The Tennessee Titans (1-6) travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals (4-2) this Sunday at Paycor Stadium. The teams will kick off at 12:00 p.m. CDT.
Last week, the Cleveland Browns walked off the Titans as time expired, dealing them another disappointing loss. But that disappointment was nowhere near the worst of the week, as the Titans traded star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears in a surprise move that has staggered the fanbase.
The Bengals are coming off a big win over the Baltimore Ravens in a key divisional matchup, and enter Sunday in a three-way battle at the top of the AFC North. With the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers facing off in Week 9, a win over Tennessee would help them keep pace.
Ahead of their meeting, we
sat down with Bengals Wire Managing Editor Chris Roling and picked his brain in this week's edition of Behind Enemy Lines.
The Bengals' offense has been rolling, but the defense has been inconsistent. What has been the biggest challenge for them on that side of the ball so far?
The usual suspects: linebackers and safety. The Bengals were right in their approach last offseason: they couldn’t fix everything at once. Dexter Lawrence fixed a lot, but they’re still banking on second-year linebackers Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter to turn the corner. Safety Jordan Battle continues to struggle with angles and tackling, too. This trio is often the focus of an opponent's game plan.
Joe Burrow is playing at a high level. What must Tennessee's defense do to avoid getting picked apart this Sunday?
Force the ball away from Ja’Marr Chase. Easier said than done, obviously. But the Bengals are down a third wideout, and beyond Chase and Tee Higgins, they need to rely on fourth- and fifth-wideouts and tight end Mike Gesicki. The running game has been miserable and mostly abandoned, so funneling the ball to lesser options gives the opposing defense a chance.
With the Titans' offense struggling to find an identity, which Bengals defender do you think could cause the most problems for them in this matchup?
It’s the easy answer, but Dexter Lawrence. He’s wreaking havoc against double teams and more, opening up the field for everyone else. Three-plus edge rushers can break out, the linebackers are struggling, and safety Bryan Cook is dealing with injuries. It’s Lawrence’s presence in the middle that makes everything go and will stand out the most.
It feels like the Bengals are always in the mix, but is there any specific area you're worried about as they look toward a potential postseason run?
The running game and the inability to install one that works. After years of struggles, the Bengals made a serious effort to install an under-center running game this past offseason. They’ve all but scrapped it before the halfway mark of the season. It’s a coaching-staff failure before anything else. The NFL has adapted to the Bengals' shotgun-only approach, and most playoff teams aren’t getting far without the ability to run the ball well.
Who is one under-the-radar player for the Bengals that Titans fans should know about, and what is your final prediction for the game?
Watch out for second-round rookie edge rusher Cashius Howell. He’s already surpassed Shemar Stewart, last year’s first-round pick, and the team was adamant they would have selected Howell in Round 1. He’s producing in a big way already and getting better as he goes. While the offensive line probably focuses on Lawrence and a veteran edge like Boye Mafe, Howell will have a chance to disrupt things often.
Given the exploitable things on the Cincinnati defense that lead to explosives, this will probably be closer than most expect.
Prediction: Bengals 24, Titans 20
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans at Cincinnati Bengals: Behind Enemy Lines
