Tennessee
Three keys: What you should expect from Bengals against Tennessee Titans
If the Cincinnati Bengals are going to go on a run and make the final weeks of the 2024-25 season interesting, it’s going to require a strong showing in Nashville.
The Bengals (5-8) eked out a primetime win Monday against the Dallas Cowboys and have a quick turnaround for Sunday’s game against the struggling Tennessee Titans (3-10) at Nissan Stadium (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
It’s another high-stakes outing for Cincinnati, which is looking to run the table over the last five weeks of the regular season in hopes of making a push for the playoffs and avoiding the franchise’s first losing season since 2020.
Sunday’s matchup is also the Bengals’ first run-in with ex-offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, now the Titans head coach. Callahan’s bona fides are being challenged by media members and fans in Nashville after his club’s 3-10 start, but he’ll always be linked to one of the most successful eras in Bengals history.
Just don’t let Callahan sneak up and use his familiarity with Cincinnati to score an upset on Sunday.
That, along with these factors discussed below, are the three keys to the Bengals-Titans game:
Beat a Tennessee Titans team you’re supposed to beat
The Bengals (minus-5) are favored to beat Tennessee, according to BetMGM NFL Odds. But forget about what Las Vegas says about the game for a minute and consider the realities of the two teams.
The Titans on Sunday lost to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, sans injured quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Backup quarterback Mac Jones led a (kind of) stirring Jags’ comeback via 10 unanswered fourth quarter points. That was enough to win, 10-6, against a Titans team that managed just two field goals in the game.
Yes, the Titans have a highly-ranked defense. They’ve also had 30 points, 34 points, 52 points and 42 points dropped on them by the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders. The Bengals should be able to find their opportunities against this team, in other words.
The Bengals’ playoff chances are remote but they’re real, so Cincinnati is actually still playing for something. Cincinnati’s offense alone should be enough to outlast a Titans offense that’s eclipsed 30 points just once in 2024.
Winning is fun, for the team and the fans. Being even remotely relevant to the postseason discussion keeps things interesting, and no one wants to think about the possibility of four dead-rubber games to close out 2024.
This is simply a game the Bengals can and should find a way to win. Fail to do so, and they’ll be deserving recipients of all the criticism and apathy they’ll receive in the event of a loss.
Finally play complementary football for 60 minutes
Over the last two games, the Bengals have addressed special teams concerns with the kicking game − and notably with two different kickers − and improved their tackling week-over-week from the Dec. 1 defensive debacle against the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Monday Night Football win over the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cincinnati offense has been buzzing all season, so with some answers provided in other areas of recent games, can the Bengals finally put it all together and produce a complete, 60-minute performance? That needs to be the aim at Nissan Stadium on Sunday.
That’s not to say there isn’t room for improvement. The blocked punt late at Dallas by former Bengal Nick Vigil almost proved catastrophic for Cincinnati. But for the Cowboys fumbling the blocked punt back to the Bengals, we might have been looking at four truly meaningless games to close out the season. We’d all have been getting a jump on the conversation about draft position.
As thing stand, there’s plenty for Cincinnati to play for even as the playoffs remain the most remote of possibilities. Now, they just need to fix the punting side of the special teams unit for the game in Nashville. Let’s see the Bengals put together a clean, 60-minute outing with minimal miscues.
‘Cornerstone’ Bengals players need to continue to step forward
After the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joe Burrow said he’d be watching intently to see which of his teammates fit into the plans for 2025 and beyond. And don’t kid yourself − we’re well past the time when the Bengals need to be thinking about who fits the future of the on-field product and who needs to pack up their locker room stall and move on.
Answers to a question put to Burrow about which players are the cornerstones of the franchise have started to emerge.
Obviously, we have Burrow himself and Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow’s also identified Tee Higgins as an apparent cornerstone who he simply does not want to part with. That’s notable because most expected Higgins would surely be gone after his 2024 season playing under the franchise tag, but Burrow seems to think there’s a path to keeping Higgins in Cincinnati.
Running back Chase Brown not only has Burrow’s public backing as a key player after a string of solid outings recently but has put up the statistics and explosive, game-breaking plays to back his own case.
Defensively, Joseph Ossai has strung together some interesting stats in recent weeks, posting a sack in three straight games. That’s noteworthy for a team where most of the pressure on opposing quarterbacks has been delivered by Trey Hendrickson.
This isn’t to say the Bengals should build around Ossai, but the point is that players who aren’t mailing it in, are stepping up and performing in the face of a disappointing season deserve major credit, and a hard look from the front office. These are the kind of character pieces you’d want in your locker room.
What would really be interesting would be a secondary player emerging from the rubble of what has consistently been a poor Bengals pass defense. The Bengals pass defense ranks 26th in yards (3,194), 27th in touchdowns allowed (24), and 20th in passing plays of 40-plus yards conceded (seven).
With so many holes to fill for 2025, it would be helpful to see one or two players step forward in the secondary to help alleviate the personnel needs going forward. The Titans game would be an opportune moment for someone − anyone − to throw their name into the mixer there.
Tennessee
Tennessee Titans’ Star Jeffrey Simmons Addressed Health and Contract Concerns on Wednesday
The Tennessee Titans wrapped up minicamp on Wednesday and will now head for a summer break. Before heading out, several players spoke with the media. Jeffery Simmons was one of those, and the veteran revealed he’d been managing an elbow issue for years before deciding to address it this offseason.
“That’s the reason why I’ve been wearing a brace, you know? Probably, what, two and a half years to where I wasn’t even able to straighten out my right arm,” Simmons said.
“So to just be able to get that cleaned up… I feel good. I don’t think it’s gonna be a big difference from last year because, like I said, it’s already years in the past… I mean, I played with the brace, and [I might] play with the brace this year, who knows? But at the same time… I feel great. My body feels good, I’ll be ready to go. I’m gonna get back to training camp and hopefully this year continue to keep getting better as a player.”
Let that sink in. Simmons just put together the best season of his career while unable to fully straighten his right arm. That’s absurd.
Big Jeff Speaks: Dollars and Cents
Simmons also made it abundantly clear he’s not interested in any noise on the contract front.
“I think the biggest thing is, since I got to Tennessee, this organization has been nothing but good to me. We’ve been on the same page since I got here. So when it comes down to the contract, I [let] everything play out,” Simmons said.
“Since I got here, I don’t think we [missed] a [beat] in the front office. Me and Ms. Amy, everyone been on the same page. And whenever [it’s] time to talk contract… I know my agent… they’re going to work together to make sure it’s done the right way.
That’s a veteran who knows exactly where he stands — and trusts the people around him to handle the business side.
“One thing when it come down to that contract, we know how messy it could get. And that’s not what I’m looking for, especially going on year eight… This organization been nothing but good to me. So I’m not so focused on the contract right now. Like I said, my goal this offseason is, let me go work my tail off and get ready for training camp.”
The Scariest Part for the Rest of the AFC
Here’s where it gets fun. It’s going to be fascinating to watch how defensive guru and new Titans’ head coach Robert Saleh chooses to deploy Simmons — especially alongside his new running mate, John Franklin-Myers, who signed a three-year, $63 million deal in the spring.
Simmons is legitimately one of the best defenders this organization has ever had. In 2025, he racked up a career-high 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 67 tackles. He’s an absolute monster. For his career, he’s now at 42.5 sacks and eight forced fumbles.
Pairing a player at the peak of his powers with a legit interior running mate, under a head coach whose entire reputation is defensive violence? It’s not a stretch of the imagination to now call Jeffery Simmons arguably the best defender in the AFC. And if he played all of last season with one good arm? Look out.
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says a Kingsport man was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison after an investigation found that he trafficked large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Chattanooga to Sullivan County for distribution.
A release says Aaron Tyshawn Jackson, of Kingsport and formerly of Chattanooga, was sentenced Wednesday to 288 months behind bars by a U.S. District Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.
Jackson is set to serve 10 years of supervised release after his prison term.
The release says a federal jury in February convicted Jackson of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
He was also convicted of two other drug-related offenses.
Evidence presented at trial showed Jackson purchased large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Chattanooga for years, and distributed the drugs in Kingsport.
TBI says Jackson was pulled over on October 22nd, 2024, following what they say was a trip to Chattanooga to purchase drugs.
Jackson was in a vehicle with three other people when police attempted to stop the car.
When officers activated their lights and sirens, TBI says Jackson told the driver to “drive,” and a pursuit followed, ending in a crash.
The release says the vehicle reached speeds in excess of 120 mph before the collision.
Authorities said Jackson threw a duffel bag out of the window while fleeing.
The bag contained more than 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine and 11 ounces of fentanyl.
Agencies involved in the joint investigation included the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Kingsport Police Department, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Chattanooga Police Department, and Etowah Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan L. Gomez and AnCharlene Davis represented the United States.
TBI says the case was part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative focused on illegal immigration enforcement, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
Depend on us to keep you informed as we learn more.
The Miss Tennessee Opportunity welcomes contestants, families, alumni, and supporters from across the state to Nashville June 15-20, 2026, for Miss Tennessee Competition Week at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Belmont University. The week will culminate with the crowning of a new Miss Tennessee and Miss Tennessee’s Teen as current titleholders Zoe Scheiderich and Analee Shaver pass on their crowns. The Miss Tennessee Opportunity is the officially licensed state program of the Miss America Opportunity, one of the nation’s leading achievement and scholarship organizations for young women. Click for More Events
Competition week features interviews, rehearsals, preliminary competitions, special events, and scholarship opportunities for talented young women representing communities throughout Tennessee. Throughout the week, attendees will have opportunities to participate in special events and celebrations leading up to the final night of competition. These events include a Red Carpet Gala on Wednesday, June 17 and the Miss Tennessee Par-Tea on Thursday, June 18, both taking place in the lobby of the Fisher Center. Tickets for the competition and official events are available through the Miss Tennessee website at misstennessee.org.
Miss Tennessee 2025 Zoe Scheiderich, a native of Lebanon and student at Middle Tennessee State University, has represented Tennessee with distinction throughout her year of service. At the Miss America Competition, Scheiderich earned recognition as a Top 11 finalist and Preliminary Fitness Award winner while advancing her initiative to empower and equip women and girls. A classically trained dancer and aspiring sports broadcaster, she has earned significant scholarship support through the Miss America Opportunity and has served as an ambassador for the organization across Tennessee.
Joining her on the final night stage will be Miss Tennessee’s Teen 2025 Analee Shaver of Collierville. A student leader, accomplished dancer, and advocate against bullying, Shaver has spent her year promoting her community service initiative, Stand4Me, which encourages students to become advocates for peers experiencing bullying. Through school visits and community appearances, she has championed inclusion, empathy, and kindness among Tennessee’s youth.
The Miss Tennessee competition celebrates its 73rd year this June and is honored to welcome the reigning Miss America and former Belmont student, Cassie Donegan, to join in on the competition week festivities and perform a special showcase of music. Donegan has enjoyed a whirlwind year of appearances and advocacy since being crowned the 98th Miss America last September. She will be a featured guest Wednesday – Friday of competition week.
“We are excited to welcome Tennessee’s outstanding young women and their supporters to Nashville celebrating service, scholarship, style, success, and sisterhood,” said Dr. Colene Trent, CEO and Executive Director of the Miss Tennessee Opportunity. “We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of Zoe and Analee while introducing Tennessee to the reigning Miss America and the next generation of leaders who will represent our state.”
The competition is supported by a robust team of sponsors including The Clothes Tree Nashville, which provides all competition and appearance gowns and clothing for the titleholders and Beaman Toyota, which provides the official Miss Tennessee vehicle. The official transportation partner of the Miss Tennessee Competition is Gray Line Tours. The competition is also grateful for its partnership with the Fisher Center and Belmont University. The new Miss Tennessee will receive a $10,000 scholarship, a year of opportunities and travel throughout the state, and the honor of representing Tennessee in the iconic Miss America Competition in September.
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