The Cincinnati Bengals improved to 4-2 on the season with a second-half surge against the Baltimore Ravens. The Tennessee Titans fell to 1-6 after a tough 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
On paper, the Cincinnati Bengals should handily beat the Titans. Games are not played on paper, though, and just about any NFL team could have success vs. the Bengals if they play like they did in the first half of the Baltimore game.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the key matchups this week.
Jeffery Simmons vs. Dalton Risner and Ted Karras
Jeffery Simmons
is still one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the NFL. He has 24 pressures and four sacks already this season for the Titans. Ted Karras and Simmons have some history, with Karras infamous for up yours Tennessee a few years back after getting into a scuffle with Simmons late in the game.
Dalton Risner will see a lot of Simmons this week also. I thought Risner played his worst game of the season against Baltimore. It seems like his knee injury is still hampering his play on the field. A fully healthy Dalton Risner would have his hands full with Simmons, so we shall see if one that continues to play through injury can keep him from wrecking the game on the interior.
Jermaine Johnson vs. Amarius Mims
Jermaine Johnson was traded to the Titans from the New York Jets this offseason. He currently has 21 pressures and three sacks this season. He will be matched up against one of the best offensive tackles in the league, Amarius Mims, this week. Mims has allowed just four pressures the entire season. That is an absurd number through six games of the season in the NFL.
While I don’t want to discredit Johnson here, I will just tell him good luck when matched up against Mims. Mims should be an All-Pro this season, and it is a shame that he doesn’t get more national recognition for his play this year.
Tony Pollard vs. Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter
Tony Pollard had his best game of the season last week against Cleveland. Pollard rushed for 129 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He added 3 receptions for another 26 yards during the game. While Tennessee has struggled as a whole offensively, Pollard is one player that could give the Bengals’ defense some trouble this week.
If they are going to contain Pollard, some of that responsibility will go to the second-year linebackers in Knight and Carter. Both guys have improved overall this season, but missed tackles can still be an issue at times. Carter has a 13.8% missed tackle rate on the season. Knight has a 10.7% missed tackle rate. If the linebackers can make plays that come their way without allowing big gains, the Bengals should have a chance to shut down the Titans offense.
Austin Schlottmann vs. Dexter Lawrence
Dexter Lawrence will see a ton of double teams, as he does on a weekly basis. One of the players who will be responsible for trying to contain him is center Austin Schlottmann. Schlottmann is 6’6” and 300 pounds. That frame alone suggests a player who is going to struggle with the power and leverage that Lawrence creates on the interior. Schlottmann has a 45.7 overall grade per PFF this season. He is 31 years old, and this will be the first season he is going to eclipse 400 snaps in a season.
Dexter Lawrence, meanwhile, is arguably the most dominant defensive player in the league this year. He has 22 pressures with four sacks through just six games played this season. He is a force against the run, an elite pass rusher, moves better than guys that are 30-40 lighter than him, and commands so much attention that it frees up his teammates to make plays of their own.
Dexter Lawrence could be in line for a massive game this week against Tennessee. At this point, we expect that from him every week. I will continue to say that Lawrence should get serious consideration for Defensive Player of the Year. He makes everyone around him better. A truly dominant player in the middle of the defense.
