Sunday, November 14, 1999Who's got the edge?
QUARTERBACK
Bengals - Two of Jeff Blake's four best passing games and best rushing game have been against this defense. But he's 3-4 on the scoreboard
Titans — Steve McNair is becoming AFC Central's new Bengal-killer with 11 TD passes and one interception against Cincy with 4-2 record
EDGE: EVEN
RUNNING BACK
Bengals — Since he scored lone TD of season against Titans in the opener, Corey Dillon has struggled in red zone. Since then, he's got more negative carries (five) than yards (four) inside 20. But he gets 5.4 yards per pop against Tennessee
Titans — Eddie George isn't putting up great rushing numbers with 3.6 yards per carry. But he's been huge out of backfield with 50-catch pace
EDGE: EVEN
RECEIVERS
Bengals —Carl Pickens looks like he's finally rounding into pre-holdout form, Darnay Scott had 80-yarder called back against Titans and tight end Tony McGee is coming off most productive day since '96 finale
Titans — Kevin Dyson and Yancey Thigpen get four more yards per catch than Pickens and Scott and have two more touchdowns. The guy who gives Titans edge is Frank Wycheck, second-leading tight end in NFL
EDGE: Titans
OFFENSIVE LINE
Bengals —Blake's mobility helps them in pass blocking, but they've dipped out of NFL's top ten in rushing. Must open more holes in red zone and get rid of two holdings and three false starts from last week
Titans —They are banged up on right side, but tough to dent on pass rush. They have allowed just 13 sacks with right tackle Jon Runyan emerging as one of top free agents and Bruce Matthews easing into regular spot at left guard
EDGE: Titans
SPECIAL TEAMS
Bengals - Kicker Doug Pelfrey looks like he's back in groove with last week's 50-yarder. But special teams nearly had as many penalities (5) as punt return y ards (8) in Seattle
Titans - Hidden yards expose Bengals and one of the reasons Titans have won six games. Punter Craig Hentrich has twice as many kicks inside the 20, half the touchbacks and no blocks compared to two.
EDGE: Titans
DEFENSIVE LINE
Bengals —Whatever happened to refurbished run defense? Three 100-yard games in past four weeks found the gap in the one-gap scheme. John Copeland hasn't had a sack since Oct. 10 win over Cleveland
Titans — Jevon Kearse has disrupted more schemes than Pat Buchanan. He's got 4.5 sacks, one less than Bengals' ends, and four forced fumbles, three more than Cincinnati's linemen.
EDGE: Titans
LINEBACKERS
Bengals —They can't do it all. Inside backers Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons lead team in tackles, Simmons second in sacks and Spikes most fumble recoveries. They need more from outside backers Steve Foley and Adrian Ross, who have 1.5 sack and one forced fumble
Titans —They may not be as fast as Bengals, but they make plays. Their trio has recovered five fumbles, forced five and has four sacks compared to Cincy quartet with three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 5.5 sacks
EDGE: EVEN.
SECONDARY
Bengals —They have three different starters, two at cornerback, since the opener. Since McNair lit them for three touchdowns, they have allowed 13 more touchdown passes and have just three interceptions. The three new players combine for 11 NFL starts
Titans —Tennessee's unit is intact, bad news for the Bengals because when safeties Blaine Bishop and Marcus Robertson play Titans are 18-11. Bengals starting corners have more NFL experienc e, but 37 fewer starts
EDGE: Titans
COACHING
Bengals: If Bruce Coslet is taking them one game at a time, then his goal today is not getting booed off the field at halftime for the first time this season
Titans: Jeff Fisher needs three wins in the next eight to finally have his first nine-win season in his fifth full season. Maybe AFC Coach of Year after surviving McNair's early injury
EDGE: Titans
THE PICK
The Bengals are having the worst home season since Nixon beat McGovern in South Dakota. Take the average of the four home games and it's TITANS, 33-8
Bengals Stories
Huggins has calm inside the storm
Huggins timeline
East Carolina 48, UC 34
Xavier 91, Athletes in Action 67 looks West
Xavier needs pre-injury Williams
Slow start for McAfee in exhibition
Each roadtrip offers a winning way to forget Bengals
Lakota West girls state soccer champs
Summit wins boys soccer title
MND repeats state volleyball title
Title slips away from Roger Bacon
Ohio 40, Miami 28
Illinois 43, Ohio State 14
Preseason No. 1s keep falling down
Stuff starts trimming roster
MacWilliams makes most of second shot
Michigan sweeps Miami in hockey
Mighty Ducks 3, Saint John 1
Orlando 7, Cyclones 3
NKU advance in NCAA soccer
Young TMC team looks for 6th winning year in row
Who's got the edge?