3 bold predictions for Bengals vs. Titans in divisional round

1. Bengals eliminate Titans, advance to AFC Championship 

This is my most significant bold prediction of the season because it comes in the divisional round of the postseason, where we haven’t seen the Bengals in over 31 years. That doesn’t change the capability of this team.

This team wasn’t the same team when your dad was a kid. This isn’t the Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis-led Bengals.

Joe Burrow is behind center, and Zac Taylor is oozing with confidence as a play-caller and a head coach. They are playing motivated and inspired football but, more importantly, you can tell they are playing for one another.

Not many people think the Bengals win this game unless you’re from Cincinnati and rightfully so, as the Titans deserve respect and some hype. They are a very talented football team and hosting a home game expect that crowd to be loud, but being in Nashville, nearby Cincinnati, I’d expect the fanbase to make the trip.

It will still probably be at least 75/25 Titans fans, but Cincinnati can execute on both sides of the ball. Having long and grueling possessions in both the run game and the passing game will be vital but there’s no question that Joe Burrow can put points up and keep the Bengals in this game.

The biggest question is what can this run defense do against the Titans’ run-heavy offense. If they limit them and force 3rd and longs, they are doing their job.

They have to get to a point where they are forcing Ryan Tannehill to be the one that has to win the game with passes through the air. The secondary will have to be ready, though on the outside with the right of covering A.J. Brown and Julio Jones.

If the Bengals pull this one off — as I have them doing — they’ll be one win away from Super Bowl LVI.