Special teams blunders cost Titans back to back games in shootout against Bengals
For the second week in a row, special teams ended up being the ultimate decider for the Tennessee Titans as a roughing the kicker call allowed the Cincinnati Bengals to score a touchdown before the end of the half and a fumble on the opening kick of the second half was returned for a touchdown to hand the Bengals an eleven point swing which would prove to be crucial in their 38-35 win over the Titans on Sunday.
The two touchdowns handed Cincinnati the lead early in the second half as the teams went back and forth with Tennessee briefly leading the game early in the fourth quarter with a 35-yard touchdown by Mark Fletcher.
Cincinnati would respond with an explosive touchdown of their own, converting a third long with a 49-yard strike by Joe Burrow to Carnell Tate.
Fletcher and the Titans would go on a long drive, bleeding the clock down to 2:35 where he would punch it in after the Titans had converted two third downs and a fourth down on that drive to keep it alive and take the lead with 2:38 remaining.
It would be too much time for Burrow who found Ja'Marr Chase for a 9-yard completion on third and seven and then converted a third and four with another completion to Chase and on third and six, went back to Tate for the 20-yard pick up to get into the redzone and on third and three, tight end Mike Gesicki picked up fourteen yards to set up first and goal.
The Titans defense held strong initially, forcing fourth and goal from the three-yard line but Oscar Delp got behind the middle of the defender and caught a wide open touchdown in the redzone with fifteen seconds left.
Cam Ward would be intercepted on the first pass of the ensuing drive to end the game.
Scoring Summary
Quarter 1 Mark Fletcher Jr, 2 Yd run (5:38)
Quarter 2 Tyler Bass, 36 Yd FG (6:17) Ja'Kobi Lane 36 Yd pass from Cam Ward (4:20) Ja'Lynn Polk 4 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (0:12)
Quarter 3 Ethan O'Connor, returned fumble 26 Yds (11:52) Mark Fletcher Jr, 5 Yd run (3:27) Carnell Tate 35 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (0:52)
Quarter 4 Mark Fletcher Jr, 35 Yd run (11:53) Carnell Tate 49 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (8:23) Mark Fletcher Jr, 1 Yd run (2:35) Oscar Delp 3 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (0:11)
Mark Fletcher Jr, 2 Yd run (5:38)
Tyler Bass, 36 Yd FG (6:17)
