NASHVILLE — The chance to face off against a former assistant finally has arrived for Zac Taylor in his sixth season as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sunday’s opponent is the Tennessee Titans, who are led by first-year head coach Brian Callahan — Taylor’s offensive coordinator the past five seasons in Cincinnati and someone the Bengals coach talks with as much as his brother Press, who is the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Business comes first, though, and Cincinnati (5-8) needs to win out to clinch a fourth straight year with a regular-season mark above .500. One loss ends that, along with the Bengals’ faint playoff hopes while sitting last among the AFC’s bubble teams.
“You’re able to remove all that emotion and just focus on the Tennessee Titans,” Taylor said. “And, you know, we’ll obviously get together briefly before the game starts on the field, but once the game kicks off, that all goes out the window, and you’re just trying to find a way to win.”
The Bengals stayed alive last Monday night by beating the host Dallas Cowboys 27-20, thanks to the NFL’s top passing duo as Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a 40-yard touchdown.