The playoff battle between the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans is one of the criminally underrated teams.
Those Bengals won 10 games, surpassing Pittsburgh and Baltimore, beating Kansas City and playing Green Bay to within three points in an overtime defeat. He has an elite passerby, arms casting all around him and a strong defense.
Those Titans won 12 games while receiving just eight games from MVP-contestant Derrick Henry. They boast an elite defense, outclassing contenders such as Buffalo and Kansas City and also disrupting one of the league's more notable cases of the injury bug.
So who wins in Saturday's Divisional Round Showdown?
Looking from afar, the Titans would certainly love to ride Henry throughout the game in an effort to keep Joe Burrow and his offense off the field. Because if Burrows (with 10 TDs of 525, 446 and 244 yards and no INT in his last three) gets the Bengals' lead, the Titans aren't equipped to play catchup.
And it's a strategy that can work. DJ. reader, but Josh Taupo was battling an injury this week and other inner depths have taken a hit.
But in reality? One team claims an elite is trailing. Second, an elite quarterback. In predicting almost any NFL game -- but especially the playoffs -- the quarterback is more important than anything else.
The Titans have found some inexplicable ways to win the game this year in the midst of adversity, but Ryan Tanhill doesn't seem to pass the eye test with his 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. That too just 2-2 in the playoff matches.
Buro, on the other hand, seemed premature in his development given the injury last year. He's got all his mobility back, which has helped him navigate messy pockets well and he's been extremely accurate across the field.
And that sounds like the key - the Titans are guaranteed to get the pressure. He has some elite names like Jeffrey Simmons going up against such an offensive line. But so did the Raiders (Maxx Crosby), the Chiefs (Chris Jones) and others. Regardless of plan or approach, Bill has been oligarchic regardless and no defense has been able to stop Jammer Chase.
It's also slightly reduced that the Bengals defense largely off the top weapons of an anti-offense. Tyrek Hill had 40 receiving yards. Hunter Renfro, 58. Julio Jones-AJ. Brown may be scary, but it is not the biggest threat the unit has faced in the past month or so.
When comparing the two teams, the Bengals have arguably the best interior defender (reader), outright pass-rushers (Trey Hendrickson) and a cast of wide receivers.
And most important - better quarterback.
In a quarterback-driven league, the Bengals would win because of their quarterback, while the Titans would win regardless of the quarterback.
The Bengals are here because of Buro and he will be the reason he wins and advances in the AFC title game, until his chivalry and accuracy suddenly wanes. If he can give Bengals an early lead, the Titans don't have the ammo to maintain the momentum.
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