NFL Divisional Round: Bengals vs Titans | NFL Betting Analysis & Picks

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The past two times the Tennessee Titans were the AFC’s top seed, they lost in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. That’s where they are Saturday as they host the Cincinnati Bengals with the Titans as short favorites on the NFL odds.

How to Bet Cincinnati at Tennessee NFL Odds & TV Info

When: Saturday, 4:30 PM ET
Where: Nissan Stadium
TV: CBS
Radio: http://www.siriusxm.com/nfl
Stream Option: Paramount+
Opening NFL Lines: Titans -3.5 (total 47.5)

Last Meeting

In Week 8 of the 2020 season, the Titans visited Cincinnati and lost 31-20. Joe Burrow threw two fourth-quarter TD passes and closed out the victory by leading a drive that used up most of the final six minutes. Burrow was 26 of 37 with 249 yards, no turnovers and no sacks. Titans QB Ryan Tannehill was 18 of 30 with 233 yards, two TDs and one interception. Derrick Henry had 18 carries for 112 yards. It was the first time ever that the Titans lost a game when Henry ran for at least 100 yards.

Why Bet on Cincinnati?

The Bengals won their first playoff game in 31 years last week, beating the Raiders 26-19. Joe Burrow completed 24 of 34 attempts (70.6 percent) for 244 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 110.4 passer rating. Burrow became the third quarterback in the last 30 years to complete at least 70 percent of his passes and post a rating of 100-or-higher in his first NFL postseason start, joining Drew Brees and Kurt Warner.

Rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had nine receptions for 116 receiving yards, breaking the single-game franchise postseason record held by Cris Collinsworth (107 receiving yards in Super Bowl XVI). With at least 100 receiving yards on Saturday, Chase can become the first rookie in NFL history to record at least 100 receiving yards in multiple postseason games.

Defensive end Trey Henderson recorded a sack and forced fumble in last week’s victory. It marked his 13th game this season in which he had a full sack. With a sack on Saturday, he can become the third player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record a sack in 14 games within a season, including the postseason. Henderson did leave that game with a concussion but has been cleared for this one.

However, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi hurt his foot and will miss the rest of the postseason. Ogunjobi has recorded seven sacks and 16 quarterback hits in his first season with the Bengals. Cincinnati’s consistent play up front is a big reason the team is in the position they are today. Not only are the Bengals going to be without Ogunjobi against one of the league’s best rushing attacks in the Titans, they also will likely be without Ogunjobi’s backup. Mike Daniels suffered a groin injury and is unlikely for Saturday.

This week, the Bengals picked up fellow tackle Zach Kerr off of the Cardinals’ practice squad. An eight-year veteran, Kerr played in seven regular season games this season while splitting time with the Cardinals and 49ers.

Why Bet on Tennessee?

Tennessee, the AFC’s No. 1 seed, earned a first-round bye after winning the AFC South for the second straight season. The Titans’ 12 regular-season wins were their most since winning 13 in 2008. Tennessee became the first team to earn its conference’s top seed without a 1,000-yard rusher or 1,000-yard receiver since the 2017 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Overall, three of the last four teams to earn their conference’s top seed without a 1,000-yard rusher or 1,000-yard receiver have won the Super Bowl, including the 2003 New England Patriots and 1996 Green Bay Packers.

Titans QB Ryan Tannehill is set to make his fifth career postseason start. He recorded 3,734 passing yards and 21 touchdown passes in 2021 and is the only quarterback with at least seven rushing touchdowns in each of the past two seasons.

The Titans will get two-time rushing champion Derrick Henry back from a foot injury – he injured it on Halloween vs. the Colts and hasn’t played since. Henry is a game-changer for Tennessee’s offense as the entire unit revolves around getting him the ball.

Henry still led NFL players with 117.1 rushing yards per game (937 rushing yards, eight games) for a third consecutive season. Since the NFL moved to a 16-game schedule in 1978, Henry is one of three players to have led the league in rushing yards per game in three straight seasons (minimum eight games played each year).

Tennessee also has a dynamic wide receiver duo with A.J. Brown and Julio Jones on the roster – both were injured plenty during the regular season but are good to go. Brown leads the Titans in catches and receiving yards with 63 catches for 869 yards and five touchdowns. Brown, Henry and Jones have combined for 10 Pro Bowls in their respective careers.