Bengals host Titans: Burrow's form against a rebuilding Tennessee
Cincinnati, off a bye and a 35-13 win over Baltimore, hosts a 1-6 Titans team that is still building around Cam Ward.
The Cincinnati Bengals host the Tennessee Titans at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. ET (18:00 UTC), with the game on CBS. It is a Week 8 meeting between a team that looks like a contender and one still working out its direction.
The records
Sports Illustrated lists the Bengals at 4-2, coming off a bye week and a 35-13 win over the Ravens. The Titans are 1-6. SI describes Cincinnati as having the easiest remaining schedule in the league.
Burrow against Ward
The central storyline, per Bengals.com, is two former No. 1 overall picks: Joe Burrow, the 2020 first pick, against Cam Ward, the 2025 first pick. Burrow has completed 71.7% of his passes this season for 1,653 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions, according to SI, which describes him as a slow starter who appears to be finding his form.
Tennessee is a team in transition. Bengals.com notes the Titans went 3-14 in 2025 and fired Brian Callahan after a 1-5 start. Robert Saleh is now head coach, with Brian Daboll running the offense and Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator. The club was active in free agency and the draft, taking receiver Carnell Tate fourth overall and edge rusher Keldric Faulk 31st, and trading for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson. Tate is expected to line up against cornerback DJ Turner II, who had 18 passes defensed last season, per Bengals.com.
History
The teams have met 80 times, including two playoff games, and Cincinnati has won four of the last five, among them a 19-16 win in the 2022 AFC Divisional Round, Bengals.com reports. The most recent regular-season meeting in Torch's records, on Dec. 15, 2024, ended Bengals 37, Titans 27.
Injuries to watch
SI's injury report lists Tennessee receiver Calvin Ridley, running back Tyjae Spears and punter Tommy Townsend as questionable. For Cincinnati, safety Kyle Dugger is out and tight end Erick All Jr. is questionable. Check team reports closer to kickoff, as these designations can change.
What is at stake
For the Bengals, it is a chance to stack wins at home against a team near the bottom of the standings. For Tennessee, it is another test of how much the offseason overhaul has improved a roster that is still finding its level.