NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans (1-1) travel to Cincinnati in Week 3 to face the defending AFC North Champion Bengals (2-0). Kickoff at Paul Brown Stadium (capacity 65,515) is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT/noon CDT on Sunday, Sept. 21.
The Bengals are one of the Titans' longest-standing rivals. In 72 regular-season meetings between the former AFL (1968–69) and AFC Central (1970–2001) combatants, the Titans hold a 39-32-1 advantage.
THE BROADCAST
This week's game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Brad Johansen will handle play-by-play duties, and Chris Simms will serve as analyst.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, analyst Frank Wycheck, gameday host Rhett Bryan and sideline reporter Jonathan Hutton.
Additionally, Sports USA will broadcast the game to a national radio audience. Adam Amin (play-by-play), John Robinson (analyst) and Drew Deener (sideline reporter) will have the call.
LAST WEEK
In their home opener at LP Field last week, the Titans fell behind early to the Dallas Cowboys and ultimately lost by a final score of 26-10.
Although the Titans got a career day from tight end Delanie Walker, they were unable to keep pace with their opponent's output. Dallas rushed for 220 yards, including 167 yards by DeMarco Murray (one touchdown), and receiver Dez Bryant totaled 103 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches. The Cowboys possessed the football for more than 41 out of the game's 60 minutes.
Walker caught 10 passes for 142 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown. He eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the first time in his nine-year career, and his yardage total qualified as the third-highest single-game mark in franchise history by a tight end. The only Oilers/Titans tight ends with more receiving yards in a game are Jared Cook (169 against Jacksonville on Dec. 24, 2011) and Dave Casper (150 vs. Cleveland on Nov. 30, 1980).
The Tennessee Titans battle the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 action at LP Field. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
Despite Dallas' success on offense, the Titans defense succeeded in getting to Tony Romo to record four sacks for the second consecutive week. Defensive tackle Jurrell Casey tied his career high with two sacks in the contest. The eight total sacks are the most by the Titans defense in the season's first two weeks since 2010.
*THE BENGALS *
The Bengals are led by the winningest coach in franchise history, Marvin Lewis, who took the reigns in Cincinnati in 2003. Prior to then, he and Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt crossed paths at a previous stop. Lewis was an assistant with the Baltimore Ravens in the late 1990s when Whisenhunt got his first NFL coaching job as the tight ends coach for the Ravens (1997–98).
Lewis' squad was crowned division champions last season with an 11-5 record, earning a playoff berth for the third consecutive year and for the fourth time in a five-year span. The 2013 squad finished in the NFL's top 10 in scoring (tied for sixth), scoring defense (tied for fifth), net offense (10th) and net defense (third).
At home last week, the 2014 Bengals took over sole possession of first place in their division with a convincing 24-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. In the win, the Bengals totaled 472 yards of offense, including 302 passing yards and 170 yards on the ground. Second-year running back Giovani Bernard accounted for more than a third of the yardage, rushing for 90 yards on 27 carries (one touchdown) and collecting five receptions for 79 yards. Quarterback Andy Dalton was an efficient 15-of-23 for 252 yards with a touchdown and a passer rating of 116.6.
