Bengals vs Titans Preview

So on to week two, and after last weeks performance I'm not sure if I'm glad it's a new week, or dreadful of what is to come? Well this week bring the 2008 home opener, and with it, the Tennessee Titans. While the Bengals were busy getting manhandled by the Ravens, the Titants won a smash mouth game with the Jacksonville Jaguars. So what should we expect here? Well I'm sure not on the same page as Vegas, who has the Bengals as home favorite at +1 1/2.

I hope I am wrong, but after the uninspiring performance last week I just can't see us solving all our issue in one week against another physically dominating defense. On offense I don't think the Bengals are going to have much luck in running the ball against one of the best defensive lines in the league. That means Perry will be in for another long afternoon as he settles in as our primary ball carrier. That means the game is going to be on Palmer's arm once again. He has had a lot of success against them in the past, but will the line be able to give him enough time to make anything happen? That will be the key to game. I feel our WR's should be able to find openings against this secondary, but protection will be the key.

Out defense is going to get another power running game this week and needs to play with more urgency then they did in the second half last week. If they can slow down the Titans running game they can put the game in Kerry Collins hands, and that is where the Bengals want it. But if they can't stop the run, Chris Johnson and LenDale White will eat up the clock and allow their defense to tee off on Carson. The secondary will be short on depth this week with Safety's Dexter Jackson & Herana-Daze Jones on the shelf and David Jones questionable. Chinedum Ndukwe should be back and fill in Jackson's spot. If someone goes down, this could be a very vulnerable unit as well. The Bengals will also need to find a way to get pressure on the QB this week, something they failed to do last week in Baltimore.

The bottom line is the Bengals are a team in disarray. They must find a way to put it together fast, or the season will be over before they know it. This is gut check time for this franchise and sadly, I believe they will fail. I see a similar story from last week with a little more offense on both sides. I see Tennessee running the ball and stopping the run. Carson will try to make something happen, and will have some success. However, in the end, he'll end up forcing a ball somewhere he should not have and the Titans will put it away late.

Titans 26
Bengals 17