How the Tennessee Titans match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals in the Divisional Round
NASHVILLE— The Tennessee Titans (12-5) officially have their playoff opponent ahead of the AFC Divisional Round. Nissan Stadium will play host to Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) in front of a packed house on January 22 at 3:30 PM CT. Objectively, it would be tough to ask for a better game. Cincinnati is riding […]
NASHVILLE— The Tennessee Titans (12-5) officially have their playoff opponent ahead of the AFC Divisional Round. Nissan Stadium will play host to Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) in front of a packed house on January 22 at 3:30 PM CT.
Objectively, it would be tough to ask for a better game.
Cincinnati is riding high off of its first playoff win in 31 years. The Bengals young quarterback proves himself legitimate week in and week out, bolstered by an impressive collection of skill position players. On Super Wild Card Weekend, Burrow and Co. efficiently dismantled a Las Vegas Raiders team that seemed determined to beat themselves anyway.
Coming into Tennessee poses a much greater challenge, however.
Game-planning the Titans offense will be difficult
That reads like a borderline fallacy for those of us who watched this Titans team labor through the regular season.
You have, by now, read all about the NFL-record 91 players that have dressed for Tennessee this year due to injury. I'm quite certain you are well-versed in every point and counterpoint of whether wide receiver Julio Jones has disappointed or not. May the football gods help anyone still arguing that Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill "just isn't the guy" to help guide this team on a potential playoff run.
None of those things are worth re-litigating here.
One number Cincinnati should be curious about is 120. Tennessee's offense totaled 1,133 snaps during the 2021 regular season. Jones, fellow wide out A.J. Brown and running back Derrick Henry were only on the field together for 120 of those 1,133 plays, per Mike Keith of Titans Radio. The Titans offense will continue to be predicated on a substantive run game and structured play-action passing, yes.
Opponents can scout for scheme and play-calling tendencies but there is no disputing the difference healthy star power makes.
Bengals offense has stars in spades
Burrow and the Bengals will be a difficult opponent to out-duel.
In his second pro season, Cincinnati's quarterback has been a marvel. After having his rookie year ended by a torn ACL and MCL, Burrow took a 4-11-1 Bengals team from worst place to first in the AFC North. He finished the 2021 regular season completing 70.4% of his passes for 4,611 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Burrow's passing yards and scores were the most in a single season in Cincinnati franchise history, ranking sixth in passing yards and eighth in passing touchdowns in the NFL. His 8.9 yards per attempt led the league.
Coach Mike Vrabel did not plan to let his team get caught up in the moment, regardless of who they play.
"Not a whole lot of time for reflection," Vrabel said on Wednesday before Tennessee took a couple of days off as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. "Just want to try to continue what we have done which is play well down the stretch. Obviously, well enough to win three games in a row and put ourselves in this position."
Burrow and the Bengals did not play their best game against Las Vegas, but it was enough to get the win. On five red zone trips against the Raiders, Cincinnati came away with only 26 total points. Regardless, Cincinnati is not to be underestimated when they play the Titans for the first time as postseason foes.
This coming Saturday in the Divisional Round at Nissan Stadium has serious scoring potential.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
