There will be no playoff appearance for the Tennessee Titans for the third consecutive year. After last week’s disheartening 10-6 home loss to the Jaguars, there will be a third consecutive season with 10 or more losses. That’s the longest such streak since the Houston Oilers turned that trick for four straight years from 1983-86.
It’s reunion time in Nashville, Brian Callahan and his team hosts the Cincinnati Bengals. Before becoming the Titans’ head coach this season, he spent five years as Zac Taylor’s offensive coordinator in the Queen City.
All-Time Series Record
While the Houston Oilers/turned Tennessee Titans were one of the original AFL franchises, the Cincinnati Bengals joined the American Football League in its next-to-last season of existence (1968). In 1970, the Oilers and Bengals became division rivals in the AFC Central, along with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.
They remained divisional foes until 2002, when realignment brought eight divisions. The Titans moved to the AFC South, and the Bengals to the AFC North. When it comes to the overall standings, the Titans own a 41-37-1 edge, with Cincinnati winning both playoff meetings. Including the postseason, this marks the fifth straight year the teams will meet. A year ago, the Titans pushed around Cincinnati, 27-3, in Week 4 at Nissan Stadium.
Quarterbacks: Tale of the Tape
Bengals’ signal-caller Joe Burrow leads the league in pass attempts (490), completions (335), yardage (3,706), and touchdown tosses (33). His 68.4 completion percentage is Top 10 as well, and he is three scoring passes away from setting a new career high in that department. More than half of those TD passes (18) have come in the club’s last five outings, throwing for at least three scores in each of those contests.
Callahan continues to stick with Will Levis, whose second NFL season has had very few highlights. There have been more turnovers (13) than touchdown passes, and he’s also been sacked 39 times. Tennessee’s offense ranks 29th in the league in both total yards and passing yardage. Is the week Levis finally throws for at least 300 yards? After all, Callahan is familiar with Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Defensive Analysis
For the second consecutive year, the Cincinnati defense has been a major disappointment. In 2023, they gave up the second-most total yards and allowed 384 points. This season, the club is ranked 26th in the league in total defense, and has allowed the fourth-most points (360) in the league. How bad has it been? The Bengals have lost four games this season in which they scored 33, 38, 34, and 38 points, respectively.
The Titans gave up a season-low 10 points last week, all in the fourth quarter, in their latest loss. They remain the second-ranked defense in the league in terms of yards allowed, and have given up the fewest passing yards in the NFL. That could change after this clash with Burrow, wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and the league’s top passing attack in terms of yards per contest (271.6) and touchdowns (33).
Keys to the Game
Bengals: Only three teams in the league have run for fewer yards than Zac Taylor’s club, which also leads the league in passing yards per contest. The Bengals are sixth in the league in scoring, and their offense has found the end zone 42 times. Look for Burrow and company to come out with an up-tempo attack, hoping to put the offensively-challenged Titans in an early hole. Whether it works or not is another story.
Titans: It seems obvious, but even the Tennessee offense should enjoy some success against the 26th-ranked defense in the league. Keep in mind that the Titans are 3-0 this season when they score at least 20 points, 0-10 without reaching that mark. Those 42 offensive touchdowns scored by Cincinnati this season have been offset by the fact that the Bengals’ defensive unit has given up a whopping 40 touchdowns.
Titans Player to Watch
As previously stated, Burrow has put up impressive numbers this season, but the team will have to run the table to post a winning record for the fourth consecutive year. Besides Cincinnati’s deficiencies on defense, the talented quarterback has had his share of miscues. He’s been sacked 32 times for 175 yards of losses, and committed nine of the team’s 14 turnovers via six interceptions, and well as losing three of his eight fumbles.
It may be an opportunity for outside linebacker Harold Landry III, and the Tennessee pass rush in general to add to their numbers. Landry leads the club with seven sacks, followed closely by teammate Arden Key (6.5). The suddenly-opportunistic Titans have nine takeaways in their last six games, five in their last three contests. During the team’s 1-6 start, Callahan’s club forced only three turnovers.