The Bengals are 2-1 without Ja'Marr Chase this season, but both those victories came in the last two weeks against teams with a combined 6-15 record. Beyond that, Joe Mixon (also out Sunday) had 153 yards in one of those contests. So to say Cincinnati will be shorthanded against a Tennessee team that thrives as underdogs is an understatement. Joe Burrow will put up some points passing on the Titans’ rough secondary, but Tennessee’s pass rush should be able to take him off his spot frequently. The Titans will control the clock with Derrick Henry and get enough from Ryan Tannehill in the passing game to pull out a win. Mike Vrabel is 8-0 SU and 8-0 ATS with 10+ days of preparation, which Tennessee has entering this one.

The Titans are criminally good as home dogs under Mike Vrabel, don't have to worry about Joe Mixon or Ja'Marr Chase and have super payback on their minds for the playoff loss when Ryan Tannehill became basically every Bears quarterback since the 1960s.

Was hoping (against hope) this line might gravitate to three but little chance now with Bengals RB Joe Mixon out of action. In addition, Cincinnati WR Ja'Marr Chase might join him in street clothes. Tennessee's last seven opponents have maxed out at 20 points or fewer, so the Bengals' impressive stretch of offensive outputs could hit a roadblock. The Titans' rush defense ranks second, the Bengals' 19th. Prefer Derrick Henry to Cincy's Samaje Perine toting the rock.

Ja'Marr Chase appears likely to return from a multiweek absence in this game, and that's sent the line up to the key number of 3. I certainly understand a player of his caliber needing to be priced in to the line, but the Bengals have scored 79 points in their last two games; is their ceiling really that much higher than what we've seen recently? The Titans have proven to be a profitable play as an underdog over the years under Mike Vrabel, and I expect Jeffery Simmons and Co. to have success against this Bengals O-line and keep scoring down enough where the Titans offense can go out and win this game. I think this line should be close to pick 'em even with Chase back.