Everyone expected the Tennessee Titans to get steamrolled by the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8 following the Jeffery Simmons trade. That's not what happened. Quarterback Cam Ward played the best game of his career, but the Titans came up short, losing a thriller 43-36 in overtime.
It was Ward's first 300-yard passing game. Brian Daboll's offense looked explosive for a second consecutive week. The Titans undeniably showed growth throughout an exciting loss versus a good Bengals team.
We compiled some real-time reactions throughout the nailbiting contest. Precisely, we have 13 instant overreactions to the Titans' 43-36 overtime Week 8 loss to the Bengals.
13 instant reactions to the Titans' Week 8 overtime loss
Brian Daboll takes the training wheels off Cam Ward
Most Titans fans have complained about Brian Daboll's conservative offense and how it has negatively impacted Cam Ward's development. That wasn't the case on Sunday. Ward was red-hot throughout the first quarter, completing 10-of-15 attempts for 109 yards. That looked closer to his usual end-of-game numbers from this season. Daboll placed the offense in Ward's hands from the get go, and it started off hot, scoring 13 points during the opening quarter.
Supporting cast continues letting Cam Ward down
Ward has occasionally struggled this season, but his upgraded supporting cast has also committed ill-timed mistakes. Calvin Ridley and Wan'Dale Robinson dropped one pass apiece on the first two drives. On the Titans' third possession, which had moved into Bengals territory, Robinson lost a fumble on a WR screen. It was a questionable call that was upheld upon review.
Another strange refereeing call goes against the Titans
With the Titans leading 13-7 late in the second quarter, Bengals QB Joe Burrow threw a 1st-and-goal pass out of bounds. After he pestered the referees, Brad Allen's crew threw a flag approximately 20 seconds late. It was DPI on Joshua Williams. Not only did the call come curiously late, it occurred on an uncatchable pass Burrow intentionally rifled out of bounds. There's just no consistency.
Crucial Cam Ward mistake
After Amani Hooker recorded his second interception of the afternoon, the Titans had some surprising momentum despite trailing 14-13 at the beginning of the third quarter. Unfortunately, Cam Ward made a critical mistake after playing a terrific opening half. On the first play following the Hooker interception, Ward tried awkwardly turning away from pressure, but was strip-sacked due to poor ball security. The Bengals scored a TD on the ensuing offensive play, busting open their lead 21-13.
Cam Ward, offense quickly makes up for it
On the follow-up possession, the Titans gained 63 yards on an 11-play scoring drive. They generated a few penalties on the Bengals' secondary, but both passed and ran the football effectively. Pollard punched it in from the 1-yard line for his second TD after Gunnar Helm drew a DPI at the goal line. Ward converted the two-point conversion to tie it 21-21 via a nifty spin move to fool the defense on a QB run.
Brian Daboll called WHAT?
Up until this point, Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll had called an excellent game. He had a serious brain-fart at a brutal time. After Amani Hooker's third interception, the Titans were tied 21-21 with the ball backed up near their own end zone. A James Hudson false start put the offense on its goal line. Daboll inexplicably called a slow-developing halfback draw, and a Bengals blitzing linebacker tackled Pollard for a safety, 23-21 Bengals.
Defense answers, offense capitalizes
Following the safety, the Titans kicked to the Bengals trailing 23-21. A Cincinnati touchdown could have ended things. Instead, Alontae Taylor helped force a fumble on a handoff Chase Brown never really had a handle on. The Titans recovered (confirmed upon lengthy review). The offense capitalized as a long Pollard run got the Titans into the red zone. Cam Ward fired a play-action TD to Chimere Dike, giving the Titans a 28-23 fourth-quarter lead.
Cam Ward keeps ROLLING
After a Bengals touchdown (and failed two-point conversion) made it 29-28 Bengals, Cam Ward and the offense punched back again. An eight-play scoring drive featured multiple third-down conversions by the passing attack. The scoring play was a perfectly placed 15-yard touchdown to Wan'Dale Robinson's back shoulder. Ward made an excellent play, keeping it alive and converting the two-point try to make it 36-29 Titans.
Cam Ward takes an inexcusable sack
After the Bengals tied it 36 apiece, Cam Ward had an opportunity to string together a game-winning drive. It started off extremely promising. Facing a 3rd-on-3 on the edge of field goal range with under one minute remaining, Ward took an inexcusable sack that definitely placed them outside of Joey Slye's range. The Titans punted, sending the game to overtime.
Defense folds in the clutch
The Bengals won the coin toss in overtime and elected to receive. Joe Burrow continued cutting right through Robert Saleh's defense, leading a 70-yard scoring drive that only took five plays, concluding with a Burrow touchdown scramble. 43-36 Cincinnati, with over 500 yards of Bengals offense.
Offense can't answer the bell in overtime
The Titans had an opportunity to possess the football after the Bengals' overtime TD. Center Austin Schlottmann airmailed the second-down snap that forced a throwaway and backed the offense into a 3rd-and-long hole. After a short Cam Ward pass, the offense had 4th-and-3. Ward threw incomplete for Elic Ayomanor and it was game over.
Special teams mistakes everywhere
The Titans are among the most penalized special teams units in the league. It didn't take long for the weekly occurrence. Chimere Dike returned the opening kickoff across his own 40, but not one, but two holding penalties on the Titans nullified it. In total, they were penalized on three Dike kickoff returns. Later, the Bengals returned a punt 25 yards to midfield. This is becoming inexplicable and special teams coordinator John "Bones" Fassel needs to correct it.
Robert Saleh's aggression pays off
On that same opening possession, the Titans were facing a 4th-and-inches around midfield after a third-down Tony Pollard run measured short. Robert Saleh elected to keep his offense on the field. Cam Ward converted on a play-action scramble. The drive later ended with a field goal, but the gamble ensured the Titans scored points on their opening drive.
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