For the first time since these two teams met in the playoffs last season, the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals will do battle in Week 12.
Titans fans don’t need to be reminded about what happened last year, and even if the Titans play a perfect game on Sunday, there’s no amount of butt-whooping Tennessee can dish out that would erase it, so forget revenge.
What’s important is the current season and where the Titans are heading in 2022.
Tennessee currently sits with a nearly insurmountable lead in the AFC South, with the Titans holding a magic number of four. Also, the Titans are once again competing for a top seed in the conference, where they sit at No. 3.
Meanwhile, the reigning AFC champions are clinging to the final playoff spot after a rough start to the season. The Bengals have been better of late, though, and look primed to make a run in the second half of 2022.
Now that we’ve set the table, it’s time to serve up some burning questions.
Can passing attack stay hot?
The Titans have had their two best passing performances of the 2022 campaign in the last two weeks, and that’s despite quarterback Ryan Tannehill playing at less than 100 percent.
After a solid 255-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 10, Tannehill had his best game of the season versus the Green Bay Packers in Week 11 at Lambeau Field.
The veteran signal-caller completed 22-of-27 passes for a season-high 333 yards and two touchdowns en route to Tennessee scoring a season-high 27 points. Bear in mind, this all occurred against Denver’s elite pass defense.
Also of note was the performances of some of the receivers, including rookie Treylon Burks, who posted career-highs in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (111).
Even veteran wideout Robert Woods chipped-in with 69 yards, and offensive coordinator Todd Downing’s play-calling was the best we’ve seen it all year.
Hell, the Titans completed THREE passes of 40-plus yards in the game, plays that have been as rare as sightings of Bigfoot.
There was rightly a lot of doubt about the viability of the Titans’ passing attack for much of the season, but after seeing what we have these last two weeks, there is at least hope things will continue to be better than they were.
With Derrick Henry in the backfield and the defense playing as well as it has, the last step for the Titans to be considered a legit Super Bowl contender is for the passing game to consistently produce and continue to show it can carry this offense and make defenses pay for selling out to stop the run.
Another game like the last two and we’ll start coming around to the idea that this passing attack is indeed capable of doing so.
Can Titans get ground game going again?
As good as things have been through the air the last two games, the Titans haven’t been able to get much going on the ground, with Henry averaging 2.9 yards per carry following his run of five-straight 100-yard games.
Henry still gained 87 yards and scored in Week 11, but he also found other ways to get involved, including throwing a jump-pass touchdown. There’s nothing this man can’t do.
The Packers in particular completely sold out to stop the run, and that proved to be a costly move, with Tannehill and Co. making them pay for it.
GB went back to a 6-1 front v #Titans
Made the run game difficult. Stacking the interior makes it tough to double then climb to the 2nd level. Hard to run OZ or duo. Try to go OZ weak here, but such a tough reach for Nate.
NASTY HENRY STIFF ARM!!! 💪 pic.twitter.com/HP1PyFnLJP
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) November 22, 2022
Hopefully now that teams see the Titans are getting their you-know-what together through the air, that will clear the box a bit for Henry moving forward.
If not and Henry continues to struggle to find room to run, it’ll be up to the passing attack to force the Bengals and every defense after them to remain honest by posting another strong showing on Sunday.
Who starts at kicker?
The Titans have an interesting situation at kicker going into Week 12, as Randy Bullock is dealing with a calf injury and is uncertain to play. The veteran kicker did not practice on Tuesday, either.
But, there’s more to it than that.
Rookie kicker Caleb Shudak, who stood out at OTAs before suffering a leg injury that landed him on the PUP list, has been designated to return to practice and could be ready to play in Week 12.
After the parting of ways with veteran kicker Josh Lambo, who filled in for Bullock against the Packers, that means there’s a chance the rookie kicker gets deployed in his NFL debut in a big spot against the Bengals on Sunday.
As intriguing as that would be, it would also be concerning, as Shudak is a rookie who will be stepping into a very tough spot in his very first game action in the NFL.
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel revealed on Tuesday that the situation at kicker is fluid ahead of the Week 12 contest.
What could make this more interesting is if Shudak thrives in relief of Bullock and possibly forces the Titans to make a switch altogether.
While possible, that’s going to take a lot. After all, Bullock has a lot more trust with the team after having been a reliable kicker for Tennessee since coming aboard last season — and that’s especially true when up against a rookie.
That said, it’s not like the Titans are completely attached to Bullock, who has another year left on his current contract but only accounts for a $600,000 dead-cap hit if cut in 2023.
We also know Bullock’s limitations with long field goals, so Shudak has a shot to surpass him if he can prove to be effective from long range, and reliable altogether.
Will defense get healthier?
The Titans are getting the Bengals both at a good and bad time.
Cincy’s offense has been on fire of late, averaging 31.4 points per contest in its last five. However, there’s also a chance that superstar wideout Ja’Marr Chase doesn’t play, as he’s still dealing with a hip injury.
Regardless, of whether or not Chase plays, Tennessee’s defense is going to need all hands on deck to stop a hot Bengals unit.
If it seems like we have a question relating to Titans injuries on this article every week, it’s because we do. That’s just the life of a writer who covers a team that is absolutely cursed with injuries.
The Titans have fielded a total of 73 players this season, just 18 shy of the record they set in 2021. Amazingly enough, that isn’t even the highest mark in the NFL, as that belongs to the Arizona Cardinals (76).
— The Titans Wire (@TheTitansWire) November 18, 2022
It has become commonplace for the Titans to be missing around a handful of defensive starters each week, and while we’d like to think this defense can keep chugging right along without them as it has, Tennessee can’t keep depending on that.
The Titans held a practice on Tuesday, but didn’t have to issue an injury report, so we don’t know exact participation.
Thankfully, Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt still provided updates on who did and didn’t practice. Here’s a look at what key defensive players who are in question for Week 12 did on Tuesday.
Did not practice: DL Denico Autry (knee), CB Kristian Fulton (hamstring)
Did practice: OLB Bud Dupree (hip), S Amani Hooker (shoulder), CB Elijah Molden (groin)
In Week 11, Autry suffered what looked like a very bad knee injury at first, but reports suggest it isn’t a season-ender. Still, expect him to be out at least one week, and quite possibly more.
Fulton is another question mark, as his hamstring injury knocked him out late in the game. An injury to the area is nothing new for Fulton, who is integral to Tennessee’s pass defense.
On the bright side, Dupree, Hooker and Molden, all of whom sat out in Week 11 versus the Packers, all practiced.
The returns of Hooker and Molden become even more important if Fulton is ruled out, and the same can be said for Dupree’s return if Autry sits.
Hopefully this unit can finally get fully healthy at some point, because this group, which has been elite despite the injury woes, has the potential to be even better at full strength.
