The Tennessee Titans had every reason to feel better about themselves early Sunday. They jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter, and once again Tony Pollard was the spark, just like he was when Tennessee opened last week’s game against the Cleveland Browns with a 14-0 burst.
But the finish looked painfully familiar.
Tennessee let a winnable game slip away and fell 43-36 to the Bengals in overtime, wasting a strong chance to turn a promising start into something bigger. For a team that entered the day at 1-6 against a 4-2 opponent, it was the kind of loss that stings twice as much because the opportunity was right there.
Pollard kept making his case as the engine of this offense. The 29-year-old running back finished with 117 yards on 21 carries and added two touchdowns, pushing his season total to six.
After last week’s three-touchdown outing in the loss to Cleveland, he’s now stacking back-to-back games that only strengthen his value, both for Tennessee’s offense and as a possible trade piece with the November 10 deadline approaching. Right now, he looks like the most dependable player in the unit, with Carnell Tate the only exception.
Cam Ward also gave Tennessee something to build on, even if the final result still left a sour taste. After the questions that followed his performance last week and the Jeffery Simmons trade earlier this week, Ward answered with what was arguably the best game of his career.
He threw for a career-high 304 yards, went 26-for-40, and snapped a five-game interception streak. Even with a lost fumble in the third quarter, the outing was mostly a step forward.
That said, the rough edges are still there. Ward took a sack that helped set up the overtime loss, and he also missed Elic Ayomanor on a crucial fourth-down throw in OT that didn’t come close. So while this was a positive performance overall, it didn’t erase the concerns about his decision-making.
The defense had its moments, too, and Amani Hooker was at the center of them. He picked off Joe Burrow three times, which doubled Burrow’s season interception total entering the game. Alontae Taylor also forced a second-half fumble, and his move to nickel continues to look like a smart one for both him and the defense.
Still, the big plays couldn’t cover up the bigger problem. Tennessee gave up 462 passing yards, and that kind of number makes it hard to trust the unit no matter how many turnovers it creates. The flashes were real, but so was the damage.
In the end, the Titans walked away with another loss that felt avoidable. The offense had enough juice, the defense created chances, and Ward showed progress. But none of it changed the final score.
In Other News...
Titans Sent A Clear Message About Jeffery Simmons After His Trade
Jeffery Simmons departure to Chicago did not go unnoticed in Tennessee, and the Titans made sure of that in their next game. The defensive line showed up with red sleeves as a nod to the veteran tackle, a small but visible tribute to a player who had become a central figure in the room and on the field.
Solomon Thomas spoke about Simmons impact on the team and the gesture that followed his trade, underscoring how much respect he had earned inside the building. For a defense trying to move forward without one of its defining voices, the tribute said plenty about the standard Simmons left behind and the void the Titans now have to fill. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Trade Drama Just Took A Wild Jeffery Simmons Turn
Trade chatter around Jeffery Simmons took an unusual turn when Giants coach John Harbaugh confirmed he reached out directly to Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk about a possible deal. The move came after New York reportedly was not getting anywhere through Tennessee general manager Mike Borgonzi, which pushed Harbaugh to try a different route as the sides explored whether there was any real traction on the defensive tackle.
Harbaugh also made clear he has no interest in following any unwritten etiquette that might keep coaches from picking up the phone on matters like this, saying he would make similar calls again if needed. For Tennessee, it adds another layer to a situation already worth watching, since Simmons remains the kind of player who can alter a defense and draw interest even when the usual front-office path is not producing movement. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Rebuild Just Put Jacob Martin At The Center Of A Debate
Jacob Martins best game of the season came in a loss that only sharpened the bigger conversation around the Titans direction. In the overtime defeat to Cincinnati, the edge rusher piled up three sacks and nine quarterback pressures, the kind of disruptive night that stands out even on a team sitting at 1-7 and deep in a rebuilding stretch.
With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, Martin has suddenly become one of the more interesting names on Tennessees roster. The Titans have already shown a willingness to move pieces as they sort through the future, and a productive pass rusher on a struggling team naturally draws attention, even if no deal has been confirmed. [Read more 🡒]