Tennessee Titans score prediction vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Our NFL Week 4 pick is in

The Tennessee Titans (1-2) host the Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) at Nissan Stadium on Sunday (noon, Fox) in a battle of AFC squads trying to overcome disappointing starts. The usually physical and efficient Titans are stuck in a rut offensively and prone to allowing big plays defensively, and the normally explosive Bengals have been reduced to the league's worst offense by yards per play and yards per pass attempt.

Both teams need more than just a win. Both need to get back in the rhythm that made them contenders in the AFC in recent seasons, and each squad will have an opportunity to do that against a reeling opponent.

Here is The Tennessean's scouting report and prediction for Sunday's matchup.

Titans offense vs. Bengals defense

Myles Garrett tormented the Titans' maligned offensive line last week. This week it's Trey Hendrickson's turn.

Hendrickson terrorized the Los Angeles Rams Monday night with 10 quarterback pressures, one more than Garrett had against the Titans. By Pro Football Focus' pass rush win percentage stat, Hendrickson has been the NFL's third-most efficient pass rusher this season behind only Garrett and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa. Titans left tackle Andre Dillard, meanwhile, has surrendered the third-most pressures in the NFL and has been the league's least efficient pass blocker per Pro Football Focus.

The Bengals' defense hasn't been great against the run this year; only four teams are allowing more yards per carry than the Bengals' 5.1. This should mean good things for Titans running back Derrick Henry, coming off his least productive game since 2017. But the teams that had the most success running against Cincinnati did so with dual-threat quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson combining for 99 yards and a touchdown, so a traditional ground-and-pound attack might have less success.

Advantage: It's not just Hendrickson. The Bengals' front of B.J. Hill, D.J. Reader and Sam Hubbard is a handful. If the Titans don't fix their blocking woes, the Bengals have the edge.

Titans defense vs. Bengals offense

Heading into Week 3, the Titans are allowing the fewest yards per carry in the NFL and the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game. But the secondary ranks bottom five in yards allowed, completion percentage against, yards allowed per attempt and passer rating against. Only two teams have allowed more air yards on completions than the Titans, meaning the defense isn't allowing receivers to run for a long time after the catch so much as its allowing receivers to get open deep in the secondary.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is usually renowned for his ability to attack defenses deep, but that hasn't been the case this year. Burrow is just 6-for-22 with 86 yards and no touchdowns when targeting receivers 10 yards or more downfield. His calf injury limited how many reps he was able to take during training camp, knocking his rhythm off schedule and hindering his mobility.

Despite Burrow's decreased willingness to go deep, star receiver Ja'Marr Chase set a new career high in catches and had his fourth-best game by yards against the Rams.

Another player who had a great game Monday, though, was Rams stalwart defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Donald made seven tackles with two TFLs, a sack and seven QB pressures against a Bengals interior line that's struggled to start the year, opening the door for a big game from Titans All Pro defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons.

Advantage: Until the Titans prove they can stop the pass, it's the Bengals.

Titans vs. Bengals score prediction

Bengals 17, Titans 13: The Bengals haven't looked great this year and the Titans have the right kind of personnel to make this game mucky and messy. But it's hard to bet against Cincinnati's receivers the way this Titans secondary has played and until the Titans' O-line proves it can slow down a great front, expect the Bengals to limit what the Titans can do offensively.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans vs Bengals predictions: Our NFL Week 4 pick is in