After victory over the Titans, Bengals plan for playoffs – Cincinnati Bengals blog

NASHVILLE (Tenn.) — Just like the rest of his teammates. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow

The ending of the war was closely monitored Baltimore Ravens–Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday game. As the Jaguars converted the game-winning two point conversion, cheers erupted in the room as Baltimore moved into first place in AFC North.

Following Cincinnati’s 20-16 win against the Tennessee TitansThe Bengals are focused on the postseason and were helped by Sunday’s win in Tennessee.

“This is the kind of game that great teams win,” Burrow said.

Nashville’s game was a replay of last season’s AFC divisional round playoff matches. The Bengals defeated the top-seeded Titans to win the conference championship. This postseason run set the standard for how Cincinnati will be viewed in the future. They are among the favourites to win the Super Bowl.

Again, the Bengals were up against a Titans team. Derrick Henry, one of the league’s best running backs, and a Tennessee defense that is among the best in stopping the run.

Henry was held to just 38 yards by the Bengals on 19 carries. Cincinnati, on the other hand, ran for 108 yard despite having started running back Joe Mixon A concussion could cause you to miss the entire game.

“One thing this team took to heart was how physical this game was going to be,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said after the game. “And that’s a credit to Tennessee because that’s how they play. But our guys answered the bell today.”

Like last year’s playoff win in Nashville, Sunday’s game wasn’t a pretty one for Cincinnati. Its first eight offensive drives featured three-and-outs on half of them. The Bengals were still able to produce when it was needed.

Burrow relied on his wide receivers to keep the game tied at 13, as the fourth quarter began. Trenton Irwin Tee Higgins for some key catches. Irwin’s 16-yard pass down the right sideline extended a drive that concluded with a 27 yard touchdown that proved to have been the game-winning score.

In the face of tough opponents, winning is more important than aesthetics.

“This is the NFL,” Burrow said. “You’re playing really, really good teams on the opposing end. It’s not always going to be pretty all the time. You’ve gotta find ways to win and we’re starting to do that.”

Cincinnati (7-4) won its third consecutive game without a star wide receiver Ja’Marr ChaseHe was withheld as he is still recovering from a hip injury. After the game, Taylor sounded optimistic about Chase’s chances to play next weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sunday’s game against the Titans was a barometer for the Bengals’ postseason aspirations in 2022. Entering Week 11, five of Cincinnati’s final seven opponents were ranked ahead of the team in the conference standings, including the Titans (7-4), the Chiefs, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills Ravens.

Cincinnati’s daunting finish to the regular season is one of the reasons why Taylor avoided looking too far into the future.

“We got another big one next week [against Kansas City],” Taylor said. “We’re probably going to continue to say that from now on. Whatever.”

Burrow said the tough slate for the final six games of the regular season will be a chance for Cincinnati to show its “championship mettle.” When Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader spoke to teammates the day before beating Tennessee, he talked about being “battle-tested as a family” and relishing the chances ahead of them.

Between Sunday’s win and Baltimore’s loss, the Bengals are back on even footing in the race for the AFC North title. The path to another division title will include teams that want to dethrone Cincinnati.

“If you don’t see joy in that type of opportunity,” Reader said, “people pray for those type of [opportunities].

“Everything we want is in front of us. We just gotta go f—ing get it.”