Bengals, Joe Burrow stun Titans behind battered offensive line

The Bengals stun the AFC South conference-leading Tennessee Titans behind a battered offensive line and a stellar performance from Joe Burrow.

The Cincinnati Bengals finally put together a complete game, burying the Tennessee Titans in a week eight contest. The club was able to do so behind a battered offensive line that was missing four of their starters, thanks to an abundance of injuries and illness.

Hakeem Adeniji, Quinton Spain, Billy Price, and Fred Johnson stepped up admirably in the starter’s absences. They played well enough to allow the offense to engineer 31 points.

Of course, Joe Burrow’s surgical performance cannot be ignored either. On the day, he threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns.

Rounding out the positives for Cincinnati is the play of the defense. Despite dealing with numerous injuries, particularly at the defensive tackle position, Lou Anarumo’s unit was able to hold a Derrick Henry led rushing attack in check enough to secure the victory.

The Bengals carry momentum into the bye week

There’s no denying it’s been a rocky start to the Zac Taylor era in Cincinnati. Events ranging from player outbursts to numerous late-game meltdowns have caused some to question the direction of the franchise.

However, beating a Titans team that was 5-1 heading into the contest could be the turning corner for the franchise. At the very least, you have to think the Bengals can net a few more wins down the stretch.

The offense has been stellar as of recent, putting up 30+ points in each of the past three weeks. They’re set to get a number of reinforcements after the bye too. Most notably, Jonah Williams, Trey Hopkins, and Joe Mixon.

The schedule is shaping up nicely as well. Sure, the team is set to clash with the Pittsburg Steelers twice as well as the Baltimore Ravens once more, but matchups against the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Football Team, and New York Giants look enticing.

The Bengals have a long way to go before proving that can consistently win games, but week eight against Tennessee is the first step in the right direction. The team looks to get healthy as they head into a bye week before they hit the road to face the formidable Steelers.