Joe Burrow understands that the Cincinnati Bengals’ chances of making the playoffs are slim, as they are currently at the bottom of the AFC playoff race. However, he still wants the team to improve, no matter how the season ends.
Burrow threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, setting a new franchise record with 36 touchdown passes, surpassing the previous record of 35 set in 2022.
The Bengals boosted their playoff hopes with a 37-27 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. TV cameras caught Burrow looking frustrated while speaking with coach Zac Taylor after the team’s final touchdown.
“We know the chances are very slim,” Burrow said. “What I’m focused on right now is playing as good as we can play myself, playing up to my standard. That’s why I was so frustrated because I didn’t feel like we did that today.”
The Bengals (6-8) achieved their 400th regular-season win. They still need to win all their remaining games to keep their streak of winning seasons alive for the fourth year in a row, regardless of where they finish in the AFC playoff race.
The Bengals were missing starting defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, and they lost defensive end Sam Hubbard to a knee injury after he caught a 2-yard touchdown pass. Hubbard became the first Bengals defensive player to score a touchdown on a run or pass since safety Bobby Hunt did so on October 6, 1968, in the franchise’s first season.
Despite these setbacks, the Bengals capitalized on six turnovers to score 24 unanswered points, including a 39-yard pick-six by Geno Stone in the third quarter. The Bengals missed a chance to score more points after a 61-yard fumble return for a touchdown, as Jordan Battle fumbled just before crossing the goal line, resulting in a touchback.
The Bengals also committed 14 penalties for 113 yards.
“Unacceptable but really happy with the way the (defense) got the turnovers,” said Taylor. “(Six) turnovers. Three of them in the second half was huge for us … It was a strange game that way.”
The Titans (3-11) benched quarterback Will Levis after he threw his NFL-leading fourth pick-six of the season and his fourth turnover of the game. Mason Rudolph came in, looking ready to lead a comeback, but he was intercepted by Josh Newton.
Tennessee lost its third straight game and fell to 1-6 at home in coach Brian Callahan’s first season, marking his first game against his former team with the Bengals and their coach Zac Taylor.
Callahan praised Burrow for his performance and expressed disappointment about his team’s mistakes, including six turnovers and 12 penalties for 110 yards.
“If you can’t stop them on third down and you turn the ball over six times, it’s going to be tough to win,” Callahan said.
The Bengals played without left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., and Cody Ford was a late scratch due to illness. The Bengals started rookie Devin Cochran, who had only one offensive snap in his previous five appearances. Despite receiving help, Cochran gave up pressure that led to the first of Burrow’s two interceptions.
The Bengals also had four turnovers. The game set a record for the NFL’s first 10-turnover game since Week 2 of 2007, when the Lions and Vikings each had five turnovers in a game that went into overtime.
The Titans led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter after opening the game with back-to-back touchdown drives, their first such performance since Week 4 of the 2022 season. Tony Pollard ran for a 3-yard touchdown, and Tyjae Spears scored on a 1-yard run after his initial touchdown attempt was ruled short.
Burrow answered with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Chase Brown and a 2-yard touchdown pass to Hubbard. The Bengals took the lead for good after Cam Taylor-Britt intercepted Levis, and Burrow connected with Tee Higgins on a 38-yard touchdown pass to give the Bengals a 21-14 lead.
That touchdown gave Burrow his new franchise record for touchdown passes, a milestone he celebrated while lying on his back.
“I was just hoping it got there,” Burrow said.
