The Cincinnati Bengals play their second straight road game as they travel to Nashville to take on the Titans. Tennessee sits at 3-10 on the season and comes off a 10-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14.
Titans Offense
The Bengals will see a familiar face on the other sideline, as former offensive coordinator Brian Callahan is in his first season as head coach of the Titans.
Titans quarterback Will Levis has posted a 59.3 PFF offensive grade in 10 games played this season, the seventh-lowest among quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks. Pro Football Focus has charted Levis with 14 turnover-worthy plays and 14 big-time throws. Levis has thrown 12 touchdowns to nine interceptions this season while completing 63.6% of his passes. He has played some of his best football of the season in recent weeks, throwing seven touchdowns and two interceptions in his last five games compared to five touchdowns and seven interceptions in his first five outings.
Levis has been sacked 24 times in the last five games, the second most in the NFL over that span. Rookie tackle JC Latham has allowed 13 sacks this season, 2.5 more than any other player.
Tennessee has built its offensive identity on the run game. The Titans signed former Dallas running back Tony Pollard during free agency, and Pollard has been one of the more productive backs in the NFL this season. He ranks ninth in the NFL with 937 rushing yards, and he trails only Eagles RB Saquon Barkley and Ravens RB Derrick Henry with seven games of at least 80 yards rushing.
Pollard ranks fourth in the league with 766 yards after contact. Among running backs with at least 50 attempts, 81.4% of Pollard's yards have come after contact, the seventh-highest percentage among running backs with at least 50 carries. His running mate in the backfield, Tyjae Spears, has had 84.1% of his rushing yards come after contact, the second-most in the NFL among backs with at least 50 attempts.
The Titans made a splash this offseason when they brought in receiver Calvin Ridley. The former Falcons and Jaguars wideout leads the team in catches (50) and yards (738). He is also tied for fourth in the NFL with seven drops. Outside of Ridley, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is fourth in the NFL with eight receiving touchdowns, all of which have come in the last nine games.
View the best photos from Bengals-Titans matchups of years past
Tennessee Titans cornerback Tye Smith, left, and Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard, right, exchange words in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (2) celebrates his game-winning field goal against the Tennessee Titans with Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) after an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. The Cincinnati Bengals won 19-16.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson (85) catches a touchdown pass against Tennessee Titans defender Nick Harper (20) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) leaps for a first down against Tennessee Titans inside linebacker Jayon Brown (55) during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson scrambles out of the pocket and out of the grasp of a Houston Oiler defender during the fourth quarter of the Bengals' 27-6 victory in Cincinnati, Sept. 13, 1982. Anderson passed for 354 yards during the game, including two touchdowns. He also ran for another touchdown. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
Cornerback Mike Hilton intercepts a Ryan Tannehill pass during the third quarter of the AFC Divisional Round.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) pushes off Tennessee Titans safety Bernard Pollard in the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Cincinnati tight end Bob Trumpy (84) and Houston's Ken Houston (29) fight for a high pass from Bengals quarterback Sam Wyche in the second quarter of the game on Sunday, Dec. 13, 1970 in the Houston Astrodome. (AP Photo/EFK)
LB Germaine Pratt during the Bengals-Titans game in Week 4 of the 2023 season on Sunday, October 1, 2023.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson (89) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a 15-yard pass play against the Tennessee Titans in the third quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. At right is Tennessee Titans safety Jordan Babineaux (26). (AP Photo/Frederick Breedon)
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Colin Cochart (81) catches a one-yard pass for a touchdown as he is defended by Tennessee Titans players Cortland Finnegan (31) and Will Witherspoon (92) in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Cincinnati Bengals' Glenn Holt, left, and Tennessee Titans' Cortland Finnegan (31) grab each other's jerseys during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) runs against the Tennessee Titans during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andre Caldwell (87) catches a five-yard touchdown pass as he is defended by Tennessee Titans linebacker Akeem Ayers (56) in the third quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn. The Bengals beat the Titans 24-17. (AP Photo/Joe Howell)
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones (24) breaks up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) in the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Keating)
LB Logan Wilson goes against RB Derrick Henry during the Bengals-Titans game in Week 4 of the 2023 season on Sunday, October 1, 2023.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) dives into the end zone for a touchdown past Tennessee Titans free safety Michael Griffin (33) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Brandon LaFell (11) celebrates with Joe Mixon (28) after LaFell caught a 37-yard touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) runs against Tennessee Titans cornerback Jason McCourty after catching a pass in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Safety Vonn Bell celebrates after making a sack against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional Round.
Titans Defense
The Tennessee defense is coming off a strong performance against the Jaguars in Week 14, allowing its fewest total points (10) since November of 2023 against the Carolina Panthers. Edge rusher Harold Landry leads the Titans with seven sacks, while Arden Key is close behind with 6.5. A rock-solid defensive line, Tennessee has allowed 4.1 yards per carry on the ground. The defensive line is led by veteran Jeffery Simmons, whose 75.9 PFF defensive grade ranks 14th among defensive tackles with at least 100 snaps played this season. T'Vondre Sweat and Sebastian Joseph-Day follow close behind on the interior, grading out with 70.6 and 69.6 defensive grades, both top-25 figures.
Through the air, the Titans have done a good job of limiting explosive plays: They have given up just four passes beyond 40 yards, the fourth-fewest in the NFL, and they allow 6.6 yards per attempt, the second-fewest in the league behind the Eagles. Overall, Tennessee has given up the fewest passing yards in the league, allowing 2,462 on the year. Former Bengals corner Chidobe Awuzie returned from injured reserve against Jacksonville and recorded an interception and three tackles in his fourth game of 2024.
Titans kicker Nick Folk continues to be one of the most consistent legs in the game. He has hit 85 straight field goals from less than 40 yards, the longest streak in NFL history. He's also made 50-of-52 attempts (96.9%) as a Titan, the best percentage of any player in his first 30 games with a team since 1970. Folk ranks 14th in NFL history with 403 career field goals.
Check out the Bengals 2024 Schedule.
