There's a certain trappy-ness to Sunday's game.
The Tennessee Titans (1-1) are coming off 16-point loss to the Dallas Cowboys, evening a record that began the season with a 16-point win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Locker was serviceable in their win, but equally as bad in their loss last week. Shonn Greene, half of the Titans-Jets running back exchange program, is averaging 5.6 yard/rush and Delanie Walker comes into Cincinnati with 179 yards receiving on 13 receptions . With Cincinnati's whimsical approach with historical tight ends, Walker may thrive Sunday.
Still...
Cincinnati is a seven-point favorite for Sunday's game and most NFL prognosticators agree.
Pete Prisco with CBS Sports gives Cincinnati a nine-point edge.
The Titans looked awful last week against Dallas and now must face one of the league's best teams. The Bengals are winning on both lines and that will be an issue here for the Titans. Andy Dalton makes more plays than Jake Locker.
Former Cincinnati Enquirer beat writer Peter King doubles down.
The Titans could have landed Andy Dalton in the 2011 quarterback class, but instead went with Jake Locker at No. 8 overall, while Dalton lasted until the Bengals at pick No. 35. Advantage: Cincinnati. Dalton has played two efficient games for the Bengals thus far, and he’s making team owner Mike Brown look smart for the recent contract extension he gave his starting quarterback. Even if No. 1 receiver A.J. Green can’t go this week because of a toe injury, Cincinnati has enough weapons to earn an 11th consecutive regular-season victory at Paul Brown Stadium, a streak that started late in 2012. Tennessee had better be ready for the Bengals' backfield duo of Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill, because after giving up 167 yards rushing to the Cowboys’ DeMarco Murray last week, the Titans are going to have that weakness exploited until they prove they can address it.
Every single ESPN analyst has the Bengals winning. So did everyone at CBS, and the USA Today.
Elliot Harrison with NFL.com has Cincinnati squeezing out a three-point win.
Tennessee was flat-out defeated at the point of attack by the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. Whether Jake Locker plays like Jake Plummer or Jake from State Farm in Cincinnati, he'll be answering reporters' questions with a somber look on his face if the Titans' defensive line can't get any kind of push in the running lanes. As for the Bengals backs the unit will be facing, Bernard and Hill are coming off an outstanding performance against Atlanta. Hill appears to be every bit as effective -- if not more so -- as Bernard running the football, despite the fact that he's not considered the lead back. Of course, with A.J. Green ailing, Cincy's offensive line will probably have a numbers disadvantage when it comes to run blocking. Those Tennessee safeties will be playing the run plenty. The question is, can they? #TENvsCIN
And in a completely reversal of direction, Vinnie Iyer from the Sports News also picked the Bengals. Just kidding... it wasn't a reversal at all.
The Bengals have played, clean disciplined football, and they got their desired deep, powerful running game going last week. They will gladly lean on that without a healthy A.J. Green, grinding away and then finishing the job with physical defense. While Andy Dalton keeps being efficient, Jake Locker will be pressured often into mistakes with no support from a gaggle of ineffective backs. Bengals 26, Titans 13
As for me, currently 2-0 this season, I don't have the Bengals breaking 30 points yet, but Cincinnati's defense should keep consistency in-tact. Bengals 27, Titans 13.