Sunday, January 06, 2002
Who's got the edge?
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Quarterbacks
Titans: Steve McNair has a career-best 20 touchdown passes and four rushing TDs. Teammates say he was a Pro Bowl snub. He is 8-1 as a starter against the Bengals.
Bengals: Jon Kitna had a career-high 411 passing yards against the Steelers after throwing for a combined 393 yards and seven interceptions in the previous three games.
Edge: Titans
Running backs
Titans: Eddie George has gotten stronger as the season has worn on, and he now stands 111 yards from becoming the fourth player to rush for 1,000 yards each of his first six seasons.
Bengals: Corey Dillon has a banged-up pinky, which might limit his time. Brandon Bennett might get more carries. Rookie Rudi Johnson might even get his first NFL attempts.
Edge: Bengals
Wide receivers/tight ends
Titans: Wide receivers Kevin Dyson and Derrick Mason have seven touchdown receptions each, and tight end Frank Wycheck has four.
Bengals: Young receivers will have a chance to have a second straight big game against NFL's worst pass defense. Kitna will spread ball around.
Edge: Titans
Offensive line
Titans: The Titans have a better rushing average, but have allowed 40 sacks, even with mobile McNair at quarterback.
Bengals: Pass protection has been outstanding, but run blocking has been inconsistent.
Edge: Even
Special teams
Titans: Mason torched the Bengals for 101-yard kickoff return in first game. Both return games better than Bengals'. Joe Nedney has been steadier with 20-for-28 field goals.
Bengals: Neil Rackers is happy to get off Paul Brown Stadium grass. T.J. Houshmandzadeh has claimed kick/punt return job. Kickoff coverage ranked league's worst.
Edge: Titans
Defensive line
Titans: Strong against run, but haven't helped weak pass defense with much quarterback pressure. Jevon Kearse's 10 sacks and reputation got him a Pro Bowl bid.
Bengals: Reinard Wilson (9) and Justin Smith (7.5) are 1-2 sack punch. Tackle Tony Williams (44 tackles, five sacks) has made biggest overall difference.
Edge: Even
Linebackers
Titans: Good against run. Share some responsibility for pass coverage problems. Randall Godfrey is Titans' leading tackler, but he'll be third-best linebacker on the field Sunday.
Bengals: Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons are the top two tacklers on the league's 10th-ranked defense. They have 10.5 sacks, two interceptions and two touchdowns between them.
Edge: Bengals
Defensive backs
Titans: Injuries and poor play by top reserves have given the Titans the league's worst pass defense. Coach Jeff Fisher, a former DB, was upset with secondary after Tennessee blew a 14-point lead last week.
Bengals: The miracle on Second Street is how the Bengals lost three of their top five cornerbacks and have risen to a 10th ranking in pass defense. CB Kevin Kaesviharn was the find of the year.
Edge: Bengals
Coaching
Titans: Fisher and counterpart Dick LeBeau want the same thing — effort — even through their teams are both out of it. A win would give Fisher a fourth 8-8 season in past six. Of course, other two were 13-3 with a Super Bowl appearance.
Bengals: LeBeau is putting a lot of importance on this game. He's right: 6-10 would be a marked improvement over 4-12. A strong showing, and a victory, would give LeBeau something more concrete to build on for next season.
Edge: Bengals
CURNUTTE'S PREDICTION: Tennessee 20, Cincinnati 17
Bengals Stories
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Hall of Fame awaits Ozzie
Harnisch talks stall
Reds Q & A with John Fay
Sanders leaves D'backs for Giants
UC 72, East Carolina 62
Maxiell fills in just fine
Martin suspended for violence again
Xavier 66, Dayton 59
Sato settles down, then soars
Miami 100, Central Michigan 94
Mississippi St. 74, Kentucky 69
Sanders sets record in NKU victory
NKU women beat SIU-Edwardsville
What's next for Ohio State?
Best and worst of week in sports
Cyclones 9, Richmond 2
Mighty Ducks 3, Cleveland 0
Perfect Drift wins Turfway Prevue
Slominski retires as Fairfield golf pro
Sports events this week
HIGH SCHOOL PAGE
Taft's touched by an angel
Mason upsets No. 2 MND
Sycamore beats Seton on second chance
Cincinnati girls basketball roundup
Princeton beats No. 2 Hamilton
Cincinnati boys basketball roundup
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
N.Ky. boys basketball roundup
N.Ky. girls basketball roundup
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Indiana boys basketball scores
Indiana girls basketball scores
This week's boys basketball schedule
This week's girls basketball schedule
Madeira wins own wrestling tourney
Cincinnati high school results
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Who's got the edge?
