It was the second straight game in which the Cincinnati Bengals fell behind 13-0. Only this time, it came against a seemingly unmatched opponent, the Tennessee Titans.
It’s one that Cincinnati lost easily, and that would be a disaster in a tight AFC North.
Instead, it resulted in a thrilling overtime victory that taught us a lot about how the team (especially the defense) has grown.
Here’s what we learned.
1. There is no stopping this offense once it has been committed
Against the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago, the Bengals scored 35 points in the second half.
Then, against Tennessee, the Bengals scored zero points in the first quarter but ended up with 43.
Tee Higgins got the ball, and Ja’Marr Chase took the lead late. But the engine was, of course, Joe Burrow, who finished 38-of-48 for 462 yards, with five touchdowns, three interceptions, and one rushing touchdown.
To put that into perspective, Burrow became the first quarterback since 1951 to gain 450 yards, five touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown in the same game. (The fact that the Bengals QB made “Norm Van Brocklin” trending 43 years after his death is saying something.)
So when the defense did what it has done so often in recent years (abandon long plays and turn starting QBs into borderline superstars), the offense didn’t blink. Burrow and the Bengals just kept firing downfield, not letting the interceptions get in the way, knowing they could outrun anyone.
2. Tee Higgins went into beast mode
It’s not just the 10 catches for 155 yards. It’s the fact that Tee Higgins looks more dominant than ever. He’s manhandling defensive backs, catching in traffic, catching over the top of their heads, and not showboating afterwards.
He knows who he is: one of the best in the game.
What’s really remarkable is how easy it is for him. Higgins doesn’t even seem to be in full swing, but he gets guys right because of how confident he is in his route running, hands, and big body, which will always win.
Higgins has now totaled 148 yards or more in three of seven games. He was on pace for 104 catches, 1,763 yards, and 10 touchdowns, which had only been accomplished six times before.
Forget the WR2 or WR1A talk. Just enjoy the fact that the Bengals have two very talented receivers, and neither of them can be hidden for an entire game.
3. The defensive line gives them a chance to win games they are not used to
Burrow pointed out that this Titans game is the type of contest they have lost in the past three years.
And it looked likely to happen again, with Cam Ward’s drive to get within field goal range with less than a minute left.
But then Dexter Lawrence got a huge sack, grabbed Ward and slammed him to the ground.
It was the most dominant sack these eyes have seen since Geno Atkins pushed Deshaun Watson through the air in 2017.
That play brought the Bengals back to life. And it’s the kind of play that’s been missing, especially from inside the defensive line, for years.
This is the result of a good collaboration with Boye Mafe. According to Paul Dehner Jr., “Lawrence and Mafe looked at each other” and then “Mafe and I collided with Lawrence’s blocker, helping free the 350-pound wrecking ball to knock Titans quarterback Cam Ward to the ground for a sack.”
The two combined for another big play in the third quarter, when Mafe sacked Ward, and Lawrence took the ball and returned it eight yards (he was tragically tripped before he could get it all the way—that would be an all-time highlight).
Those two plays, with Demetrius Knight Jr. shooting through the gap to tackle Tony Pollard for a safety, showed you exactly the kind of game-changing plays that are possible when you consistently win in the trenches.