Bengals offensive line bitten by the injury bug
Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel sees an opportunity to change directions Sunday in Cincinnati.
His defense, one of the lowest-rated in the NFL, faces an offense that has already allowed a league-high 28 sacks and also could be missing three starting offensive linemen.
A mismatch? Perhaps. But at this point, Vrabel is more concerned with making sure the Titans find solutions for their own struggles.
“We can’t worry about their injuries,” he said. “We have to focus on taking care of the Titans and dealing with our own issues as they work through the week.” The ugly stats tell part of the tale. Tennessee (5-1) has allowed opponents to convert third downs at a rate of 61%, the worst in the league. The red zone touchdown rate (80.9%) ranks 31st. Only the Jaguars and Panthers have fewer sacks than the Titans (seven), and all of it comes after Tennessee presumably upgraded its defense by signing free-agent linebacker Vic Beasley Jr, the NFL’S 2015 sacks champion, and three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jadeveon Clowney in September.
Instead of improving, though, the Titans have regressed.
“We’re not as detailed as we need to be whether it’s third-and-short, thirdand-medium, or third-and-long,” safety Kevin Byard said. “We’re giving up all the varieties. We have to be better and we have to go watch this film and continue to correct those things. It comes down to pride, honestly.”
They’re hoping Sunday is the start of a turnaround.
Yes, the Titans are facing a talented rookie quarterback, Joe Burrow, who has been scoring points by the dozens. But they’re also playing a team that has blown leads in the past two, lost three straight and struggled to stop the run – a bad combination with defending rushing champ Derrick Henry coming to town.
Plus, Cincinnati’s struggles could be amplified with right tackle Bobby Hart (knee) already ruled out this week and decisions still to be made on left tackle Jonah Williams (neck) and center Trey Hopkins (concussion protocol).
But coach Zac Taylor believes injuries may not be the Bengals biggest obstacle Sunday. Winning the turnover battle could be the real equalizer for Cincinnati (1-5-1).
“They’re taking advantage of the tipped throws,” Taylor said noting the Titans league-high plus-9 turnover margin. “When the ball’s tipped up in the air, they go get it.”
The Bengals will rely heavily on Burrow, who isn’t just playing well but is on pace for a record-breaking season.
He’s tied the franchise record for most 300-yard games in a season (five) and needs one more to tie Andrew Luck’s rookie record (six). Burrow heads into Week 8 leading the league in completions (195) and attempts (293) and No. 3 in yards passing (2,023).
If he keeps it up, he would break Luck’s NFL rookie records for attempts (627) and yards (4,374), Carson Wentz’s rookie record for completions (379), Kyler Murray’s rookie record for fewest interceptions among players with at least 500 attempts (12) and match Dak Prescott’s rookie marks for completion rate (66.6%) and passer rating (89.4).