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Three keys: What you should expect from Bengals against Tennessee Titans

Published

2 years ago

December 13, 2024

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.

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TN Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for July 8, 2026

Published

2 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 8 drawing

12-29-37-43-55, Powerball: 18, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from July 8 drawing

17-26-31-32-37, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from July 8 drawing

Morning: 5-0-7, Wild: 6

Midday: 9-0-5, Wild: 8

Evening: 4-7-3, Wild: 3

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from July 8 drawing

Morning: 1-9-3-7, Wild: 4

Midday: 0-0-0-8, Wild: 3

Evening: 8-0-5-3, Wild: 1

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Tennessee Jackpot numbers from July 8 drawing

07-14-15-18-29

Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Tennessee Cash numbers from July 8 drawing

01-02-06-13-27, Bonus: 03

Check Tennessee Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from July 8 drawing

06-27-33-44-69, Powerball: 23

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 8 drawing

16-18-43-48-50, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Tennessee Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Tennessee Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket, a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of social security number to P.O. Box 290636, Nashville, TN 37229. Prize claims less than $600 do not require a claim form. Please include contact information on prizes claimed by mail in the event we need to contact you.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID and proof of social security number to any of these locations:

Nashville Headquarters & Claim Center: 26 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, 615-254-4946 in the (615) and (629) area, 901-466-4946 in the (901) area, 865-512-4946 in the (865) area, 423-939-7529 in the (423) area or 1-877-786-7529 (all other areas in Tennessee). Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Knoxville District Office: Cedar Springs Shopping Center, 9298 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, (865) 251-1900. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Chattanooga District Office: 2020 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37421, (423) 308-3610. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Memphis District Office: Chiles Plaza, 7424 U.S. Highway 64, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133, (901) 322-8520. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://tnlottery.com/.

When are the Tennessee Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Cash 3, 4: Daily at 9:28 a.m. (Morning) and 12:28 p.m. CT (Midday), except for Sunday. Evening game daily, seven days a week, at 6:28 p.m. CT.
Daily Tennessee Jackpot: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Tennessee Cash: 10:34 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Powerball Double Play: 10:30 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Tennessean editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Data centers driving up Tennessee power bills, report finds

Published

12 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

Data centers driving up Tennessee power bills, report finds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Home power bills are feeling the impact of data centers opening across Tennessee communities, according to a new report from ThinkTennessee.

Researchers found electricity usage has increased by more than 7.2 times over the past five years as data centers opened in the Tennessee Valley region. Areas with data centers saw average power bills rise more than the state average, but the increase was not distributed evenly among customers in those areas.

“Tennessee’s data center growth is arriving faster than the rules designed to manage that growth,” research director Chris Candelaria said. “Our report isn’t saying whether data centers are good or bad. Instead, we’re trying to highlight the issues that communities and policymakers need to know about.”

Residential customers hit harder than businesses

Residential customers in communities with data centers saw their bills jump 3.2 percent, to an average of $149 a month, between 2023 and 2024, the report found.

During that same period, commercial customers, including data centers themselves, saw their bills slightly decrease. By comparison, the statewide average power bill over the same period increased 1.3 percent.

Candelaria said the findings are tied directly to where the data centers are located and signal what may be ahead for the rest of the state.

“Residents seeing these higher prices and that’s associated with where the data centers are located,” Candelaria said. “We know that the data centers are coming, and the report’s really just forecasting that this situation may play out in more places across the state. This is an issue that city and community leaders will need to address directly.”

He said the trend warrants close attention, but stopped short of drawing firm conclusions in their report based on the data analyzed.

Tennessee emerges as a data center hub

The report, titled “Powering the Boom,” describes Tennessee as an emerging data center market that has likely not yet seen the full scale of potential growth. For roughly 15 years, the state’s electricity consumption was essentially flat or declining before the current surge began around 2020.

Data center facilities planned, operating or under construction in Tennessee represent approximately 2,177 megawatts of demand capacity which is roughly equivalent to powering more than 1.3 million homes for a year. Those facilities are concentrated in and around Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville.

Grid strain, costly outages a concern

Candelaria said the study drew on data from across the country to examine how data centers are already affecting communities and what Middle Tennessee should plan for.

“As we get requests for more data centers, there’s an issue with how is that going to affect our current grid infrastructure? This is the key question,” Candelaria said. “We also provide in the report some studies from other states. If you over-strain the system, what does that mean? Well, it could lead to costly outages. We’re just trying to think strategically.”

Alex Kardokus is among the more than 500,000 people who signed a petition against a proposed data center near the Nashville Zoo. He said his concerns have since expanded to the broader impact data centers could have across the city after learning about this report.

“NES, we don’t want that (bill) to go higher because it’s already expensive in Nashville. Don’t want that to be a raising,” Kardokus said.

Policy seen as key to managing growth

Candelaria said policies, including data center zoning restrictions Metro Council is currently working on, will be key to protecting families from further cost increases. He said the decisions made now will shape whether the growth benefits or burdens Tennessee residents.

“The policy choices that we make now on pricing and grid planning will determine whether that growth is going to strengthen the state’s economy or whether that’s going to shift costs onto everyday households,” Candelaria said.

He added that the situation requires a balancing act, as data centers also bring jobs and economic opportunities to the communities where they operate.

ThinkTennessee said a second installment of the “Powering the Boom” series is expected to lay out policy options aimed at protecting ratepayers while the sector continues to grow.

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In-N-Out’s fifth Tennessee location is opening soon. Here’s how many stores are planned

Published

22 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

In-N-Out’s fifth Tennessee location is opening soon. Here’s how many stores are planned

In-N-Out Burger will soon open its fifth Tennessee location in Madison, near Nashville.
The California-based chain currently operates four stores in Tennessee and plans dozens more.

In-N-Out Burger will soon be opening its fifth Tennessee store.

The beloved burger chain lists six locations as “opening soon” on the Grand Openings page of its website, including a restaurant in Madison. The Madison location will open at 1900 Gallatin Pike North, about 13 miles northeast of Nashville.

The store also plans to open stores in Arizona, Utah, Idaho and two in California, USA TODAY reported.

Find your next meal on DoorDash

In-N-Out, which announced plans for a major expansion and a new headquarters in Tennessee in 2023, opened its first Tennessee restaurants in December 2025.

The chain, known for animal-style fries and double-double burgers, opened locations in Nashville’s Antioch neighborhood, Murfreesboro and Lebanon in early December. It then opened a fourth Tennessee restaurant in Franklin just a few months later.

Here’s what else to know about the West Coast-based company’s expansion into the Volunteer State.

Why is In-N-Out expanding to Tennessee?

In-N-Out is moving to Tennessee to establish a $125 million corporate hub in Franklin, on the Berry Farms site near Interstate 65. It’s estimated that In-N-Out’s expansion into Tennessee will create 275 jobs and a $125 million investment in the state.

Lynsi Snyder confirms relocation to Tennessee

In 2025, billionaire heiress Lynsi Snyder announced she would relocate her family to the Volunteer State as the company expands eastward.

In a podcast appearance with conservative host Allie Beth Stuckey, Snyder cited frustrations with California’s high costs and regulatory burdens on businesses and families.

“There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,” Snyder said. “The bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California, but it will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there.”

After facing criticism for her comments, Snyder clarified that moving to Tennessee offers In-N-Out associates “wonderful opportunities” to buy homes, raise families, and participate in the company’s growth in a new region.

In a video posted to social media, she called the move “a very healthy plan for our growth,” highlighting opportunities for employees in Tennessee and potentially neighboring states.