What to Watch For in Bengals-Titans

The Cincinnati Bengals return home to Paycor Stadium Sunday to face the Tennessee Titans as they look to improve to 5-2.

Here are some of the biggest storylines to watch on Sunday: 

What does Tennessee's defense look like without Jeffery Simmons?

The Titans traded Simmons to the Chicago Bears on Thursday in exchange for the Bears' 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and a 2027 fourth-round pick. Simmons led Tennessee with four sacks, and the Titans already allow 364.1 total yards per game, the seventh most in the NFL, and 131.1 rushing yards per game, which ranks 26th. 

Defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers, Solomon Thomas and Nazir Stackhouse will see bigger roles, with edge rushers Jacob Martin (3.5 sacks) and Jermaine Johnson II (three) also expected to carry more of the load. However, Franklin-Myers is questionable.

Can the Bengals put them away early?

Tennessee has stuck around in a lot of its losses. Last week, the Titans jumped out to a 14-0 lead over Cleveland and tied the game at 24 with 58 seconds left, only to lose on a 32-yard field goal as time expired. The Titans have not won back-to-back games in nearly four years, but they have been competitive late. 

The Bengals, who lead the NFL in third-down conversion rate (50.65%) and rank fourth in scoring at 27.2 points per game, need to avoid another slow start like the one in Baltimore.

Can the Bengals' pass rush put pressure on Cam Ward?

Cincinnati has 21 sacks, tied for the most in the NFL and its most through six games since 1995. Boye Mafe has 4.5 sacks and Dexter Lawrence II has four. Tennessee has allowed only 11 sacks, including one over its last two games, but Ward has thrown an interception in five straight games and has a 73.8 passer rating, the third worst in the league. 

If the Bengals get home consistently like they did against Baltimore, he could struggle again.

Does Ja'Marr Chase record his 60th touchdown?

Chase has 59 career receiving touchdowns, and one more in his 85th career game would make him the 10th-fastest player in NFL history to reach 60. He has 32 catches for 351 yards and five touchdowns this season, and he is healthy after practicing fully on Thursday and Friday. 

Tee Higgins leads the team with 571 yards, which makes it hard for Tennessee to focus only on Chase. The Titans have allowed three 100-yard receivers this season.