Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans v Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Will Levis Must STEP UP & Callahan's Connections

Episode Date: December 11, 2024

The Tennessee Titans host the Cincinnati Bengals this week and the number one task will be to stop Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase who have torn through the league this season, but the place where the Titans can attack is against a porous Bengals defense. The Titans will not the offense, led by Will Levis, to step up in a major way though as the offensive performance they put out against the Jacksonville Jaguars shows that a bad defense doesn't mean good results. Finally, the connections between Brian Callahan and the Bengals are obviously which adds an extra emotional layer to this game. The Titans need to fight for their coach.Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitansTicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop/tictactitans-gear/C3AAPNWXSXA6SBYG3USV2I7R?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=ascFollow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitansFollow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPodSubscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videosSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Omaha SteaksFrom legendary steaks to mouthwatering desserts and more, save 50% off site-wide for a limited time at OmahaSteaks.com. Plus, our listeners get an extra $30 off with Promo Code NFL.IceShakerCreated by and used by the Gronkowski brothers, IceShakers has sold over 1 million bottles. They have changed the game with workout bottles, and this is the gift you’ve been looking for… go to IceShaker.com and use the code LOCKEDONNFL at checkout to save 25% on your order.Hillsdale CollegeAll of Hillsdale’s courses are self-paced so that you can start whenever, and tune in wherever. Plus, you can go deeper with readings, quizzes, discussions - or just enjoy the lectures. Go right now to hillsdale.edu/lockedon to enroll. There’s no cost, and it’s easy to get started.PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms Apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelYou can start the season with a big return on FanDuel. New customers can place a FIVE DOLLAR bet and you’ll get started with ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS - if you win your first FIVE DOLLAR BET ! Visit FANDUEL.COM to get started.Bilt RewardsStart earning points on rent you’re already paying by going to joinbilt.com/LOCKEDONNFL.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Week 15 crossover Thursday, Locked On Titans, Locked On Bengals. It's been a sad season for both teams. We're going to break it down. You are Locked On NFL Crossover, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team, every day. Welcome in, folks, to a crossover Thursday edition of Locked On Titans, Locked On Bengals. I am the host of Locked On Titans, Tyler Rowland, here with the co-hosts of Locked On Bengals, Jake Lisco and James Rapine. We are going to be diving into this Week 15 matchup

with plenty of connections between these two teams. Before we dive in, though, I do want to thank you for making Locked On Titans and Locked On Bengals your first listen each and every day. Today's Crossover Thursday is presented by PrizePix. Download the app, use the code LOCKEDONNFL to win $50 instantly when you play $5. We're going to hit some of the big storylines, talk about some matchups, some keys to victory

for both sides of this game. We'll start with Cincinnati, though. I'm a gracious host here, you know, a little Southern hospitality for you guys. I got to ask, is it just outright disappointing to see how great Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase have played based on where the team is at? Or is there still some level of joy to watch this team play with how well those two are playing right now? Both. The answer is both. It's equally painful and beautiful at the same time, right? I mean, Jamar Chase has made it clear, at least this season, that he's the best receiver in the NFL and playing like it week in and week out.

And then you have a guy in Joe Burrow who five months ago were like, all right, well, how much is he going to throw in training camp? How often is he going to be able to push the ball down the field? What are we going to see from him this year? And so for him to play the way he is, where he's on pace to set multiple franchise records, passing yards, passing touchdowns, nearly 5,000 yards, 43 touchdowns. And Jamar Chase, same thing. He's set to break the receptions record for the Bengals, leading the NFL in receptions

yards, touchdowns. If you would have told me that, Tyler, I would have said, oh, well, then they're definitely one of these elite teams. They have nine wins going into this Tennessee game or ten wins. We're talking about the one seed. We're talking about playoff positioning. And instead, they're five and eight. And it's like, how in the world are they five and eight and there's a bunch of reasons why and that makes it painful because these seasons that that you're

seeing for a season from joe like this it's hard to get your quarterback to play at this level it's hard to have a receiver like jamar chase's talent that is he is to play at this level consistently for 13 weeks and that's what we've seen. And what do they have to show for it? They're five and eight. They got to win out and pray to the football gods for a lot of football help. And we haven't really talked playoffs for a couple of weeks here on locked on Bengals.

Is that your sentiment as well, Jake? Yeah. I think that at this point, being someone who wants to enjoy watching bengals football is an exercise in enjoying watching joe burrow jamar chase and occasionally t higgins chase brown who are also good players do really fun things on offense and trying to at this point take that one day at a time kind of approach, enjoy the little things because the big thing, which is the Bengals falling far short of their preseason expectations,

is a lot and it's frustrating. And it's been an excruciating season in many ways with the way they've lost a lot of close games, the way their defense has underperformed, the way we've seen guys regress on that side of the ball in some cases that's all terrible and and very unfun to watch if you're someone who has a rooting interest in the Bengals but on the other side at this point you do find a little bit of enjoyment on a week-to-week basis and enjoying an MVP level season you compare Joe Burrow's trajectory this season and and those

numbers that James was talking about, those are numbers generally reached by MVP candidates in the NFL's history. And Jamar Chase doing potentially record-setting stuff as well, and potentially triple crown stuff, which would be really cool. We were talking actually about this very topic

in the last couple of days on Lockdown Bengals in terms of like, they're still fun to watch. That was the takeaway from the game, and a big point on on lockdown Bengals in terms of like, they're still fun to watch. That was the takeaway from the game and a big point on lockdown Bengals. But, you know, if Jamar Chase can hit that 20 touchdown mark this year, as we talked about on yesterday's show, that's something that's only been done by Jerry Rice and Randy Voss. So that would be a pretty cool thing.

And so it's that sort of thing that we're talking about with the Bengals this year in a year that we should have been talking about meaningful December football. Well, I can tell you, your team could not be a playoff team and also not be fun to watch. And then things might be a little bit worse. I might know from experience, but I do want to move to that side of the ball that you just mentioned, Jake, with the defense. You know, everyone hears that the Bengals defense has not been good this year. You look at the scores how many points they're putting up and for them to have the record that they do obviously it's not

just what people say the defense has not lived up to expectations but what is the biggest issue with the Bengals defense that is causing them to break down in this way I know that's you know it's probably a lot of things coming together but but that is the question. Why is it so bad? Yeah. Well, man, Jake, we could go a bunch of different routes. Can I answer this with one word? Yes. Sorry, Jake. Go ahead and talk about the details.

Well, that's it. It is yes. You can't point to any unit and be like, oh, well, they've been positive. You can't say, oh, well, yeah, the secondary struggled, but no, it's literally, but Trey Hendrickson leads the NFL in sacks. No one can get pressure. No one can cover consistently. No one can take away the big play.

They don't tackle well, and the list goes on and on. But if there was a number one thing, Tyler, it would be pass rush, I would say. They have zero pass rush, even with Joseph Osai now a sack and three straight games, zero pass rush outside of Trey Hendrickson. And that's why they are where they are. I think that's why they've struggled to close games, to get stops in key moments where they fall. And they've had seven losses by one score. It's because you need that key sack or that key turnover. And the key to that is usually creating some chaos, making a play or two. They don't have enough playmakers. And that to me

usually starts with pass rush. A close second could be tackling to the pass rush. I think I agree with James. Pass rush can cover up a lot on a defense. I think you can see that with many teams in the NFL. But second to that is the Bengals are suddenly one of the worst tackling teams in the NFL this year. And also an unathletic team on defense at this point where they've got some veterans on this team that have been part of a good defense in the past. And this year look either stiff or slow or both. And when you couple that with a secondary that hasn't been assignment sound and a defensive front that relies on Trey Hendrickson far too much

and puts way too much responsibility in terms of actually generating some sort of havoc for the quarterback on his plate, you end up with results like you've had. I will say one caveat is they've put together some games where the results have been better against bad quarterbacks. This Dallas game on Monday Night Football, recently an example of that. And so it'll be interesting to see how that plays out

with Will Levis being the quarterback on the Titans side of the ball this week, because where they have had these performances that have been, oh, they didn't give up 30 points this week. What happened? Right. Oh, Cooper Rush was a quarterback or Daniel Jones was a quarterback or Jacoby Reset was playing quarterback.

You know, it's that kind of thing. Well, good news for the Bengals is the Jacksonville Jaguars defense is terrible and the Titans could only muster six points at home. So that does bode well for a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has been struggling throughout the season. But with that being said, we will talk some Tennessee Titans because I'm sure you guys got some questions about how things are going for your boy Brian Callahan down in Nashville. Before we do that though,

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Let's talk about those Tennessee Titans guys. The Bengals making their seemingly annual road trip to play the Titans down in Nashville, despite these teams no longer playing in the same division. I think it's been a couple of decades on that one, but this time a familiar face on the opposite sideline to the Bengals in Brian Callahan, a former friend of the Lockdown Bengals podcast

and obviously an offensive coordinator that had a lot of success when he was in that role with the Bengals. Now as a head coach with the Titans. Has it been the results? I'm sure that he was hoping for in his first season, but catch Bengals fans up, Tyler. How are things going for Callahan? What's the perception of how this season has gone and the perception of Brian Callahan as a head coach? Well, I would say probably half the fan base wants him fired now. Just done. He's in over his head.

Can't do it. I think that's ridiculous. Personally, I think you go back to, you know, it's not like, it's like when every bad quarterback gets compared to Josh Allen. And they're like, oh, look at Josh Allen. He's an outlier. So my bad quarterback can turn into a good quarterback. A lot of people are doing that, but you do have to point to Dan Campbell

was 3-13 in his first season with the Lions, and everybody said, this guy's a moron talking about eating kneecaps. He's terrible. And now look where the Lions are at. Zach Taylor had his struggles. What were the Bengals in his first two seasons? I mean, they had like 26 losses in the first two seasons or something like that.

6-25-1. Yeah, 6-25-1. they had like 26 losses in the first two seasons or something like that. Like it was 25 and one. Yeah. Yeah. Six, 25 and one. Like it was not, uh, it was not a great start.

So I think there needs to be a level of patience, but people who are frustrated with Brian Callahan aren't completely off base. I think he's done a good job as a play caller. Now, I think some of the fans who don't quite understand things as well don't like the play calling either but when you watch the tape and you see the separation generated the guys open generated the opportunities that he's creating with this scheme and his play calling I think Brian Callahan has done a great job as an offensive coordinator the problem is I think he

has struggled with game management situations like when to call a timeout, when we need to kneel the ball and go into halftime, when is a good time to run a run play on the goal line. Like, we're going to throw four straight passes on the goal line and on the one-yard line and not get a touchdown. Like, I think there are just, like, small micro decisions. And then the big thing is Cole Anderson is a plague on the universe. Like Cole Anderson is entirely over his head as a special teams coordinator. He recently said last week that his problem early in the season is he assumed that guys would know what they're doing.

That's like a teacher saying, I assumed my students would know the answers to the test. Like every time Cole Anderson speaks to the media, it's more of a black eye on Brian Callahan for employing him. So I think the big problems with Brian Callahan are head coaching things, not necessarily the offensive design and the play calling and things like, like he just needs to grow as a head coach. I think he's already a really great offensive coordinator. And maybe if he would have had the time to call plays and do that on his own before becoming a head coach, it would have been a quicker pickup for him. But I personally still believe in him because I think

the scheme and the design is ultimately most important and you can grow into your leadership ability as a young coach. I mean, he's only 39 years old. So there is rightful criticism to place on Brian Callahan for some of its management decisions this season. But I think overall, from an offensive perspective, despite the results, he's done a good job scheming guys open and developing Will Levis, who's played his best football of his career over the last month. Yeah. Let's talk about Will Levis and this offense a bit more because they added, you go get Calvin Ridley, you sign Tony Pollard,

obviously names that Bengals fans know, trade DeAndre Hopkins. How has this offense held up given where they were at, say, a year ago versus now with an offensive-minded head coach, a young quarterback in Will Levis, and some okay pieces, I would say, around them. Well, sadly, the numbers aren't going to tell you

that they're significantly better than last year, but they've scored 30 points twice this year, which is something the Titans didn't do for three straight seasons until Brian Callahan. Yeah, it was over 1,000 days that the Titans didn't score 30 points in a game. Like Brian Callahan. Yes. See, it could be worse. I promise you that. Um, so I think the big problem with the offense is personnel. It's not the coaching at this time. I mean, the reality is the Titans have a poor offensive line. They have some bright spots

and against teams without high level edge rushers, they do okay. But the offensive line isn't near good enough to support the way that Will Levis plays. Will Levis, you see Joe Burrow's pocket movement. People don't look at Joe Burrow as like a mobile quarterback, like a Lamar or Jalen Hurts or a Josh Allen. But you watch Joe Burrow move in the pocket and he is elite with his pocket presence and his movement to get away from rushers and to find areas to throw the football. Will Levis is the opposite of that. Will Levis is clunky. He looks like an action figure. The way he has a lack of flexibility. His feet so noisy so loud he he looks like a duck underwater like his feet going 100 miles per hour it's um it's concerning you know that's the big the big downfall

in his game is the muscular duck yeah yeah i mean he really does move like an action figure like there's just not a not a lot flexibility, not a lot of mobility there. Straight line, he's a good athlete, but kind of dip, dive, duck, dodge, and dive, he can't do those things to get away. And when you have an offensive line that's not great, it just kind of magnifies that issue. I mean, Levis took 22 sacks in four weeks. And you look at the numbers for Mason Rudolph,

like the pressure to sack percentages Mason Rudolph is around like 11 percent and Will Levis is like 22 percent you know what I mean like he just can't avoid pressure very well and with the current system and then you look at wide receivers and Nick Westbrook Akine has eight touchdowns this year and he's like a folk hero to Titans fans he has like 22 catches and eight touchdowns on the year. And to me, it's a good story. He's a good player. He should be on the team. But you need people who can separate against man coverage.

You need explosive ability in the pass game. And outside of Calvin Ridley, who really, in my opinion at this time, is a high-level No. 2 wide receiver, not a true No. 1. Like, I think that, you know, Calvin Ridley is like in the T. Higgins area of ranking wide receivers. Like, he's right there as high-level No. 2s who maybe would be a low-level No. 1. And the Titans just need more at wide receiver to get open quicker. They need better offensive line play, and Will Levis has improved this year,

but they need better quarterback play too in the modern NFL where second reaction playmaking is so, so important. So there's just a ton of issues that I think Brian Callahan is truly doing his best. I do. I think he's done a good job, but not everyone agrees, and with so much going wrong, it's just easy to get lost in it. On the other side of the ball, Tyler,

the Titans bring in a defensive coordinator from Baltimore who had a hand in really stymieing this Bengals offense in the past. Jeffrey Simmons, obviously a big piece of that defense. Devondre Sweat, an object of Bengals fans' attention in this year's, last year's draft process. Tell me a little bit about what's going on on that defensive side of the ball. Well, the Titans are better in coverage.

I believe they're still the number one team in pass yards allowed this year. They've been better in coverage, but the problem is they give up the 27th most points in the NFL. They're terrible in the red zone because they're good at limiting those explosive plays, but that doesn't really do you any good when you're on the five-yard line. I don't need to not give up a 20-yard pass when I'm on the five-yard line. I

need to not give up a five-yard pass. The problems that you mentioned with the Bengals are very similar to the Titans. It comes down to me, in my opinion, to the pass rush. The Titans have great coverage schemes on the back end. They run a ton of cover for man, which is a coverage that I learned a lot about this year. It's basically quarters coverage, but man principles on the outside with the outside cornerbacks. They do a really, really good job in coverage on the back end, especially Chito. Awuzie has been out for most of the year. He just came back last week and got an interception, though, so that's great. LeJarius Sneed, it's been a disaster.

He hasn't played in two and a half months. He's not going to come back. They lost Quandre Diggs early in the year. So they've been playing with a lot of backups in the secondary and still been a great pass defense. But up front, Harold Landry has always been a one-trick pony rusher. He's kind of like a Bud Dupree-style rusher where he's a cleanup sack artist,

not a guy who wins with pass rush moves. He had that dip and bend that he would use with a speed rush, and now he's gotten a little older, it's not quite as effective. And Arden Key, super inconsistent pass rusher. I can't say I'm a huge fan of Arden Key. Tavondre Sweat needs to get better in his pass rush. Something coming out of college that a lot of people thought needed to improve. He's been a great run stuffer, but not a very consistent pass rusher.

And Simmons has been up and down at times this year, quite honestly. So the Titans just don't have enough in the pass rush to help out the secondary enough, despite some good coverage in the backend. And it's my personal football philosophy that without pass rush, you can't win. It's the second most important thing outside of quarterback play in football. So the pass rush hasn't been good enough for the Titans and their red zone defense hasn't been good enough either. All right, guys, let's dive into this matchup to finish up this crossover. We'll get into some keys to victory for a couple of teams playing football that may

or may not be remembered in a few years here this December. No doubt. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you by Built Rewards. If you're a renter, listen up. This is a total game changer. Thanks to Built, you can now earn points on rent payments just like you do with groceries or travel. Paying rent now comes with serious perks,

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Locked on Bengals. Crossover Thursday. It's week 15. We've talked Titans. We've talked Bengals. But now we need to actually focus on how to win this football game for both of these teams. We'll do some some keys to victory. What are you guys looking for in this matchup to make sure that the Bengals get another win?

Three things that stand out more than the rest, I would say, and we'll list them quickly here, and then we can go past them and break them down a little bit. But you got to protect Joe, and that's going to probably be the case every single week. We know the Bengals are going to throw the ball a ton on Sunday, and so protecting number nine is super crucial. I mentioned chaos early in the show. This Bengals defense hasn't created enough chaos. They need to take advantage of Will Levis in this offense that's been up and down this year. You mentioned the offensive line issues. And then number three, well, if the Titans stink on special teams, the Bengals took advantage of a huge special teams blunder against the Cowboys. And there was a lot of luck involved

there, but maybe take advantage of that third phase and win that third phase. So for the first time, I think this year, keys to victory victory how about you dominate uh cold Anderson in that special teams unit for the Titans so I think those would be the three things in the three ways uh the most important ways I would say that the Bengals could win this game incidentally I think this is a couple of weeks in the last several that we've talked about special teams in some capacity that we've talked about kicking the biggest thing though tyler i think just to add on there to me from a focus perspective like when we talk about the rest of this bengal season is can we minimize hits on joe burrow and that's why that's where jane started is he's taking way too many hits this year that continued last week he. He was pressured on 37% of his dropbacks,

took some extra shots late in plays at times. It's just when the games aren't necessarily getting you closer to a playoff goal are especially tough to watch. So one thing that I'll credit the Bengals for against the Cowboys is they got to fewer true pass sets than they've been putting Joe Burrow in throughout the season. more play action than we've seen from them, and a lot more screen game than we have seen from them in that game. Whether that's an adaptation that sticks or not, we'll find out. I am still worried about this Tennessee pass rush after you spent a lot of time telling me about how it's been disappointing. But when I look at the trenches on both sides of the ball, both of us are talking about disappointing pass rushes and offensive lines that have been leaky. And one of those things is going to get, we have stoppable force meets movable object on both sides in the trenches this week. And it'll be interesting to see which of those forces or objects ends up being the opposite of what we're expecting.

Yeah, that's fair. I think on the Titans side of things, the number one thing on offense is red zone. They have to find a way to take advantage when they're in the red zone. They had multiple red zone opportunities against the Jaguars that they simply didn't convert. A fourth down stop late in the game as well.

There's just plenty of opportunities that they had to score in the red zone after moving the ball pretty decently up and down the field, and they just weren't able to take advantage. So if the Titans don't find ways to punch it in, and that's been a problem all year long, quite frankly, for the Titans' offenses. They don't have enough opportunities in the red zone, but also they're bottom six in the NFL in red zone conversion rate right now as well, 47.1%.

So it doesn't really matter how well you move the ball if you don't score when you're in the red zone. And against the Cincinnati Bengals offense that will put up more than 10 points this week, they are going to put up more than 10 points. I say that, but the Bengals put up three points the last time they played in Nashville. So you never really quite know, but I just have a feeling that the Bengals are going to put up more than 10 points. And if the Titans settle for field goals or they just outright have turnover on downs in the red zone, they're going to be in trouble, which I think they might be in trouble anyway. I felt pretty good about the Titans being able to compete in this game and win this game, honestly, a couple of weeks ago.

But after that performance against Jacksonville, it just completely sapped any confidence I had in this team. On the defensive side of the ball, you've got to get pressure on Joe Burrow. You just have to because you could sit here and say, stop Jamar Chase, okay, and then T. Higgins is probably going to go crazy. You'd stop T. Higgins, Jamar Chase, probably go for 200 yards. So for me, the only way to eliminate that as an issue is just to get to Joe Burrow early and often

and not let him throw the ball, not let him get it out of his hands. Because I just have a hard time thinking that Chito or Jarvis Brownlee Jr. or Roger McCreary or Daryl Baker Jr., these guys can't cover Jamar Chase. So if you let Joe Burrow get the ball out of his hands, it's going to be trouble. So I think the Titans need to consider blitzing. I know you're playing a dangerous game with an intelligent quarterback

like Joe Burrow, but if you just sit back and give him time, he's going to pick you apart anyway. So at least be the aggressor. Bring it to his doorstep and try. I think the final thing for me is this team needs to come out and play for their coach. It's not even scheme. It's not Bengals have a bad rushing defense, so run the ball. The Titans need to play for their coach. I know this isn't a revenge game because there's nothing to be mad about with Brian Callahan, but it's an emotional

game is what I'll call it. It'll be extra emotional for Brian Callahan to see all his former co-workers across the board. You have a guy like Cheeto in there. You have a guy like Tyler Boyd in there. There are connections and not even to mention all the games that these teams have played against each other in the past few years, the playoff game, the game in Cincinnati, even before that, where Tyler Boyd catches the game-winning touchdown pass and the crazy wind, which I was there, is a terrible game. These teams have played very physical, intense matchups against each other. And if the Titans don't come out and match that

and even play with a little extra for their coach to get this win for Brian Callahan, I'm going to be incredibly disappointed. So they need to come out ready to play and give their best effort of the season, along with all the actual football stuff. Yeah, and I do think you mentioned losing faith after for Jacksonville. I think Brian is really, really, really, really, really going to want this game. Yes, I agree.

Not that the Bengals don't either, but I do think that there's that. No one really, outside of maybe Zach Taylor, knows Joe as well as Brian. So I think that dynamic is quite interesting as well because I'm sure he's impressed with Joe at the same time, knows how to potentially affect him. Yeah, one of the keys you talked about Tyler, that stood out to me getting the pressure to Joe burrow. It's not enough to get that pressure there.

It's also like, don't let him escape through the B gap. And he talks specifically about that. It's, it's not only get pressure, but don't give him escape routes because you, you talked earlier in the show about this too. His pocket management this year has been exceptional and has taken a real step from something that I thought was already good. And this year has been part of his toolkit that has truly separated him from many of the QBs in the NFL. And quite honestly, the Titans have had a lot of struggles with getting pressure on the quarterback and then getting them on the ground. Like there are multiple games this

year where they have had six or seven almost sacks where they literally get contact with the quarterback and he doesn't they made Sam Darnold look like Mike Vick the way he was escaping pressure in the pocket and they couldn't get him down it's it's incredibly disappointing and it's one of those things where there's no like technique thing or something like you just got to get it get it done you know what I mean and and they haven't been able to do that so that'll certainly be not just getting the pressure for sure, but converting that pressure into sacks will be critical.

But obviously, connections between these two franchises will make for an emotional matchup no matter what. Should be, at minimum, an interesting game to watch. But that's going to do it for Crossover Thursday. Again, I am your host, Tyler Rowland of Locked on Titans with Jake Lisco and James Rapine, the host of

Locked on Bengals. Great show over there, Locked on Bengals. Titans fans should definitely check that out. And if Bengals fans want to subject themselves to it, obviously I'll be over there on the Locked on Titans podcast doing my game plans on the next episode. But this is Crossover Thursday. It's part of the Locked on Podcast Network,

your team every day. And everybody, stay safe out there.