A game packed with production and mistakes required one more scoring drive—and one final defensive stop.
The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Tennessee Titans 43-36 in overtime Sunday at Paycor Stadium, with Joe Burrow's nine-yard touchdown run providing the winning score. Cincinnati then stopped Tennessee on fourth down to secure a game that had remained unsettled through regulation.
File photo: Joe Burrow during Cincinnati’s November 22, 2020 game at Washington; not the Titans game. Photo: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA. Source photograph · CC BY-SA 2.0.
The Bengals' official report recorded 462 passing yards and five touchdown passes for Burrow, who completed 38 of 48 attempts. Cincinnati improved to 5-2.
Burrow's receivers supply the volume
Tee Higgins caught 10 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, while Ja'Marr Chase had 11 catches for 141 yards and a score. Higgins' late fourth-quarter touchdown helped bring the game to 36-36 and force the extra period.
The numbers describe an explosive passing performance, but Cincinnati needed all of it. Tennessee repeatedly created another challenge, and Burrow's production came with three interceptions. The final score required both the ability to generate touchdowns and the ability to recover from costly possessions.
Tennessee keeps creating chances
The Titans' recap credited Cam Ward with his first 300-yard passing game: 26 completions on 40 attempts for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Tony Pollard ran for 117 yards and two scores.
Tennessee also received three interceptions from safety Amani Hooker and three sacks from defensive end Jacob Martin. Those were substantial opportunities to change the result against a favored opponent. The Titans led 10-0 early, but could not turn the combination into a victory.
That tension defines the losing side of the story. Tennessee found offense, produced takeaways and remained level after four quarters. It still needed one more response when the game extended beyond them.
Five plays establish the overtime margin
Cincinnati went 70 yards in five plays on its first overtime possession, ending with Burrow's touchdown scramble. Tennessee received the ball afterward but could not match the score. The Bengals reported an incompletion on fourth-and-three as the final defensive stand.
The overtime sequence supplied a cleaner ending than the back-and-forth regulation: an efficient scoring drive followed by a stop. Burrow's running contribution completed an afternoon already defined by his passing volume.
Tennessee fell to 1-7, a difficult result despite the individual performances. Cincinnati left with another win and evidence of an offense capable of answering repeatedly, even when turnovers made the task harder. Read more in Taken Social's Sports section.
