NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A stingy Cincinnati defense, costly Titans mistakes, and a big game from Tee Higgins helped the Bengals defeat Tennessee 20-16 on Sunday.
The Bengals (7-4) won the rematch of last season's divisional playoff victory over Tennessee despite not having the services of running back Joe Mixon due to concussion protocol and receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who missed his fourth straight game with a hip injury.
Cincinnati has dominated the series as of late, winning three straight over Tennessee and five of the last six.
Burrow, who was sacked nine times by Tennessee in that very playoff game, went down only once on Sunday. Burrow finished the game with 270 yards passing, and Higgins caught seven balls for 114 yards as the Bengals moved into a first-place tie with rival Baltimore in the AFC North.
Tennessee (7-4) scored its only touchdown with a bit of luck. Tannehill tossed a short pass to Derrick Henry, who dashed 69 yards before Cam Taylor-Britt managed to poke the ball out at the Bengals 6. But luckily for the Titans, rookie Treyon Burks recovered the ball in the end zone for his first career touchdown and a 10-3 lead.
The Cincinnati defense smothered Derrick Henry yet again, holding the NFL's top rusher to 38 yards, his second-lowest total of the season. Unable to get any traction in the run game, Tennessee tried throwing to Henry instead, and he finished with a career-best 79 yards receiving.
The Bengals answered with a score of their own, as running back Samaje Perine crossed the goal line on a 7-yard run to tie the game at 10 with 1:55 left in the first half.
Cincinnati then took it's first lead of the game with 2:35 remaining in the third quarter, as Evan McPherson converted a 38-yard field goal attempt to give the Bengals a 13-10 advantage.
The Titans managed to tie the game back up at 13-13 in the waning seconds of the third quarter on a Caleb Shudak 24-yard field goal.
Shudak made his first NFL start in place of veteran Randy Bullock. The rookie made three-of-four, missing a 35-yarder to the right just before halftime.
But Cincinnati would take the lead for good on their ensuing possession as Burrow would lead the offense on a quick 6-play, 75-yard scoring drive. The final play of the drive saw Higgins haul in a 27-yard pass from Burrow to make the score 20-13 with 13:42 left in the game.
Tennessee inched closer after another Shudak field goal to make the score 20-16 with 6:07 remaining in the game.
The Bengals got the ball back and moved into Titans territory. However, the drive stalled out and McPherson kicked a 31-yard field with 1:53 left and extend the Cincinnati lead back to seven.
However, Titans lineman Kevin Strong was flagged for unnecessary roughness after landing on the long snapper. The penalty nullified the kick and Burrow took three knees to run the clock out for a Bengals win.
Ryan Tannehill threw for 291 yards, but the Titans couldn't score a touchdown in three trips to the red zone.
Cincinnati returns home next Sunday for the first of two-straight home dates as they face the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cincinnati 0 10 3 7 = 20
Tennessee 0 10 3 3 = 16
Second Quarter TEN—Caleb Shudak 33 field goal, 14:06. CIN—Evan McPherson 47 field goal, 11:30. TEN—Treylon Burks fumble recovery in end zone (Caleb Shudak kick), 11:15. CIN—Samaje Perine 7 run (Evan McPherson kick), 1:55. Third Quarter CIN—Evan McPherson 38 field goal, 2:35. TEN—Caleb Shudak 24 field goal, 0:39. Fourth Quarter 13:42 CIN—Tee Higgins 27 pass from Joe Burrow (Evan McPherson kick), 13:42. TEN—Caleb Shudak 38 field goal, 6:07.
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