CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals escaped Sunday's matchup with the Tennessee Titans with a 43-36 overtime victory, improving to 5-2 and extending their winning streak to three games. It was a remarkable afternoon for the offense, which piled up 510 yards and six touchdowns, but it took every bit of that production to beat a Tennessee team that entered the game with just one victory.
Several Bengals delivered outstanding individual performances, but there were plenty of mistakes along the way. Here are our Heroes & Zeroes from Cincinnati's overtime victory.
Heroes
Joe Burrow — Burrow put together one of the most productive games of his career, completing 38 of 48 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns. He also delivered the winning score, scrambling nine yards into the end zone on Cincinnati's opening overtime possession.
Burrow became just the second quarterback in NFL history to record at least 450 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown in the same game, joining Norm Van Brocklin in 1951. He also threw his 175th career touchdown pass, becoming the third-fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach that milestone. For all his mistakes, Burrow's ability to produce when the Bengals needed him most was the difference between winning and losing.
Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase — Cincinnati's receiving duo was nearly unstoppable against Tennessee. Higgins finished with 10 catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns, while Chase added 11 receptions for 141 yards and a score. Together, they accounted for 296 of Burrow's 462 passing yards.
Chase got the Bengals on the board with a 30-yard touchdown reception on third-and-18 early in the second quarter. Higgins delivered the game's biggest reception late in regulation, catching an 18-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 36 with 1:17 remaining. Both receivers repeatedly made plays in critical situations, giving Burrow reliable targets throughout the afternoon, as they do every for every day that ends in "y".
Boye Mafe — Mafe made one of the game's biggest defensive plays early in the third quarter, sacking Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward and forcing a fumble. Dexter Lawrence II recovered the football and returned it eight yards, giving Cincinnati possession at the Titans' 17-yard line.
Burrow connected with Higgins for a touchdown on the very next play, turning Mafe's takeaway into seven points. The strip-sack was Mafe's second of the season and raised his team-leading sack total to 5.5. On a day when Cincinnati's defense struggled to contain Tennessee, Mafe provided a much-needed and big-time impact play.
Zeroes
Joe Burrow — Yes, Burrow belongs on both lists. His offensive production was extraordinary, but three interceptions against a Tennessee team that entered the contest 1-6 are impossible to overlook. All three passes were intercepted by Titans safety Amani Hooker, giving Tennessee repeated opportunities to stay in the game and/or win it.
Cincinnati committed four turnovers overall, and Burrow accounted for three of them. His five touchdown passes and overtime score ultimately overcame those mistakes, but the Bengals cannot expect to win consistently while giving opponents that many extra possessions. Burrow was brilliant for much of the afternoon, but his turnovers also contributed to Cincinnati needing overtime against a struggling opponent.
Dylan Fairchild — Fairchild had a difficult afternoon along Cincinnati's offensive line, committing two costly penalties. His second-quarter holding penalty wiped out a 20-yard touchdown reception by Chase Brown, turning what appeared to be a scoring play into third-and-long. Burrow rescued the possession with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Chase on the next play, but that doesn't excuse the penalty.
Fairchild was also flagged for a false start at the end of the third quarter, putting Cincinnati behind schedule on another possession. He is the most penalized player on the Bengals to date this season.. His two penalties were bad mistakes in a game when the Bengals needed their offense operating at its best just to keep pace.
The Defense — Cincinnati's defense deserves credit for several big plays, including Mafe's strip-sack, two recovered fumbles, a third-quarter safety, and the overtime stop that secured the victory. But allowing 36 points and 440 yards to a team that entered the game with a 1-6 is not winning football.
Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward threw for a career-high 304 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, while Tony Pollard rushed for 117 yards and two scores. The Titans finished with 158 rushing yards, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and repeatedly found ways to move the football when Cincinnati needed a stop.
Not all of those 36 points should be laid at the defense's feet. Cincinnati's offense committed four turnovers, creating additional opportunities for the Titans and putting the defense in difficult situations. Still, the Bengals allowed Tennessee to take a 36-29 lead late in the fourth quarter and needed another Burrow comeback to force overtime. I'm sure they'll be fine, but they also have to be better.
