NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After an exciting Wild Card weekend in the NFL, the No. 1 seeded Tennessee Titans will face off against a young and dangerous Cincinnati Bengals team led by quarterback Joe Burrow in the divisional round.
Finishing the season with an AFC best (12-5) record earned the Titans a crucial first-round bye that allowed injured running back Derrick Henry to rest another week.
Henry, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, who hasn’t seen a snap since Oct. 31 due to a foot injury that required surgery, is expected to return for the Titans’ matchup against the Bengals at Nissan Stadium.
Before his injury, Henry led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns and remains in the top-10 for those stats, even after missing the final nine games. Henry’s return would benefit a Titans team that has struggled offensively since his injury.
An expected return to a heavy rushing gameplan, the Titans will face a Bengals’ defense that has allowed the 5th fewest rushing yards this season.
The Bengals also have one of the most electric offenses in the playoffs with QB Joe Burrow in the huddle. Rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase has blossomed into a top-five receiver in the league, and the success of the Bengals’ offense doesn’t stop in the air as running back Joe Mixon is also in the top-five for rushing yards and touchdowns.
This Titans’ defense that is ranked 2nd in fewest rushing yards allowed, will look to limit the offensive options for the dual-threat Bengals and give the Titans’ offense as many opportunities as possible in what is expected to be a high scoring game.
The Titans will take to the field at their healthiest in months in front of a sold-out crowd. If the Titans win and move on to the AFC Championship, they will see another packed house as that game has already sold out in Nashville as well.
