Bengals Stun Titans

 

​By Andrew Rosario

 

 

The last time Tennessee Titan’s running back Derrick Henry played in a game was eight weeks ago. When he got hurt, Henry had gained 937 yards and had he stayed healthy was on track to gain more than 2,000 yards. Especially since one more regular season game was added to the schedule. Henry was in the backfield when the Titans hosted the Cincinnati Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow who were coming off their wild card victory over the Las Vegas Raiders the week before. In front of more than 69,000 fans, Tennessee was looking to get back to the AFC championship game for the first time since 2019. The Bengals ended their 31-year playoff victory drought and have not been to the Super Bowl since 1988 when they lost to the San Fransisco 49ers.

 

Cincinnati kicked off to Tennessee and it didn’t take long for the Bengals to capitalize on a Titans mistake. With Henry in the backfield, quarterback Ryan Tannehill fakes the hand-off and looks down field for wide receiver Julio Jones. Bengals safety Jessie Bates III steps in front for the interception. Bates III first career post season interception. 8 plays later, Burrow moves them into field range and watches Eric McPherson kick the 24-yard field goal giving them an early 3-0 lead.

Both teams traded punts before Cincinnati put 3 more points on the board. Burrow throws a short pass to wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase who turns it into a 57-yard gain. Burrow got them down to the Titans 27 and could only come away with another McPherson field goal (45 yards) extending the lead to 6-0 as the first quarter came to an end.

 

Tennessee had not played in two weeks and the rust showed as they only gained 37 yards in the first quarter. They were finally able to get on the board the second time they had the ball in the second quarter. Tannehill conncets with wide receiver A.J Brown for 41-yards and 8-plays later, Henry runs it in from 3-yards out. Inexplicably, the Titans go for 2 and Henry is stopped short bringing the game to a 6-6 tie.

 

The Bengals added 3 more points before halftime as they marched 11-plays , 39 yards for a 54-yard McPherson field taking a 9-6 halftime lead. Both teams stepped up defensively in the first half. The Titans sacked Burrow 5 times and the Bengals held Henry to only 30 rushing yards on 10 attempts.

 

Cincinnati wasted no time getting into the end zone for the first time after getting the ball to start the third quarter. Starting on their own 35, Burrow moves them 65-yards in 9 plays. Joe Mixon runs it in from 16 yards out for the touchdown and the 16-6 lead.

 

Looking to get Henry untracked, the Titans run him the first 3 times they had the ball as he gained 21 yards. The next run play saw D’Onta Foreman gain 54 yards getting the ball down to the Bengals 9-yard line. The next play resulted in a costly Tennessee turnover. From the shotgun, Tannehill looks downfield for wide receiver Chester Rogers. Bengals safety Mike Hilton comes on the blitz, batters the pass in the air and has the presence of mind to come up with the interception thwarting the Titans scoring attempt. The Titans defense held and added 3 more points after a Randy Bullock 34-yard field goal reduced the lead to 16-9. It was now time for the Tennessee defense to come up with a big play.

 

Burrow attempts a short pass to running back Samaje Perine and the ball goes off his hands. Titans safety Amani Hooker comes up the shoe string interception as the review upheld the call. 3-plays later, Tannehill finds wide receiver A.J. Brown who gets behind safety Vonn Christian Bell for the 33-yard touchdown reception tying the game at 16. The Bengals gave the ball back after 6 plays with Tennessee looking to put up more points. Needing 1-yard to keep their drive alive on the Cincinnati 35, the Titans attempt a Burrow quarterback sneak for no gain. They forgo a field goal attempt and hand the ball off to Henry on 4th down for no gain giving the ball back to the Bengals.

 

Tennessee had a chance to advance to the championship game getting the ball on their own 16 with 2:34 left. The Cinci defense once again came up big. On 3rd & 5 at their own 40, Tannehill looks for wide receiver Nicholas Westbrook-Ikhine but cornerback Eli Apple steps in front for the interception.

 

With only .20 seconds left, overtime looked inevitable but Burrow connects on a 19 yard pass to Chase. Mixon gains a modest 2-yards setting up the game winning McPherson 52 Yd field goal. The Bengals advancing to the AFC Championship game for the first time since 1988. 

 

The Cincinnati Bengals will play the winner of the Buffalo Bills when they travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs at 6:30 tonight.