In what is a rematch of a divisional round contest from last season’s playoffs, the Tennessee Titans will host the Cincinnati Bengals at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sunday in Week 12.
While nobody has forgotten the results of last year’s playoff matchup, the Titans have done the best they can to avoid calling this a revenge game.
“I’m looking around and like, ‘damn, half of these guys weren’t even here [for the playoff loss],’” defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said. “But it’s a totally different team. We’re worried about this year, we’re not worried about what happened in the playoffs last year. It’s all about this year and how can we get a win on Sunday.”
As far as the current year is concerned, the Titans sport a better record than the Bengals, but it’s Cincinnati who enters this game as road favorites, per Tipico Sportsbook, which has the visitors as three-point favorites.
Do experts see things the same way? Find out now as we go through our expert picks round-up for Week 12.
USA TODAY
USA TODAY’s Week 12 picks:
Jarrett Bell: Titans
Chris Bumbaca: Titans
Nate Davis: Titans
Safid Deen: Titans
Tyler Dragon: Titans
Lorenzo Reyes: Titans
Bet For The Win
Bet For The Win’s Week 12 picks:
Christian D’Andrea: Titans
Robert Zeglinski: Bengals
Charles Curtis: Titans
MMQB
MMQB’s Week 12 picks:
Albert Breer: Bengals
Mitch Goldich: Titans
Gary Gramling: Bengals
Conor Orr: Titans
John Pluym: Bengals
CBS Sports
CBS Sports’ Week 12 picks:
Pete Prisco: Titans 27, Bengals 21 – “This is a rematch from the playoff game from last January in which the Bengals upset the Titans on the road. The Bengals have played much better lately, but they are playing consecutive road games, while the Titans will be rested after playing last Thursday. Derrick Henry wasn’t himself when they played in the playoffs last season. He is now. Titans take it behind his running.”
Jason La Canfora: Titans
Will Brinson: Titans
Jared Dubin: Bengals
Ryan Wilson: Bengals
John Breech: Bengals
Dave Richard: Titans
Jamey Eisenberg: Titans
Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report’s Week 12 picks:
Gary Davenport: Titans
Greg Ivory: Bengals
Kris Knox: Titans
Maurice Moton: Titans
Wes O’Donnell: Titans
Brent Sobleski: Bengals
Score Prediction: Titans 27, Bengals 23
Sporting News
Sporting News’ Week 12 picks:
Vinnie Iyer: Bengals 24, Titans 20 – “The Bengals are back to heating up with Joe Burrow and are expected to get top wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase back this week. Cincinnati will have trouble with Derrick Henry on the road, but Burrow having more weapons with which to attack the Titans’ weakness in pass defense is huge. Look for the Bengals to work to get the Titans negative game script and force Ryan Tannehill into a duel with Burrow with lesser weapons. Cincy keeps up the momentum of winning in Nashville in last year’s divisional playoffs.”
Bill Bender: Bengals 27, Titans 24 – “This should be the best game of the week. The key for the Bengals will be keeping that running game going with Joe Mixon (concussion) likely out. Samaje Perine is coming off a three-TD game. The Titans will stick with Derrick Henry, and Ryan Tannehill is coming off his best game of the season. Tennessee has given up 20 points or less in five straight games since the bye week. Joe Burrow clears that total with a game-winning drive in crunch time. “
NFL.com
NFL.com’s Week 12 picks:
Gregg Rosenthal: Titans 24, Bengals 21 – “Both quarterbacks are coming off superlative performances. Joe Burrow could get Ja’Marr Chase back this week, while Ryan Tannehill is now getting help from maturing rookie Treylon Burks and Robert Woods, who appears to bring more juice the further away he gets from ACL surgery. This is the best game on Sunday because both teams have improved throughout the season and should make the playoffs. In a toss-up, I like the Titans because they’re at home and their defense is the best-coached unit in the game. Also, this line is almost as disrespectful as being underdogs in Lambeau.”
Overall tally
Titans: 20
Bengals: 11
