CINCINNATI — For the second consecutive week, the Cincinnati Bengals overcame a disastrous start to pull off an incredible comeback. This time, it took overtime and a touchdown run from Joe Burrow to secure a wild 43-36 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Paycor Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Burrow threw five touchdown passes before scoring the winning touchdown on a 9-yard scramble in overtime, helping Cincinnati improve to 5-2 with its third consecutive victory. The Bengals trailed 13-0 after the first quarter, lost the lead twice in the fourth, and needed a late touchdown drive just to force overtime.
Tennessee controlled the opening quarter, scoring on each of its first three possessions. Joey Slye connected on field goals of 46 and 29 yards, while Tony Pollard broke loose for a 40-yard touchdown run to give the Titans a 13-0 advantage.
The Bengals finally responded early in the second quarter when Burrow connected with Ja'Marr Chase for a 30-yard touchdown on third-and-18. Cincinnati later took a 14-13 lead with 23 seconds remaining before halftime when Burrow found rookie tight end Jack Endries for a 1-yard touchdown.
Cincinnati extended its lead early in the third quarter when Boye Mafe strip-sacked Cam Ward, and Dexter Lawrence recovered the fumble before returning it to the Tennessee 17-yard line. Burrow connected with Tee Higgins for a touchdown on the following play, putting the Bengals ahead 21-13.
The Titans answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive capped by Pollard's 1-yard run and Ward's successful two-point conversion, tying the game at 21. Cincinnati reclaimed a 23-21 lead late in the quarter when Demetrius Knight and Lawrence tackled Pollard in the end zone for a safety.
The fourth quarter featured a remarkable exchange of touchdowns. Tennessee regained the lead on Ward's 11-yard touchdown pass to Chimere Dike, but Burrow answered with a 25-yard scoring pass to Mike Gesicki. Cincinnati's failed two-point conversion left the Bengals ahead just 29-28.
The Titans struck again when Ward found Wan'Dale Robinson for a 15-yard touchdown with 3:50 remaining. A successful two-point conversion gave Tennessee a 36-29 lead, leaving Cincinnati needing another touchdown to stay alive.
Burrow delivered, directing a seven-play, 81-yard drive that ended with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Higgins with 1:20 remaining. Evan McPherson's extra point tied the game at 36, and Cincinnati's defense forced a Tennessee punt after a Dexter Lawrence II sack on 3rd down to send the contest into overtime.
The Bengals received the opening possession of overtime and wasted little time taking control. Burrow completed passes to Chase, Samaje Perine, and Higgins before connecting with Chase again to reach the Tennessee 9-yard line. On the next play, Burrow scrambled left and found the endzone for his sixth touchdown on the day, giving Cincinnati a 43-36 lead.
Tennessee had an opportunity to answer, but the Bengals' defense held. Facing fourth-and-3 from its own 35-yard line, Ward's pass intended for Elic Ayomanor fell incomplete, ending the game and completing another dramatic Cincinnati comeback.
The victory marked the second straight week Cincinnati overcame a double-digit first-half deficit. Despite three Burrow interceptions and a Chase Brown fumble, the Bengals once again found a way to win. After scoring 35 unanswered second-half points against Baltimore last Sunday, Cincinnati followed with another remarkable offensive performance to extend its winning streak to three games.
What's Next
The Bengals will travel to Madrid, Spain, to face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET, with NFL Network carrying the international matchup.
