As the Cincinnati Bengals prepare for Week 8, the team looks to sustain its winning momentum against a struggling Tennessee Titans squad that sits near the bottom of the league in both scoring and total offense. Tennessee enters the matchup ranked 31st in points per game at 15.4 and 32nd in yards per game with 248.6. Despite those offensive struggles, the Titans are coming off their two highest-scoring performances of the season, having put up 26 points in a Week 6 victory over the Indianapolis Colts followed by 24 points in a Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The recent uptick in Tennessee’s offensive output traces directly to the resurgence of running back Tony Pollard. After posting a then-season-high 76 rushing yards against Indianapolis, Pollard broke out against Cleveland with 129 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries. His afternoon included a 60-yard opening drive capped by a 36-yard rushing score. NFL NextGenStats noted that Pollard forced a season-high eight missed tackles and accumulated 120 yards after contact, averaging 4.8 yards after contact per carry to rank 10th among running backs with at least 15 attempts. On the season, Pollard sits ninth overall with 478 rushing yards and is tied for ninth with 11 explosive runs of 10+ yards.
Defensive Challenges and Pressure Rates
Cincinnati’s defense arrives in Nashville following a strong performance against the Baltimore Ravens, where they bottled up running back Derrick Henry to just 45 yards on 2.6 yards per carry. That unit will now turn its attention to containing Pollard while also dealing with a Titans passing attack anchored by quarterback Cam Ward. The 2025 first overall pick ranks 22nd in passing yards this season with 1,179, but NextGenStats indicate he has struggled to stretch the field, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt—good for 32nd among 33 eligible quarterbacks—alongside a 10.4% explosive play rate that ranks 28th.
(Offensive Trades) 7. Tony Pollard (RB) – TitansBengals receive: Tony PollardTitans receive: 2027 5th-round pick8. James Conner (RB) – CardinalsBengals receive: James ConnerCardinals receive: 2027 6th-round pickContingent on Conner being healthy9. Tyler Allgeier (RB)…
Pass protection remains a factor for the signal-caller, who has faced pressure on 35.5% of his dropbacks, the 15th-highest rate among eligible passers. That vulnerability matches up against a Bengals pass rush tied for seventh in the league by generating pressure on 39.1% of opposing dropbacks.
Tennessee’s Receiving Targets
To counter physical fronts, the Titans rely heavily on wide receiver Carnell Tate, selected fourth overall in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. Tate currently sits in the top 25 among pass catchers with 51 targets, 34 receptions, and 413 yards, functioning as the primary field-stretcher in the offense with an average of 11.8 air yards per target. Meanwhile, second-leading receiver Wan’Dale Robinson operates closer to the line of scrimmage, averaging 5.9 air yards per target on 43 targets and 29 receptions while extending a streak of recording a reception to 49 games, per the team’s website.
Kickoff for the Week 8 matchup approaches as the Bengals aim to impose their defensive pressure against an evolving Tennessee offense finding its footing through the ground game.
