Bengals vs Tennessee Titans Match Player Stats: Who Played Best and Why It Matters
If you want to understand the Bengals vs Tennessee Titans match player stats, this guide will help you read the numbers in a simple way. We look at the last regular season game between the two teams in December 2024, the one-sided game in October 2023, and the famous playoff game in January 2022. For each game, you will see which players did well, which players had a hard day, and why those numbers changed the final score. You don’t need to be a football expert to follow along.
What Happened in the Most Recent Bengals vs Titans Game?
The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Tennessee Titans 37-27 on December 15, 2024, in Nashville. Joe Burrow threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, which gave him 36 touchdown passes that season and broke his own team record of 35 from 2022. With this win, the Bengals reached 400 regular season wins in team history.
The game started well for Tennessee. The Titans scored touchdowns on their first two drives, but they later turned the ball over six times, with four interceptions and two fumbles. That is the main story of this game. The Titans had chances, but mistakes gave the Bengals too many free points.
Who Was the Best Quarterback in the 2024 Game?
Joe Burrow was the best quarterback on the field, even though he did not have a perfect day. He threw three touchdown passes, but he also made mistakes. Titans linebacker Luke Gifford picked off Burrow on only the second play of the game, and later Titans safety Daryl Worley intercepted him at the Tennessee three-yard line.
After the game, Burrow was not happy with himself. Cameras showed him looking frustrated while talking with head coach Zac Taylor, and he later said he did not feel he played up to his own standard. This tells you something important: good players judge themselves by more than the final score.
On the Titans side, the quarterback story was hard to watch. Will Levis completed 8 of 12 passes for 89 yards with three interceptions and a passer rating of 49.0. He also lost a fumble and was replaced by Mason Rudolph in the third quarter.
Rudolph played much better. He completed 21 of 26 passes for 209 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, with a passer rating of 109.8. The problem was that he came into the game when the Titans were already far behind.
How Did the Running Backs Play?
Chase Brown was the most useful running back in the game. He ran 25 times for 97 yards and one touchdown. He also caught a touchdown pass. Burrow found Brown for a six-yard touchdown in the first quarter to tie the game 7-7. That means Brown scored two touchdowns in total, one by running and one by catching.
For Tennessee, the running game was less strong. Tony Pollard had 17 carries for 45 yards and one touchdown. His touchdown came on a three-yard run early in the first quarter. Tyjae Spears was also busy near the end zone. He scored on a one-yard run in the first quarter and later caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Rudolph.
A simple way to compare running backs is “yards per carry.” You divide total yards by the number of runs. Brown averaged about 3.9 yards per carry. Pollard averaged about 2.6 yards per carry. That difference helped the Bengals control the ball.
Which Receivers Made the Biggest Plays?
Ja’Marr Chase was again the top receiver. He caught nine passes for 94 yards and became only the fifth player in NFL history with at least 100 catches, 1,400 receiving yards and 15 touchdown catches in one season. The other players on that list are Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, Jerry Rice and Cooper Kupp.
Tee Higgins made the play that gave the Bengals the lead for good. After Cam Taylor-Britt intercepted Levis, Burrow threw a 38-yard touchdown to Higgins to make the score 21-14.
There was also a fun surprise. Defensive end Sam Hubbard caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Burrow, but he later left the game with a knee injury. It is not common to see a defensive player score on offense, so fans still talk about this play.
For the Titans, tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo led the team with 8 catches for 59 yards. Tyler Boyd, a former Bengals receiver, made a 40-yard catch and run that set up a Titans touchdown. Tight end Josh Whyle caught a 13-yard touchdown from Rudolph on the last play of the game.
How Did the Defense Change the Game?
The Bengals defense won this game as much as the offense did. The biggest play came in the third quarter. Safety Geno Stone intercepted Levis and ran it back for a touchdown, making the score 31-14. Cornerback Mike Hilton also had a second quarter interception, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson forced a fumble with a strip sack.
The Titans defense had some bright moments too. Edge rusher Harold Landry forced Burrow to fumble near the goal line, and defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat picked it up and ran 30 yards. That play excited the home crowd. But the Titans could not keep the energy going. They also had 12 penalties for 110 yards.
Here is a quick summary of the key numbers from the 2024 game:
| Player | Team | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | Bengals | 271 passing yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Chase Brown | Bengals | 97 rushing yards, 2 total TD |
| Ja’Marr Chase | Bengals | 9 catches, 94 yards |
| Geno Stone | Bengals | Interception returned for TD |
| Will Levis | Titans | 89 passing yards, 3 INT |
| Mason Rudolph | Titans | 209 passing yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Tony Pollard | Titans | 45 rushing yards, 1 TD |
| Chigoziem Okonkwo | Titans | 8 catches, 59 yards |
What Did the 2023 Game Tell Us?
The October 2023 game was very different. The Titans won 27-3 at home, and Derrick Henry was the star. Henry ran for 122 yards on 22 carries, including a 29-yard touchdown run where he broke through three tackles. He also threw a two-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Josh Whyle on a jump pass from the wildcat formation just before halftime. In this game, Henry also passed Earl Campbell for second place on the team’s all-time rushing list.
Ryan Tannehill completed 18 of 25 passes for 240 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and DeAndre Hopkins led the Titans with four catches for 63 yards.
The Bengals had a very poor day. Burrow went 20 for 30 for 165 yards, Ja’Marr Chase caught seven passes for 73 yards, and Joe Mixon ran 14 times for 67 yards. Burrow was also trying to play through a strained right calf. The Titans sacked him three times and outgained the Bengals 400 yards to 211.
This game shows that when Burrow is not healthy and the Titans can run the ball well, the Bengals struggle.
Why Is the January 2022 Playoff Game Still Important?
This is the most famous game between these teams in recent years. The Bengals won 19-16 in the AFC divisional round. Logan Wilson intercepted Ryan Tannehill, and that set up rookie Evan McPherson’s 52-yard field goal as time ran out. It was the Bengals’ first road playoff win and sent them to their first AFC Championship Game since the 1988 season.
The player stats from this game are wild. Burrow was sacked nine times, which tied the NFL record for a playoff game, but he still threw for 348 yards. Tee Higgins caught seven passes for 96 yards, and Ja’Marr Chase caught five passes for 109 yards, with 94 of those yards coming after the catch. Joe Mixon scored the Bengals’ only touchdown on a 16-yard run.
McPherson was the hero. He made all four of his field goal attempts. On defense, the Bengals intercepted Tannehill three times, and two of those picks led to McPherson field goals. Jessie Bates III even intercepted Tannehill’s very first pass of the game, which was meant for Julio Jones.
What Patterns Do the Stats Show?
When you look at all three games together, a few clear patterns appear.
First, turnovers decide these games. In 2022 and 2024, the Bengals won because the Titans threw interceptions at bad moments. In 2023, the Titans won because they protected the ball and forced a Burrow fumble.
Second, pressure on Burrow matters a lot. The Titans sacked him nine times in the playoff game and three times in 2023. When Burrow has time to throw, the Bengals score. When he is under pressure all day, the offense slows down.
Third, Ja’Marr Chase is always a threat. He has caught at least five passes and gained 73 yards or more in each of these three games. Defenses know he is coming, but they still find it hard to stop him.
Fourth, the Titans do best when they can run the ball. Derrick Henry’s big day in 2023 is the best example. In 2024, the Titans only averaged about 2.6 yards per carry with Pollard, and they lost.
How Can You Read Player Stats Like an Expert?
You don’t need special tools to understand football stats. Start with these simple ideas:
- Touchdowns and interceptions: For a quarterback, compare these two numbers. Three touchdowns and one interception is a good day. One touchdown and three interceptions is a bad day.
- Passer rating: This is one number that mixes completions, yards, touchdowns and interceptions. A rating above 100 is very good. A rating below 60 usually means trouble.
- Yards per carry: Divide rushing yards by the number of runs. Around 4 yards or more is solid.
- Turnovers: Count interceptions and lost fumbles for each team. The team with fewer turnovers often wins.
When you use these simple checks, the box score starts to tell a clear story.
When Do the Bengals and Titans Play Next?
The next meeting is already on the schedule. The Titans visit the Bengals in Week 8 of the 2026 regular season. This time, Tennessee has a new young quarterback. Recent Titans game recaps show Cam Ward starting at quarterback for the team.
The overall history is very close. The two teams have played 80 times, including two playoff games, with the Bengals winning 38, the Titans winning 41, and one tie. So the Week 8 game could help the Bengals get closer in the all-time series.
When you watch that game, keep an eye on three things: how many times the Titans get pressure on Burrow, how many turnovers each team makes, and whether the Titans can run the ball well. Those three numbers have told the story of this matchup for years.
Conclusion
The Bengals vs Tennessee Titans match player stats show a clear lesson: the team that protects the ball usually wins. In 2024, Joe Burrow, Chase Brown, Ja’Marr Chase and Geno Stone led the Bengals to a 37-27 win while the Titans turned the ball over six times. In 2023, Derrick Henry and a strong Titans pass rush flipped the story. In the 2022 playoffs, Burrow survived nine sacks, and Evan McPherson kicked the Bengals into the AFC Championship Game. Use these numbers and simple tips to enjoy the next game even more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the last Bengals vs Titans game?
The Bengals won the last game 37-27 on December 15, 2024, in Nashville. Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes, and the Bengals defense forced six turnovers. Geno Stone returned an interception for a touchdown, which gave Cincinnati a 17-point lead in the third quarter and basically decided the game.
Who was the best player in the 2022 playoff game?
Many fans say kicker Evan McPherson was the hero because he made all four field goals, including the 52-yard winner as time ran out. Joe Burrow also deserves credit. He was sacked nine times but still threw for 348 yards, and Ja’Marr Chase added 109 receiving yards.
What is the all-time record between the Bengals and Titans?
The two teams have played 80 times, including two playoff games. The Titans have won 41 games, the Bengals have won 38 games, and one game ended in a tie. The series is very close, so every new game between these two teams matters for the all-time record.
