By: Jack Gold
The Tennessee Titans (3-10) face yet another tough challenge as Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) come to town with their playoff hopes on the line.
The Matchup
Tennessee Offense vs Cincinnati Defense
The Titans’ offense was a major question mark coming into the season and has wholly underwhelmed expectations. The one bright spot has been the play of the newly acquired Tony Pollard. Pollard has rushed for 937 yards on 215 carries, and the rushing attack will be crucial for their offense on Sunday. Pollard’s ability to break runs and keep drives alive will be key against a Bengals defense that has been vulnerable to the run this season, allowing 142.6 rushing yards per game
Establishing the run game would also help rookie quarterback Will Levis, who has struggled with turnovers and inconsistent play in his first full season. For Tennessee to succeed against Cincinnati, they must put Levis in manageable situations—keeping him out of obvious passing downs will be critical.
The Bengals’ defense, while one of the worst in the league, has a strong pass rush led by Trey Hendrickson, who has racked up 11 sacks this season. If Cincinnati can force the Titans into third-and-long situations, Hendrickson and the rest of the defensive line will look to pressure Levis and capitalize on his inexperience. Levis has struggled when under pressure, and if he’s forced to air it out, Cincinnati’s secondary could have opportunities for takeaways.
The Bengals’ defense, despite allowing an average of 27.7 points per game, has been opportunistic. They’ve forced 16 turnovers this season, including 9 interceptions. Their defensive philosophy revolves around creating pressure and forcing mistakes, which could be a problem for Levis if Tennessee falls behind early and is forced to pass more frequently. For the Titans to succeed, Pollard needs to get going early, and the offensive line must protect Levis. If Tennessee’s offensive line can’t hold up against Cincinnati’s front seven, Hendrickson specifically, it will be a long day for the Titans’ offense.
Cincinnati Offense vs Tennessee Defense
On the flip side, the Cincinnati Bengals’ offense has been their saving grace this season, led by Joe Burrow and his star receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow, despite battling injuries earlier in the season, has been excellent, throwing for 3,706 yards and 33 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions. Burrow’s precision and decision-making have been key for Cincinnati’s offensive success, and when he’s on, few defenses can slow him down. His connection with Chase has been the driving force behind the Bengals’ high-powered offense and they have further established themselves as the best QB-WR duo in the NFL as Chase is having another standout year with 1,319 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.
This dynamic passing attack will pose a serious challenge for a Titans defense that has struggled to get to the quarterback this season. Despite how well the unit has played at times, the Titans have consistently allowed opposing quarterbacks to create out of the pocket. If Burrow and Chase can establish an early rhythm, the Titans’ defense will likely have a hard time keeping up.
The Titans’ defensive plan will likely revolve around limiting Chase’s impact and forcing the Bengals to rely more on their run game, which has been far less effective than their passing attack. Cincinnati’s running back, Chase Brown, has been a bright spot in recent weeks as he’t completely dominated the RB touches. As a team, they have struggled throughout the year to establish a consistent ground game, ranking in the bottom third of the NFL in rushing offense, but Brown’s play of late has changed things.
Tennessee’s run defense, which has allowed just 108.4 rushing yards per game, has been one of their major strengths this season. If Jeff Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat can clog lanes and limit Brown to make the Bengals one-dimensional, the Titans may be able to slow down Cincinnati’s offense.
However, even if the Titans’ defense can contain the run, their secondary will still be tasked with stopping Burrow, Chase and Tee Higgins. Higgins, who has 819 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns this season, provides Burrow with another great option in the passing game and an elite jump-ball threat.
If the Titans commit too much attention to Chase, Burrow could easily exploit them with Higgins and even TE Mike Gesicki who has also had a few big games this season.
For Tennessee’s defense to succeed, they will need to pressure Burrow behind an offensive line that has been shaky at times, allowing 32 sacks this season. If the Titans can generate pressure up front and force Burrow to make quick decisions, they may have a chance to disrupt his rhythm. However, if Burrow is given time to throw, the Bengals’ passing attack could overwhelm Tennessee’s secondary.
Things to Watch
Staying on Schedule
Several key factors will shape this game, but the main thing is the Titans’ offensive success. Their success relies heavily on the unit staying on schedule and not taking negative plays. Because of that, Tony Pollard needs to have a big game and Will Levis needs to limit sacks for Tennessee to stay competitive. If the Titans can control the clock and sustain long drives, they can keep Burrow and the Bengals’ offense off the field.
Slowing down Chase
Tennessee’s defense has to find a way to contain Ja’Marr Chase, though that will be easier said than done. Chase has established himself alongside Justin Jefferson as a top-two receiver in the NFl and has proven time and again that he can take over games. If the Titans’ secondary allows him to create explosive plays, the game could quickly get out of hand.
The Trenches
The battle in the trenches will be critical. Cincinnati’s offensive line has struggled at times, and Tennessee will need to generate consistent pressure to keep Burrow from finding his rhythm. Conversely, the Titans’ offensive line must do a better job protecting Levis, who has been sacked frequently this season.
Levis
As long as he’s playing, Will Levis will always be at the top of things to watch. The Bengals’ defense thrives on creating turnovers, and Levis has thrown his fair share of interceptions, but he’s dialed down the mistakes in the weeks since returning from injury. If Levis can protect the football and avoid costly mistakes, Tennessee might be able to hang around in this game. However, if the Bengals’ defense can rattle him early, it could be a long afternoon for the Titans.
Game Information
Tennessee Titans vs Cincinnati Bengals
Time: December 15, 2024 @ 12:00 PM CDT
Location: Nissan Stadium (Nashville, TN)
TV Broadcast: FOX
TV Broadcast Crew: Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin
Radio: Titans Radio (104-5 The Zone)
Radio Crew: Mike Keith, Dave McGinnis, Ramon Foster, Rhett Bryan, Amie Wells
Referee: Craig Wrolstad
Line: CIN -5
Over/Under: 48.5
