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Tennessee Titans final score, highlights and recap vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Nick Suss and Nick Gray, Nashville Tennessean
·11 min read

The Tennessee Titans will have a chance to settle the score against a familiar opponent Sunday when they host the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Titans (1-2) host the Bengals (1-2) at Nissan Stadium on Sunday in a battle of two teams that have gotten off to slow starts to the 2023 NFL season. The Titans have lost three in a row to the Bengals in the last three years, including a postseason loss in the 2021-22 AFC Divisional Round that ended one of the best campaigns in Titans' history and a 20-16 loss last season that kicked off the team's seven-game losing streak to end the year.

But this year's Bengals team isn't putting up big offensive numbers like the last two have. Quarterback Joe Burrow is battling through a calf injury that's limited what the Bengals can do in the pass game, keeping Burrow more confined in the pocket and making it harder for the Bengals to execute in the deep passing game.

The Bengals have had the NFL's worst offense through three weeks by yards per play, with the Titans not far ahead of them, ranked 29th in the NFL. Only the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers have tallied fewer first downs than the Titans and Bengals, who are tied with 44 through three games.

Follow below for live updates of the Titans' game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Titans are coming off one of their worst offensive showings ever in last Sunday's loss to Cleveland. That game was the first time the Titans gained fewer than 100 yards of total offense in a game since 2006 and the second time in three games this season the Titans went without scoring a touchdown.

Titans score today vs. Bengals: NFL Week 4 highlights, updates

FINAL SCORE: Titans 27, Bengals 3

INSTANT ANALYSIS: Titans offense pulls off complete 180, leads way to dominant win over Cincinnati Bengals

GENTRY ESTES: Finally, a satisfying feeling with Tennessee Titans win

REPORT CARD: Tennessee Titans report card: Overwhelming showing against Bengals gets straight A's

ONE DEFENSE, ONE SOUND: See Tennessee Titans' defense celebrate with 'Drumline' after Joe Burrow fumble

Fourth quarter

13:14 left: Nothing doing for the Bengals offense in this second half, and don't be surprised if this is the last Joe Burrow snap of the day with the Titans leading 27-3.

14:55 left: Bengals punt returner Trenton Irwin muffs a Titans punt, but Irwin falls on it.

Third quarter

Joe Burrow strip-sack recovered by Kevin Byard

1:24 left: Joe Burrow is strip-sacked by Trevis Gipson, and Kevin Byard recovers.

Titans well on their way to 2-2.

Titans finish 10-minute drive with FG to start second half

4:38 left: Nick Folk's 35-yard field goal is good after a 10 minute, 22 second drive.

Titans 27, Bengals 3

7:58 left: Hopkins makes a catch for a first down inside the Bengals' 30. Tennessee's second half opening drive now past 7 minutes.

10:52 left: Titans opening drive of the second half continues after a Bengals unnecessary roughness call on third and long.

Tee Higgins out for the Bengals with a rib injury.

HALFTIME: Titans 24, Bengals 3

Second quarter

Derrick Henry throws TD pass to cap 2-minute drive

10 seconds left: Henry throws to a wide open Josh Whyle for a touchdown. A different result to a similar situation as last week's debacle at the end of the first half.

Titans 24, Bengals 3

14 seconds left: Hopkins catch to the Bengals' 2. Titans take their final timeout. Going to have third and goal.

Derrick Henry lines up in the wildcat, and the Bengals call timeout.

23 seconds left: Titans get a new set of downs after defensive holding on a play that ended with Tannehill getting sacked.

1:07 left: Free play on a Bengals offsides penalty, and Tannehill finds Chris Moore for 44 yards. Moore had the ball just long enough before he fumbled the ball out of bounds.

1:32 left: Burrow finally takes a downfield shot on third and short, and it's incomplete. Bengals will punt. Titans have all their timeouts.

Titans offense rolling after Derrick Henry TD run

3:58 left: Derrick Henry breaks through an arm tackle and races for a 29-yard touchdown run. He does have some burst left after all! That followed another Westbrook-Ikhine catch off play action.

Titans offense looks much better today, and the play action looks have neutralized the pass rush.

Titans 17, Bengals 3

5:17 left: Tyjae Spears bobbles a toss sweep, then scoops it up and cuts back for a 21-yard rush.

6:17 left: Bengals three-and-out. Burrow has little interest in sitting in the pocket against the Titans pass rush. Instead of being patient on third and 10, Burrow checks down to Drew Sample for no gain.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine TD catch puts Titans in front

6:31 left: Touchdown Titans! Nick Westbrook-Ikhine catches a ball in the flat and wins the race to the pylon for a 13-yard touchdown.

Much like the Chargers game, Tennessee's offense ignites suddenly in the second quarter.

Titans 10, Bengals 3

7:06 left: Josh Whyle's first NFL catch is up the seam on play action for 24 yards. Titans driving.

7:49 left: First big chunk play of the day for the Titans offense is a double-move shot downfield to Hopkins for 38 yards.

9:34 left: Burrow hit as he throws incomplete on third down. Titans defense bringing blitzers and pressure

11:20 left: Joe Mixon has had a couple 10+ yard runs today on cutbacks. He has 44 rushing yards on 7 carries in the first half.

11:38 left: Nothing doing for the Titans offense on possession No. 2. Chig Okonkwo's hurdle attempt was not successful enough to prevent a punt.

14:08 left: Jeffery Simmons sacks Burrow on third down. Bengals will punt.

14:48 left: Azeez Al-Shaair hits Burrow as he is about to throw, and the ball is out. After a scramble, the Titans recover. Burrow's arm was close to coming forward.

Burrow was going forward. It's an incomplete pass.

15:00 left: Both Jeffery Simmons and Joe Mixon flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct during the quarter break.

First quarter

39 seconds left: Roger McCreary called for defensive pass interference after Burrow legally grounds the ball on third down. Not a good call.

Titans' steady first drive ends in a field goal

1:48 left: Titans' first drive ends on a combined sack between BJ Hill and Trey Hendrickson on Tannehill. Nick Folk's 53-yard field goal is good.

Titans 3, Bengals 3

3:52 left: Henry has more rushing yards in this drive (21), the Titans' first, than the entire game in Cleveland last week (20).

5:48 left: Tannehill checks down to Tyjae Spears for a fourth down conversion. Good protection on that play to allow Tannehill to work through some reads.

6:00 left: Tannehill pitches to Henry, who flips back to Tannehill, who overthrows an open Hopkins in the end zone. Nice call, poor throw.

7:17 left: There's Derrick Henry with an 11-yard carry on a toss sweep left.

Titans defense holds Bengals to FG on long opening drive

9:12 left: Bengals settle for a short field goal after a Joe Mixon carry on third and goal from the Titans' 6. Nice stop for the Titans defense. Amani Hooker had a good play on the ball on second and goal.

Bengals 3, Titans 0

11:40 left: Bengals hitting some delayed runs and screens for good yardage. JaMarr Chase's second quick screen goes for 17 yards, and Cincinnati is in the red zone.

13:01 left: Joe Mixon with a 12-yard carry into Titans territory.

15:00 left: Bengals win the toss and will receive.

Colton Dowell active, to make his Titans debut

Lebanon's Colton Dowell, a seventh-round pick in April's draft, is active today and will make his Titans debut on Sunday.

Dowell, who played at Wilson Central High School and UT-Martin, played well enough during the preseason to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. He has been inactive for the first three games.

The Titans inactives:

  • WR Treylon Burks

  • DB Elijah Molden

  • LB Luke Gifford

  • OL Peter Skoronski

  • OL Jaelyn Duncan

  • QB Will Levis

What channel is Titans-Bengals game on today?

Tennessee Titans vs. Cincinnati Bengals will air live on Fox, with streaming options available on Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Adam Amin will handle play-by-play duties for Fox, with Mark Schlereth as color analyst and Kristina Pink as sideline reporter.

More: Watch Titans vs. Bengals live on Fubo (free trial)

Titans vs. Bengals series history

Series record: Titans lead series 40-37-1 (including games as Houston Oilers)

Last time: Bengals 20, Titans 16 on Nov. 27, 2022

Last Bengals win: Nov. 27, 2022

Last Titans win: Titans 24, Bengals 20 on Nov. 12, 2017

Titans vs. Bengals start time

  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 1

  • Time: Noon CT

  • Location: Nissan Stadium (Nashville)

Titans and Bengals will kick off at noon CT on Sunday, Oct. 1, from Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

Titans vs. Bengals betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Sept. 29.

  • Spread: Bengals (-2.5)

  • Over/under: 41.5

  • Moneyline: Bengals -135 | Titans +110

Titans 2023 schedule

all times CT

  • Sept. 10: at New Orleans (L, 16-15)

  • Sept. 17: L.A. Chargers (W, 27-24)

  • Sept. 24: at Cleveland (L, 27-3)

  • Oct. 1: Cincinnati, noon, Fox

  • Oct. 8: at Indianapolis, noon, CBS

  • Oct. 15: Baltimore, 8:30 a.m., NFL Network (at London)

  • Oct. 29: Atlanta, noon, CBS

  • Nov. 2: at Pittsburgh, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime (how to subscribe)

  • Nov. 12: at Tampa Bay, noon, CBS

  • Nov. 19: at Jacksonville, noon, CBS

  • Nov. 26: Carolina, noon, Fox

  • Dec. 3: Indianapolis, noon, CBS

  • Dec. 11: at Miami, 7:15 p.m., ESPN

  • Dec. 17: Houston, noon, CBS

  • Dec. 24: Seattle, noon, CBS

  • Dec. 31: at Houston, noon, Fox

  • TBD: Jacksonville, TBD, TBD

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Bengals 2023 schedule

all times CT

  • Sept. 10: at Cincinnati (L, 24-3)

  • Sept. 17: Baltimore (L, 27-24)

  • Sept. 25: L.A. Rams (W, 19-16)

  • Oct. 1: at Titans, noon, Fox

  • Oct. 8: at Arizona, 3:05 p.m., Fox

  • Oct. 15: Seattle, noon, CBS

  • Oct. 29: at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m., CBS

  • Nov. 5: Buffalo, 7:20 p.m., NBC

  • Nov. 12: Houston, noon, CBS

  • Nov. 16: at Baltimore, 7:15 p.m., Amazon Prime (how to subscribe)

  • Nov. 26: Pittsburgh, noon, CBS

  • Dec. 4: at Jacksonville, 7:15 p.m., ESPN

  • Dec. 10: Indianapolis, noon, CBS

  • TBD: Minnesota, TBD, TBD

  • Dec. 23: at Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m., NBC

  • Dec. 31: at Kansas City, 3:25 p.m., CBS

  • TBD: Cleveland, TBD, TBD

CHANGES COMING? Will Titans make changes on their offensive line? Mike Vrabel shares his thoughts

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans score today vs Cincinnati Bengals: NFL Week 4 updates