NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Titans just put together their most gratifying victory of coach Mike Vrabel's short tenure.
They spent the past two weeks dealing with the NFL's first COVID-19 outbreak with each morning bringing news of yet another positive test. A game postponed and rescheduled with a second pushed back. Only one practice with two walk-throughs and unrelenting criticism.
The Titans remain depleted. They're also still undefeated.
Ryan Tannehill threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Titans routed the Buffalo Bills 42-16 on a rare Tuesday night in a showdown between two of the NFL's five remaining undefeated teams pushed back two days after a couple more positive tests for Tennessee last week.
"What this organization has been through over the past couple weeks to really fight through all of that, shake it all off, really limited practice, limited reps and go out and put this kind of win together, I think makes a statement and I'm happy we were able to do that today," Tannehill said.
The Titans (4-0) continued their best start since winning their first 10 games in 2008 despite not playing playing their last game Sept. 27 in Minnesota. Coach Mike Vrabel said everyone in the organization would get a game ball after this performance.
"I learned a long time ago is the definition of a pro is they make the hard look easy, so whatever situation we're presented with we got to all come together and make the best decisions for the team each and every time," Vrabel said.
Malcolm Butler intercepted two passes, the second he returned 68 yards, and both set up short touchdowns for Tennessee. Kareem Orr's recovery of a fumbled kickoff set up Tannehill's fourth TD for 21 points off Buffalo's three turnovers. Kalif Raymond's 40-yard punt return also set up a 1-yard TD run by Derrick Henry.
"We expected to win," Butler said.
The Bills (4-1) had not won five straight games since 2004, and they came in looking for the franchise's best start since 1991 when Buffalo reached the Super Bowl. They also played without starting cornerbacks with Tre'Davious White inactive because of a back injury and Levi Wallace on injured reserve.
Buffalo center Mitch Morse called this a gut-punch.
"It's tough, they came out and beat us like a drum," Morse said.
Notes: This was the 21st time the NFL has played on a Tuesday and the league's first on a Tuesday night since Dec. 28, 2010, when the Eagles hosted Minnesota on a Tuesday because of a snowstorm. That game was the first since the Boston Yanks played at the New York Giants on Oct. 1, 1946. The Titans had roughly 8,600 fans on hand for this game. Tennessee originally was going to have fans Oct. 4 for the first time this season, but the outbreak pushed that game with Pittsburgh to Oct. 25. Zip ties were used to keep fans from switching seats, and neck gaiters were given out. The Bills will host Kansas City on Monday night. The Titans host Texans on Sunday.