CINCINNATI – The Titans started November with a heartbreaking finish. More Sports News
In overtime, the heavy underdog Titans fell 43-36 to the Bengals after losing the lead in the final moments of regulation.
“I feel like I am standing up here every week saying the same thing: I think our guys fight their tails off,” Titans coach Robert Saleh said. “But the last five minutes we have to figure it out, we have to win.”
Titans quarterback Cam Ward recorded his first 300-yard game, completing 26-of-40 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns in the contest.
Titans running back Tony Pollard ran for 117 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
On defense, safety Amani Hooker intercepted three passes from Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, and defensive end Jacob Martin tallied three sacks.
But on this day, it wasn’t enough.
“It was a good game,” Ward said, “But at the end of the day, we are trying to win games here – that’s what the fans want, and that’s what we want.”
In overtime, Burrow scored on a nine-yard touchdown run, and the Titans weren’t able to score on their possession in the extra time.
With the loss, the Titans dropped to 1-7.
“You want to win those games,” Martin said. “I felt like the guys came out and battled, and you can’t ask for more (from an effort standpoint).”
The Titans got off to a fast start, and they were able to sustain it for most of the game
Ultimately, some of their own mistakes, penalties and turnovers, made pulling off the upset as nearly two touchdown underdogs more difficult.
On the opening possession, the Titans put together a nice drive and capped it off with 46-yard field goal by kicker Joey Slye to make it 3-0.
After a three-and-out from the defense, the Titans got the ball back, and Pollard capped that drive off with 40-yard touchdown run to make it 10-0 just eight minutes into the contest. Pollard broke several tackles and stiff-armed two Bengals on the way to the end zone.
Hooker then intercepted Burrow for the first time, and after another nice drive, a 29-yard field goal by Slye made it 13-0 with 2:14 left in the first quarter.
The Bengals then came alive on their next possession, as Burrow connected with Chase for a 30-yard touchdown to make it 13-7 at the 13:20 mark of the second quarter.
After a fumble by receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, the Titans looked to be in danger of falling behind.
But on a fourth-and-2 play for Cincinnati, from the Tennessee five-yard line, Martin sacked Burrow for a 15-yard loss, and the Bengals were turned away.
The Bengals managed to take a 14-13 lead by halftime, however, as Burrow connected with tight end Jack Endries on a one-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds left.
The game took a bad turn early in the third quarter.
Ward was sacked, and lost a fumble deep in the team’s own territory.
On the next play, Burrow connected with receiver Tee Higgins for a 17-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-13 at the 12:25 mark of the third quarter.
But the Titans kept swinging.
On their next possession, Ward drove the Titans 80 yards on eight plays, and the drive was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run by Pollard. After Ward ran in the two-point conversion, it was 21-21 with 7:47 left in the third quarter.
Disaster struck not long after Hooker’s third interception of the game.
With the Titans backed up, Pollard was tackled in the end zone after receiving a handoff. The safety gave the Bengals a 23-21 lead with 46 seconds left in the contest.
But the Titans made yet another play on defense, as Kevin Winston Jr. recovered a fumble near midfield with 13:24 left in the game.
The Titans then took the lead on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Ward to receiver Chimere Dike, which made it 28-23 with 11:29 left.
But the Bengals answered back with 25-yard touchdown pass from Burrow to tight end Mike Gesicki to make it 29-28 with 7:13 remaining.
Ward threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to receiver Wan’Dale Robinson with 3:46 left to give the the Titans a 36-29 lead.
But Burrow threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tee Higgins to tie score with 1:17 left.
The game then went into overtime, and the Titans fell short once again.
The Titans have a bye next weekend. The team will return to action on Sunday, November 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium.
“We have all the right pieces – we are not missing anything,” Titans defensive lineman Solomon Thomas said after the game. “We just have to finish these games – that’s what we’re missing. We have to be able to finish.”
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