Bengals vs. Titans: 3 bold predictions, including final score and winner

2. Joe Mixon will have more all-purpose yards over Derrick Henry in this one

Though the Titans are slated to get King Henry back in their backfield, the Bengals have an excellent rusher of their own in Joe Mixon. While Derrick Henry is the unquestioned best running back in football when he is healthy, he has missed the bulk of this season due to injury. He may be a battering ram, but again, will he have the time to shake off the rust vs. Mixon and the Bengals?

Of course, Henry is essentially a guaranteed 100 yards rushing when he is healthy. While Mixon can break 100 in his own right, look for him to have more all-purpose yards than the supremely talented Tennessee ball carrier. It may not be by much, but Henry’s lack of production as a receiving back gives the slightest of edges to Mixon in having a handful of more yards than him.

Of course, this game is coming down to quarterback play and who plays the position better…

1. Joe Burrow does the unthinkable and wins a road playoff game for Cincinnati

Joe Burrow is already The Geauxt. Now he becomes a Cincinnati legend. While the Bengals have had many excellent quarterbacks in their history, none have been able to do what Burrow is about to do. Somehow, someway, the Bengals have never won a road playoff game in their history. If the Bengals want to keep playing this year beyond this weekend, they have to do the unthinkable.

Trailing late, Burrow will orchestrate one of those Joe Cool drives only quarterbacks with his given name can produce. It will be the Cincinnati equivalent of The Drive John Elway perfectly crafted. In a way, this drive may make up for the heart-breaking one suffered at the hands of the Joe Montana in the Super Bowl. Once Burrow finds Ja’Marr Chase again for six, his legend will arrive.

Prediction: Bengals 31, Titans 27.