Over the past two weeks, the Bengals 2020 offense has looked a lot like the Boomer Esiason-led 1988 offense that went to the Super Bowl and featured numerous Pro Bowlers.
Start at the top with quarterback Joe Burrow who has played sensationally in his rookie season. Burrow is one game away from matching Andrew Luck's record of six 300-yard passing games in a rookie season. He is also on pace to break four other rookie records that includes Luck's 2012 mark of 4,374 yards.
Similar to how Esiason had Pro Bowlers like James Brooks, Eddie Brown and Rodney Holman, Burrow enjoys an all-star cast as well. The receiver trio of A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins continue to create havoc for opposing defenses. In the last two games, the trio has combined for 50 receptions, 524 yards and two touchdowns.
It will be another opportunity for the 2020 Bengals offense to shine brightly as they face a tough challenge with the 5-1 Tennessee Titans coming to Paul Brown Stadium.
Here are the three things to watch in Week 8 against the Titans.
1. Efficient Under Center – Sunday's game features two of the league's most efficient quarterbacks in Burrow and Tennessee's Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill is completing 68.5 percent of his passes, with Burrow just behind at 66.6.
Burrow's recent play has put him among the league's elite. In three of the past four contests, Burrow's yards per attempt have been over eight. Meanwhile, Tannehill leads the NFL with a 116.5 passer rating since being inserted as the starter in Week 7 last season. It should make for a fun back-and-forth between the two signal callers.
2. Extending Drives - Through the Titans' first six games of 2020, Tennessee showcases the league's worst third-down defense. The Titans are allowing opponents a success rate of 61 percent, nearly five percent worse than the next closest team.
That's good news for the Bengals offense, which over the previous two games is 14 of 26 on third down, good for a 54 percent success rate. One of the big reasons for that high rate of success has been Boyd who has caught 78 percent of his targets this season.
3. Stopping El Tractorcito - Titans running back Derrick Henry, who was nicknamed "El Tractorcito" during his college days, is about as good as they come in the NFL. He's rushed for at least 75 yards in 13 of his last 15 games and leads the league in 2020 with 663 rushing yards. Henry also ranks tied for first in the NFL with seven rushing touchdowns.
Cincinnati's run defense has taken a big step forward, especially in recent games against Top 20 rushers like Jacksonville's James Robinson, Indianapolis' Jonathan Taylor and Cleveland's Kareem Hunt. The Bengals have held their opponent below 90 yards rushing in three of their last four contests.
GAME COVERAGE
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Eastern.
Television: The game will air on CBS-TV. In the Bengals' home region, it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton and on WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington. Broadcasters are Spero Dedes (play-by-play) and Adam Archuleta (analyst).
Radio: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).
