The Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals will meet in Week 4 in a matchup between two teams trying to get to .500.
The Titans started off the season with an ugly loss, rebounded in Week 2, and then went right back into the dog house in Week 3 with an embarrassing loss against the Cleveland Browns.
Buy Titans TicketsThe Bengals, who have yet to hit .500 this season, also dropped a contest to the Browns in Week 1 and followed it up with a close loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Cincinnati finally rebounded with its first victory of the year in Week 3, but the offense was once again lackluster.
These two teams are certainly no strangers to one another, as this is the fourth meeting between the Titans and Bengals since the 2020 campaign.
With the contest just days away, here’s a look at seven things to know for the Week 4 game between the Titans and Bengals at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Bengals are favored
According to BetMGM, the Bengals are 2.5-point road favorites in this game, with the over/under set at 41. Tennessee was previously favored over Cincinnati prior to its Week 3 victory on Monday night.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
Head-to-head history
This will be the 79th meeting between two franchises that have been squaring off since 1968. The Titans hold the all-time advantage, 40-37-1, but are 0-2 against the Bengals in the playoffs.
Tennessee has lost each of its last three games against Cincinnati, including the devastating playoff loss at the end of the 2021 campaign. The two teams last met in 2022, which resulted in 20-16 Bengals win.
Mike Vrabel vs. the AFC North
Under head coach Mike Vrabel, the Titans are 2-7 against the AFC North in the regular season. More specifically, the Titans are 0-3 against the Bengals during the Vrabel era, including the aforementioned playoff loss in 2021.
Banged-up Burrow
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been dealing with a calf injury that he first sustained during training camp. Burrow re-aggravated the injury in Week 2 and didn’t look like himself in Week 3.
With the way the secondary has played all season, and with how the pass-rush has underperformed the last two weeks, Tennessee’s hopes of keeping Cincinnati’s potent offense in check may rest on Burrow’s calf.
Even if the pass-rush is better, the Bengals are going to make sure Burrow gets rid of the ball quickly to offset that and help with the signal-caller’s limited mobility, assuming his calf still isn’t 100 percent.
An elite WR trio
Not only do the Bengals have one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, they are actually three deep when you include Tyler Boyd.
This is a nightmare matchup for Tennessee’s struggling secondary. Chase will also be drawing a matchup against Kristian Fulton, who has looked like anything but a No. 1 cornerback in 2023.
Even if Fulton has his best game and finds a way to limit Chase, there are two other guys who can burn Tennessee to make up for it.
Pass protection issues
The Titans’ offensive line has been disappointing to say the least to start the season. Tennessee has surrendered 13 sacks through three games, tied for the second-most in the NFL. At their current pace, the Titans will allow 74 sacks in 2023, 25 more than the putrid offensive line permitted in 2022.
While the vast majority of those have been on the group upfront, quarterback Ryan Tannehill holding the ball too long has also been partly responsible.
Titans left tackle Andre Dillard is the biggest culprit for Tennessee, with the veteran lineman giving up six sacks thus far. That’s two more than the next closest player and three more than any other tackle.
Things won’t get any easier for Dillard in Week 4, as he draws a matchup with Bengals stud pass-rusher, Trey Hendrickson. The Florida Atlantic product has three of the team’s nine sacks, a total that is tied for 10th.
But Hendrickson isn’t the only concern for the Titans’ offensive line. On the other side, Sam Hubbard is no slouch and interior defensive lineman D.J. Reader is a menace up the middle.
The Titans have had a terrible schedule to start the season when it comes to facing talented pass-rush duos.
Tennessee had to deal with the New Orleans Saints’ Carl Granderson and Cam Jordan in Week 1, the Los Angeles Chargers’ Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in Week 2, and the Cleveland Browns’ Za’Darius Smith and Myles Garrett in Week 3.
Offensive struggles
The Bengals have struggled out of the gate offensively, partly because of Burrow’s calf injury. Cincinnati uncharacteristically ranks 26th in passing, 29th in rushing and 28th in scoring.
Meanwhile, the Titans have been just as bad. Tennessee ranks 29th in scoring, 30th in passing and tied for 23rd in rushing.
