The Cincinnati Bengals improved to 4-2 on the season with a second half surge against the Baltimore Ravens. The Tennessee Titans fell to 1-6 after a tough 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
On paper, the Cincinnati Bengals should easily beat the Titans. Games are not played on paper, however, and almost any NFL team could have a victory against the Bengals if they play like they did in the first half of the Baltimore game.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the key matchups this week.
Jeffery Simmons vs. Dalton Risner and Ted Karras
Jeffery Simmons is still one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the NFL. He already has 24 pressures and four sacks this season for the Titans. Ted Karras and Simmons have some history, with Karras being a big name for you in Tennessee a few years ago after getting into a late-game scramble with Simmons.
Dalton Risner will also see a lot of Simmons this week. I thought Risner played his worst game of the season against Baltimore. It seems that his knee injury is still preventing him from playing on the field. A fully healthy Dalton Risner will have his hands full with Simmons, so we’ll see if one who continues to play through injury can keep him from destroying the game on the interior.
Jermaine Johnson vs. Amarius Mims
Jermaine Johnson was traded to the Titans from the New York Jets this offseason. He currently has 21 pressures and three sacks this season. He will be matched up against one of the best offensive tackles in the league, Amarius Mims, this week. Mims allowed just four pressures all season. That’s an absurd number through six games of the NFL season.
While I don’t want to discredit Johnson here, I’ll just say good luck to him when he matches up with Mims. Mims should be an All-Pro this season, and it’s a shame he’s not getting more national recognition for his play this year.
Tony Pollard vs. Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter
Tony Pollard had his best game of the season last week against Cleveland. Pollard rushed for 129 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He added 3 receptions for another 26 yards during the game. While Tennessee has struggled throughout the offense, Pollard is a player who could give the Bengals defense trouble this week.
If they contain Pollard, some of that responsibility will fall to second-year linebackers in Knight and Carter. Both guys have improved overall this season, but missed tackles can still be an issue at times. Carter has a 13.8% missed tackle rate on the season. Knight has a 10.7% missed tackle rate. If the linebackers can make plays come without allowing big gains, the Bengals should have a chance to shut down the Titans offense.
Austin Schlottmann vs. Dexter Lawrence
Dexter Lawrence will see a ton of double teams, as he does weekly. One of the players responsible for trying to stop him is center Austin Schlottmann. Schlottmann is 6’6″ and 300 pounds. That frame alone suggests a player who will compete with the power and leverage that Lawrence creates on the interior. Schlottmann is averaging a 45.7 grade per PFF this season. He is 31 years old, and this will be the first season he surpasses 400 snaps in a season.
Meanwhile, Dexter Lawrence is arguably the most dominant defensive player in the league this year. He has 22 pressures with four sacks in just six games played this season. He’s a force against the run, an elite pass rusher, moves better than guys 30-40 lighter than him, and commands so much attention that it frees up his teammates to make their own plays.
Dexter Lawrence could be in line for a huge game this week against Tennessee. At this point, we expect that from him every week. I will continue to say that Lawrence deserves serious consideration for Defensive Player of the Year. He makes everyone around him better. A truly dominant player in the center of defence.