The Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans are set to face off against each other this week and Rex Ryan is very confident that his team will play well. He went so far as to send a message to Titans’ rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota and made it clear that he doesn’t think the youngster will have a good game against his defense.
Mariota has been extremely impressive this season, throwing for 833 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. He has made thing look much easier than No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston has, but the Bills’ defense is going to do everything they can to put pressure on the young quarterback.
“I don’t think the kid will have his way against us,” Ryan said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Those words aren’t too much of a “shot” as much as they were a warning to the young rookie. Mariota is going to come into the game with high confidence, but he has to prepare to see a heavy pass rush. Ryan is going to send everything he can at the young quarterback and hope that they can rattle him and force a key mistake or two.
It will be very intriguing to see what happens on Sunday afternoon between these two teams. The Titans are no longer a pushover team with Mariota under center and he has completely changed the outlook of the future for the Tennessee franchise.
In Week 1, the Bills were able to put pressure on Indianapolis Colts’ star quarterback Andrew Luck and force big mistakes from him. That is exactly what the Bills will try to do to Mariota. Tennessee’s offensive line will have to step up and protect their quarterback, while Mariota may be forced to use his athleticism and mobility to make some plays with his legs.
More than likely, the Titans will be able to play a much more effective passing game than Ryan thinks they will.
Despite the fact that Mariota is young, he is extremely talented and has more confidence than most young quarterbacks. Tennessee has a perfect supporting cast around him and there is nothing holding him back from having a big game and making a statement to Ryan. Hearing these comments just gives Mariota more of a reason to want to have a big game.
Needless to say, it will be intriguing to see how he plays and what kind of defensive game plan the Bills have against him.
Expect to see Mariota come through with a solid game, but don’t be surprised if he does have some shaky moments. Buffalo is going to get to him a few times, but if Mariota can keep his head clear and forget the bad plays, he will be just fine.
