The Tennessee Titans are taking on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15 in Nashville. The Titans enter the contest with a 3-10 record while the Bengals are at 5-8.
According to BetMGM, the Bengals are favored by 5 points. Neither the Titans nor the Bengals’ seasons have gone according to plan, with the Titans already being eliminated from playoff contention.
The Bengals won in Week 14, defeating the Cowboys. The Titans, meanwhile, put on a miserable performance in a home loss to the Jaguars.
Now, let’s go over five things to know for this matchup.
A reunion for Brian Callahan and others
Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
The only team that knows Brian Callahan better than the Titans now is the Cincinnati Bengals. Callahan spent five seasons with the Bengals as the offensive coordinator before taking the job in Nashville.
Now, Callahan will go up against his former boss, Zac Taylor. Callahan brought Tyler Boyd and Chidobe Awuzie from Cincinnati with him, so they will also be going against their former team.
It will be interesting to see if Callahan can draw up a functioning game plan against his former team.
The Bengals have an elite offense
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9).
The Bengals’ record is misleading. Despite being 5-8, the team is No. 9 in total offense and No. 6 in scoring offense.
It will be interesting to see if the Titans can slow down the high-powered offense. Somehow, the Titans are still No. 1 in the league in passing defense. However, Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Ja’Marr Chase will be the toughest test yet.
Can the Titans win another home game?
Tennessee fans dressed as Santa Claus. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The Titans have only won three games in 2024, so of course, winning at home has been rare. Of those three wins, only one came at home and the fans in Nashville have had to watch five losses.
On the other hand, the Bengals have been great on the road. Four of the team’s five wins have come on the road, so this may not be a great sign for the Titans.
After this, the Titans have just one home game remaining.
Recent bad blood between these teams
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
These teams do not like each other. In 2022, Bengals offensive lineman Ted Karras went viral for a postgame rant, and the team accused Jeffery Simmons of being a dirty player.
Titan fans don’t like the Bengals because they are reminded of the 2022 playoff game in which the Bengals won in Nashville.
Overall, the Bengals have won three of the last five matchups between these teams. There will be no love lost on Sunday.
Titans can play spoiler
Jarvis Brownlee Jr. #29 of the Tennessee Titans. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
The Titans have no shot of making the playoffs. The team was officially eliminated after the embarrassing loss to the Jaguars in Week 14.
However, the Titans can still play spoiler. The Bengals, at 5-8, likely need to win out to even have a chance at making the playoffs. If the Titans win, the Bengals will fall to 5-9 and will likely be forced to move on to the offseason.
In a season with almost no positives, it would at least be nice to see the Titans end a rivals’ season.