Titans vs. Bills: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

The playoff race in the AFC is getting a little tighter, which is why the game between the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills is so critical.

The Titans were able to get back over .500 with a win against Tampa Bay last week and are just one game behind the Bengals for the final wild-card spot. Running back Chris Johnson did his best to remind us why he is one of the best running backs in the league with 190 yards, and the team is hopeful this is the start of a late-season turnaround.

The Bills had playoff aspirations after a 3-0 start, but they are just 2-6 since then and on the verge of falling too far behind the pack to stay alive for the postseason. The defense has been the biggest problem, but the offense has fallen off a cliff in the last four weeks. In fact, they have only scored more than 11 points once since the end of October.

Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, New York

When: Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1:00 p.m. EDT

Watch: CBS

Listen: WGFX 104.5 The Zone, Sirius Channel 137 (Tennessee); WGRF 96.9 FM, Sirius Channel 128 (Buffalo);

Betting Line: Buffalo (-1.5)

What’s At Stake?

The Titans have a golden opportunity to get back in the AFC South race thanks to the Texans losing Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart in consecutive games, so they have to take advantage in any way they can.

Aside from a New Orleans matchup in Week 14, the Titans have a schedule that works in their favor and could wind up with nine wins heading into the final game of the season against the Texans. They have to take care of business this week to keep those hopes alive, though.

The Bills are looking for any confidence boost that they can get. They have lost four straight and the bleeding just keeps getting worse. Last week, they lost Fred Jackson for the season. This week, Steve Johnson is doing stupid touchdown celebrations instead of catching the ball when he is wide open.

Titans' Injury Report

Questionable: DB Tommie Campbell (Shoulder), T David Stewart (Calf), LB Barrett Ruud (Groin)

Out: WR Kenny Britt (Knee)

Fantasy Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em, Sleeper

Start ‘Em: Titans RB Chris Johnson

For the first time all season, Johnson is a definite must-start against a Buffalo defense that has been unable to stop anyone.

The star running back is coming off his best game of the season and is looking for more. He may not go for 190 yards again, but he should find the end zone at least once. Plug him into the No. 1 RB spot in your lineup and don’t look back.

Sit ‘Em: Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

Remember when Fitzpatrick was the sexy new quarterback on the block and you would have been foolish not to start him?

Those days are gone and all that remains is the inconsistent player that we have seen for the previous six years. He had a great game against the Jets, but before that he had thrown seven interceptions the last three weeks.

You can’t afford to bank on the possibility that the “Good Ryan” will show up, so keep him on the bench in favor of a more consistent option.

Sleeper: Bills RB C.J. Spiller

Okay, Spiller’s first game as a starter in 2011 did not go as well as anyone was hoping. But the Jets just seem to know how to play the Bills, so I am willing to cut him some slack, if only for one more week.

The Titans boast the league’s 22nd-ranked run defense, so Spiller should find some holes to run through this week.

Don’t go overboard and expect 100 yards, but I see no reason to think that he can’t get 80 yards and a touchdown or two. Plus, he is a valuable asset in the passing game with 18 catches in limited action this season.

What They Are Saying

Titans head coach Mike Munchak has not been happy with the running game all season, but he is excited about where it is at now heading into the final month. 

From the Associated Press (via Washington Post):

"

“We’re thinking yeah, we’re heading in the right direction,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said. “We’d rather run the ball well now than necessarily the beginning of the season so we’ll look at it that way. We think we’re doing a lot better things in the last few weeks than we had been earlier in the season so we need these next five weeks to be the best games we’ve had.”

"

Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has had his struggles in recent weeks, and admitted in an interview with Rodney McKissic of the Buffalo News that he is trying to do too much. 

"

"It’s hard to get caught up in that stuff because I think when you do that, and maybe at times I have, you end up getting out of your game," he said. "Then the turnovers come and different things happen when you try and do too much. That’s the trap a lot of people fall into, especially when you fall behind. That’s something where we have to stay the course, we’ve got to stick to the game plan and our reads and have the plan we have going in and just stick with it. That’s something we need to do a better job of."

"

Titans Player To Watch: RB Chris Johnson

I like Johnson in this game because the Bills defense has been so terrible, but we need to see him be more consistent for this offense to live up to its potential.

The only games that Johnson has had success in this season have come against bad defenses — Tampa Bay, Carolina, Cleveland — so there is a track record.

However, I am more focused on seeing how he runs. If he is attacking the hole and running through it, then the Titans can rest easy knowing that all the money they invested in him is going to pay off.

Bills Player To Watch: WR Steve Johnson

Johnson always seems to say or do something dumb every season. Last year his outburst was funny because he blamed God for dropping a pass in overtime that would have beaten the Steelers.

This year his antics weren’t so funny because he mimicked a man getting shot. Then he proceeded to drop wide open passes that would have helped his team defeat the Jets.

Johnson is a difference maker when he is catching the ball, but he needs to focus more on getting his hands right and less on trying some lame celebration.

Key Matchup: Bills Defensive Line vs. Matt Hasselbeck and Chris Johnson

The Bills don’t create pressure with their front four, so they have to bring extra help from the secondary and linebacking corps to attack opposing teams. It doesn’t work out well and they have been a disaster all season because of it.

If Hasselbeck has time to throw and Johnson has holes to run through, this game is going to turn into a blowout.

The Bills are getting used to that, but you would like to think that there is some improvement because they have some talented players on defense.

Prediction

Buffalo is fading fast. Tennessee is underrated.

Titans 30, Bills 24