position on the last run, which converted a 3rd-and-23.

3. DT Jurrell Casey caused havoc most of the day on the Buffalo O-line. Casey finished with six tackles, a sack and a half, two quarterback hurries and added a tackle for a loss. Casey ran down the quick-footed Taylor for a three-yard sack in the second quarter and was the big reason the Titans limited the Bills to 51 first half yards.

Etc.

–LB Zach Brown (knee) left the field after a kickoff return in the fourth quarter and didn’t return. His status for next week’s home game with Miami isn’t known. Brown, the team’s leading tackler through three games, had three tackles and didn’t start.

–WR Kendall Wright (knee) was injured while trying to catch the game-clinching interception by Buffalo in the last two minutes. Wright appeared to be fine in the locker room and should be able to play next week.

–LB Brian Orakpo had modest numbers, finishing with one tackle for a loss, but really played much better than they showed. Orakpo was a steady presence in the Bills’ backfield and forced them to account for him, leaving teammates free to make plays.