No Ja’Maar Chase.
No Joe Mixon.
No problem for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Zac Taylor’s squad went on the road and won another must-win game, defeating Tennessee in Nashville, 20-16.
The Bengals (7-4) came from behind to knock off the red-hot Titans (7-4) for the third straight game behind a crucial touchdown pass from Joe Burrow to Tee Higgins in the fourth quarter.
Burrow finished the game completing 22-of-37 pass attempts for 270 yards and one touchdown while Higgins has filled in wonderfully at the WR1 spot since Chase went down with an injury.
Higgins finished with seven catches, 114 yards, and one touchdown.
Samaje Perine filled in for Mixon, leading the way with 58 rushing yards, and a touchdown while totaling four catches for 54 yards. His blocking, along with the offensive line’s was fantastic, as Burrow was sacked only one time in the win.
Cincinnati outgained the Titans in total yardage, 374-344, while the defense limited Tennessee’s Derrick Henry to 38 rushing yards on 17 Carrie’s. He also had three catches for 79 yards.
The Bengals fell behind 3-0 and 10-3 in the first half before Perine’s seven-yard touchdown run capped off an eight-play, 92-yard drive right before the end of the first half to tie the game at 10 apiece.
Both teams traded field goals in the third quarter before Burrow’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Higgins gave Cincinnati a 20-13 edge with 13:47 remaining in the game.
The Titans added a field goal but couldn’t get any closer.
The Bengals are now tied atop the AFC North Division with the Ravens (7-4) after Jacksonville stunned Baltimore with a 28-27 victory.
Cincinnati will be back in action at home Sunday against Kansas City. The two teams played twice last season with the Bengals winning both games.
