The Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the league’s most complete teams so far this season, winning two games over the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons in commanding fashion. However, Andy Dalton has a tendency to be inconsistent, and a matchup against the 1-1 Tennessee Titans proves to be a good test of the Bengals’ mentality.

Will they avoid falling in a trap game to the up-and-down Titans? There are many factors at play in this game, so let’s break them down.

Offense

This matchup presents a pretty lopsided view of a good offense to one that is in “work in progress” mode. The Bengals have established threats in Giovani Bernard and A.J. Green, while the Titans are struggling to find anyone who can step up.

Jake Locker is finally looking like he can play quarterback consistently in this league, but he has no one around him save for Kendall Wright. However, he hasn’t been able to find Wright, a reception machine, as often as he’d like so far this season.

Don’t look to the run game for help, as the tandem of Shonn Greene and Bishop Sankey has produced less than 150 yards so far this season. In fact, Dexter McCluster has been the most productive running back for the Titans.

The Bengals don’t have these problems. Andy Dalton has had time to throw to eight different receivers so far this season. He has 553 passing yards, putting him on pace for a respectable 4,424 total overall.

However, he’ll be trying to find a limited A.J. Green, who is dealing with a toe injury. Without Green, Dalton has a group of average receivers to work with, which could create problems.

Defense

The defensive battle will be an intriguing one, as the Titans don’t lack too much defensively. The 26-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys does show a few holes (a.k.a. the rush defense that allowed 220 yards).

The Bengals, though, are clicking on all cylinders in their first two games. They’ve allowed 26 points to the Ravens and Falcons, two teams that have no business scoring less than 20 points in a game.

Without Michael Johnson, the Bengals still rank in the Top 12 in rushing yards allowed and in the Top 5 in sacks. It seems as though their defense is able to find others to fill roles and not miss a beat.

The Titans, surprisingly, have recovered on pass defense without star cornerback Alterraun Verner, who left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason. They actually have allowed the least passing yards of any team in the league thus far.

It’s the opposite for the rush defense that allowed Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray to rush for 167 yards last week. A Week 1 game against the abysmal Kansas City Chiefs offense skew the Titans numbers, but it’s safe to say the front seven needs work.

Key matchup

 Locker needs to find his receivers, and soon. Tight end Delanie Walker leads the team with 179 yards, but he can’t carry this offense. Wright and Justin Hunter need to get involved, and if they do, this could be a relative close game.

Bengals 31, Titans 20