The Tennessee Titans (0-1) will face off against HBO's darlings, the Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) who are being featured on this year's edition of Hard Knocks. Tonight's game can be live streamed here; Titans fans trying to listen to the action can do so on WGFX 104.5 FM, while the Bengals' fans can do the same by tuning in to ESPN 1530.
Tonight's game could feature some scintillating dashes from each team's backfield. The Titans' home run threat is well-known; Chris Johnson has dubbed himself "Every Coach's Dream" because of his breakneck speed. He's been a 2,000-yard rusher in the past, and he is hoping to shake off an inconsistent 2012 campaign. In Week 1 of the preseason Johnson tore off a 65-yard touchdown scamper that reminded all who were watching of his former glory.
As for Cincinnati, their lightning rod out of the backfield is rookie Giovani Bernard, a small, quick runner who is just about the polar opposite of starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The Bengals are hoping to keep Green-Ellis fresher this year, so that he can run more powerfully when he is given the ball. He will still be the team's premier goal line back, but expect Bernard to be used quite often.
The other player to watch tonight is Titans quarterback Jake Locker. Tennessee selected Locker eighth overall in the 2011 draft, and this season might be a make-or-break year for the third-year passer.
He only was able to play in 11 games in 2012 due to injury, but the Titans would like to see a significant uptick in Locker's accuracy. He competed just 56.4 percent of his passes last season, and managed only 10 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.
Tennessee won't complain about Locker's ability to keep defenses on their toes with his rushing, however. Last year the surprisingly speedy and elusive Locker averaged slightly more than seven yards per carry.
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