TEAM NOTES
· The Titans defeated the Bengals 27-3 to even their 2023 record at 2-2.
· The Titans' 24-point victory margin was their largest since a 31-point margin (34-3) against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 2, 2022.
· The Titans improved to 11-2 in October games from 2020 to 2023. During that span, their .846 winning percentage in October leads the NFL.
· The win improved the Titans' all-time record at Nissan Stadium to 114-87, including the regular season and playoffs.
· The Titans snapped the Bengals' three-game winning streak in the series and improved their all-time record against the Bengals (regular season and postseason) to 41-37-1.
· For the third time in four games this season, the Titans won the time-of-possession battle, holding the ball for 34 minutes and 45 seconds (25:15 for the Bengals).
TEAM NOTES – OFFENSE
· The Titans scored on four of their five possessions in the first half and scored touchdowns on three of their five drives in the first half. Their 24 points in the first two quarters were their most in the first half of a game since scoring 24 at Indianapolis on Oct. 2, 2022.
· The Titans scored three touchdowns in the second quarter. It was the first time they put up 21 points in a single quarter since Jan. 9, 2021 at Houston, where they scored 21 points in the second quarter.
· In a span of seven offensive plays in the second quarter, the Titans had five plays in which they gained 20-plus yards.
· On the first possession of the second half, the Titans offense went on a 15-play, 65-yard drive that used 10 minutes and 22 seconds. In terms of clock used, it was the Titans' longest scoring drive since a field-goal drive that took 11 minutes and 14 seconds at Jacksonville on Oct. 26, 2003.
· The Titans converted third downs at a rate of 61.5 percent, recording a first down on eight of their 13 attempts. Their conversion rate was the highest by the Titans offense since a 66.7-percent rate (eight of 12) against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 24, 2021. Against the Bengals, the Titans also converted their only fourth-down attempt.
· The Titans totaled 400 net yards on offense for the first time since the offense generated 408 yards at Green Bay on Nov. 17, 2022.
· The offense totaled 173 rushing yards on 33 attempts for an average of 5.2 yards per carry. It was their highest team rushing output since a 184-yard rushing performance against the Houston Texans on Dec. 24, 2022.
· The Titans' 23 total first downs were their most since they recorded 23 at Houston on Jan. 9, 2022.
TEAM NOTES – DEFENSE
· For the first time since a 34-3 win against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 2, 2022, the Titans did not allow their opponent to score a touchdown. It was also the fewest total points allowed by the Titans since the same win against the Dolphins.
· After the Titans allowed a field goal on Cincinnati's initial possession, the Titans defense shut out the Bengals for the remainder of the game, and six of Cincinnati's final eight possessions ended in Bengals territory. During the game the Bengals had only one red-zone drive, which resulted in their lone field goal.
· The Titans defense allowed the Bengals to convert only two of their nine third-down attempts for a rate of 22.2 percent. The Bengals did not convert a third down until less than 10 minutes remained in the fourth quarter. The effort came two weeks after the defense limited the Los Angeles Chargers to 14.3 percent on third down (two conversions on 14 attempts).
· The Titans defense allowed 72 rushing yards on 18 attempts by the Bengals. The defense improved its streak to 10 consecutive games without allowing the opposing offense to reach 100 rushing yards, and the Titans defense also has gone 20 games without allowing an individual 100-yard rushing performance.
· The Bengals' 211 total net yards were the fewest by a Titans opponent since the Titans defense limited the Houston Texans to 161 yards on Oct. 30, 2022.
ILB AZEEZ AL-SHAAIR
· Finished second on the defense with nine tackles, including a tackle for loss.
· Added a team-high two passes defensed.
S KEVIN BYARD
· Recorded six tackles and a fumble recovery.
· Credited with his fourth career fumble recovery (first of 2023) after Trevis Gipson's strip-sack of Joe Burrow in the third quarter.
DB SHYHEIM CARTER
· Made his NFL debut and recorded a special teams tackle.
WR COLTON DOWELL
· Made his NFL debut.
K NICK FOLK
· Made both of his field goal attempts (53 and 35 yards) and all three of his extra point attempts.
· Made a 53-yard field goal in the first quarter. It was the team's longest field goal since a 53-yarder by Stephen Gostkowski at Jacksonville on Dec. 13, 2020. It gave him two successful field goals in two attempts from 50-plus yards in 2023.
· Improved his active streak to 18 consecutive field goals made. Entering the week, his 16 consecutive field goals accounted for the NFL's longest active streak. This is the fourth time in Folk's career he has made at least 18 field goals in a row. During his career, which began in 2007, he has authored streaks of 36 (2020-21), 23 (2013) and 19 (2010-11) made field goals in addition to his current streak.
· Made his 65th consecutive field goal on attempts from less than 40 yards. Justin Tucker holds the NFL record with a streak of 70 consecutive made field goals from under 40 yards.
LB JACK GIBBENS
· Led the team and tied his career high with 10 tackles. He added a pass defensed.
OLB TREVIS GIPSON
· Notched his fourth career strip-sack, forcing a turnover against Joe Burrow in the third quarter. Kevin Byard recovered the fumble for the Titans. It was Gipson's 11th career sack and his first in a Titans uniform.
· His four strip-sacks since the beginning of the 2021 season are tied for the 11th-highest total in the NFL.
RB DERRICK HENRY
· Totaled 122 rushing yards and one touchdown on 22 carries (5.5 avg.) and added one reception for 11 yards. He also completed a two-yard touchdown pass.
· Early in the third quarter, he moved past Earl Campbell (8,574 rushing yards with the franchise) for second place on the franchise's all-time rushing list. Since entering the NFL in 2016, Henry has 8,620 rushing yards and now trails only Eddie George (10,009) in team annals.
· Rushed for a 29-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give him a franchise-best 80 career rushing touchdowns (83 total touchdowns).
· Became the seventh NFL player in the Super Bowl era (1966–present) to reach 8,000 rushing yards and 80 rushing touchdowns within his first eight seasons. The other players on the list are Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Shaun Alexander, LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson.
· Took a shotgun snap and completed a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Josh Whyle with 10 seconds remaining in the first half. It was Henry's third career touchdown pass in the regular season, and he has one additional touchdown pass in the postseason.
· Became the sixth running back in NFL history to rush for at least one touchdown and pass for at least one touchdown in multiple games during his career. It was his second such game after first accomplishing the feat at Green Bay on Nov. 17, 2022. He joined LaDainian Tomlinson (five games), Chuck Muncie (three), Walter Payton (three), Jerome Bettis (two) and Clinton Portis (two) as the NFL's only running backs to do so.
· Recorded his 38th career 100-yard rushing game, including regular season (35) and playoffs (three). He tied Eddie George (38 total) for the second-most such games in franchise history, trailing only Earl Campbell (40). His 35th 100-yard rushing performance in the regular season tied Chris Johnson's mark for the third-most in franchise history, behind only Campbell (39) and George (36).
S AMANI HOOKER
· Posted five tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed.
WR DeANDRE HOPKINS
· Registered a team-high 63 receiving yards on four receptions.
· Caught a 38-yard pass from Ryan Tannehill to convert a third down in the second quarter. It led to a Titans touchdown two plays later.
· Extended his streak to 149 consecutive games with a reception—every game he has played since he entered the NFL. It is the longest active streak in the NFL.
OLB ARDEN KEY
· Sacked Joe Burrow for a 10-yard loss in the fourth quarter. It gave Key 2.5 sacks in 2023 and 16.5 sacks in his career.
WR MASON KINSEY
· Averaged 12.3 yards on three punt returns, including a career-long 21-yard punt return in the second quarter. It was the team's longest punt return since Robert Woods returned a punt 21 yards against Las Vegas on Sept. 25, 2022.
CB ROGER McCREARY
· Tallied six tackles, including a tackle for loss.
WR CHRIS MOORE
· Caught a 44-yard pass from Ryan Tannehill in the second quarter.
· His four receptions through four games included gains of 49 yards, 33 yards, eight yards and 44 yards for an average of 33.5 yards per reception.
· Also led the team with two special teams tackles.
OLB CALEB MURPHY
· Made his NFL debut.
DT JEFFERY SIMMONS
· Totaled two tackles, including a sack.
· Ended a Bengals drive in the second quarter with an eight-yard sack of Joe Burrow. He increased his season total to three sacks and improved his career total to 24 sacks.
· Has at least one sack in three of the team's four games in 2023.
RB TYJAE SPEARS
· Rushed for 40 yards on five attempts (8.0 avg.) and added 18 yards on three receptions. He also had a 16-yard kickoff return.
· Rushed for a 22-yard gain in the second quarter, which led to a Titans touchdown two plays later.
P RYAN STONEHOUSE
· Placed both of his punts inside the 20, averaging 46.5 gross yards and 45.5 net yards per punt.
QB RYAN TANNEHILL
· Completed 18 of 25 passes for 240 yards with one touchdown and one interception for a 98.8 passer rating. He also rushed for 11 yards on six attempts.
· On three consecutive plays in the second quarter, he completed a 38-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins to convert a third down, a 24-yard pass to Josh Whyle and a 13-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
· Completed a 44-yard pass to Chris Moore in the second quarter.
· Logged the 51st game of his career with a passer rating of at least 98.0 (minimum 20 attempts).
WR NICK WESTBROOK-IKHINE
· Led the team with five receptions and finished second on the squad with 51 receiving yards.
· Caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill in the second quarter. It gave him nine career touchdown catches and a team-high two touchdown receptions in 2023.
· Added a 22-yard reception in the second quarter that preceded a Titans touchdown on the following play.
· Reached the 1,000-yard career receiving plateau (1,040).
TE JOSH WHYLE
· Totaled two receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown.
· Gained 24 yards on his first career reception on a pass from Ryan Tannehill in the second quarter. It set up a Titans touchdown on the ensuing snap.
· Scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard toss from running back Derrick Henry with 10 seconds remaining in the first half.
