ANALYSIS: 5 takeaways from Bengals’ win over Titans

»RELATED: Social media reacts to Bengals’ win over Titans

The Bengals (6-8), which kept slim chances of a playoff berth alive, forced the Titans (3-11) into a quarterback change after Will Levis’ fourth turnover of the game midway through the third quarter. It was the first matchup between Zac Taylor and his former offensive coordinator, first-year Titans head coach Brian Callahan.

Here are five takeaways from the game:

1. Sloppy for both teams

The game started off looking ugly for the Bengals’ offense with Joe Burrow getting picked off on the opening drive and then fumbling on a strip sack the third possession, after the Titans had taken a 14-7 lead.

Momentum swung quickly in Cincinnati’s favor after Trey Hendrickson’s strip sack on Levis, which Maema Njongmeta recovered. The play was whistled dead before Njongmeta had a chance to complete his return, but Cincinnati took advantage of the turnover by putting together a touchdown drive capped by Sam Hubbard’s first offensive touchdown of his career.

Cincinnati intercepted Levis on the next two drives and tacked on another touchdown and a field goal on the ensuing drives to take a 24-14 lead into halftime. The defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half, then got three more turnovers on consecutive drives. Burrow threw one more pick in that stretch, as well, but Geno Stone’s pick-6 on Levis’ last play of the game put the Bengals up 31-14, and the Titans couldn’t recover even with Mason Rudolph throwing two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.

»PHOTOS: Bengals vs. Titans

Cam Taylor-Britt, Josh Newton and Mike Hilton had the other interceptions for Cincinnati, and Jordan Battle had the other fumble recovery in the third quarter on a play that should have resulted in a touchdown. However, Battle lost control of the ball trying to switch hands before he crossed the plane of the goal, and the ball went out of the back of the end zone for a touchback instead.

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

2. A high and low moment for Hubbard

Hubbard’s first offensive touchdown and second overall of his career was a special moment, as he’s been begging Taylor for snaps in the red zone, but that third-down play unfortunately ended his day.

The veteran defensive end suffered a knee injury on the 2-yard touchdown catch and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game. Taylor said in his postgame press conference he didn’t know the extent of the injury.

Hubbard already has battled injuries throughout his career, particularly this season as he had been playing on a torn hamstring that he elected to not have repaired immediately. It hasn’t been a great season for him on defense, but he got his shining moment on offense finally.

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

3. Playing down two left tackles

The Bengals knew they would be without Orlando Brown Jr., as he continues to nurse the lower leg injury that has ailed him since Week 7 against Cleveland, but they also ended up not having his backup, as Cody Ford came down with an illness on Saturday and was inactive.

That left Devin Cochran as the team’s best option, as he got his first career start just over two weeks after the former practice squad player was added to the Bengals’ active roster. He had played in five games before getting his first start.

Taylor and Burrow praised Cochran for his play Sunday. He allowed four pressures but no sacks in 42 pass blocking snaps. He only had one pass blocking snap before that, in Week 9 against the Raiders. Burrow was sacked just once, by Titans outside linebacker Harold Landry, who also forced the fumble on that play.

4. Individual highlights

Ja’Marr Chase crossed 100 catches for the first time in his career, joining an elite club of receivers that have reached 100 catches, 1,400 yards receiving and 15 touchdown receptions in a single season. Jerry Rice (1995), Marvin Harrison (2001), Randy Moss (2003) and Cooper Kupp (2021) are the only others to accomplish that feat.

Chase had nine catches for 94 yards on Sunday, but no touchdowns, and now is at 102 receptions, 1,413 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns. He needs two more touchdowns to tie the Bengals record with three games left.

Cincinnati also got good production from fellow receiver Tee Higgins and running back Chase Brown. Higgins again showed his worth, finishing with 88 yards and a touchdown on five catches a week after Burrow insisted he would find a way for the Bengals to keep Higgins long term. Brown had 100-plus yards from the line of scrimmage in a fourth straight game, finishing with 97 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries and adding three catches for 16 yards and another score.

5. Playoffs still in back of mind

Burrow said in his postgame press conference that the playoffs are “always in the back of your mind until your out of it,” but the Bengals still know their chances are slim. The focus remains on the week-to-week performances to try to finish strong, and if things fall in line for them to make the postseason, they’ll take the help.

The Bengals still will need to win out, but also are relying on teams ahead of them in the standings to lose games. The clearest path would be if Denver loses its last three games (vs. Chargers, Bengals and Chiefs) and the Dolphins and Colts lose at least two games. Miami lost to the Texans on Sunday but still play the 49ers, Browns and Jets, and Indianapolis plays the Titans, Giants and Jaguars.

If all those things happen, the Bengals would get the seventh seed. There are crazier scenarios that could get Cincinnati the fifth seed, but that would require some better teams to fall apart.

SUNDAY’S GAME

Browns at Bengals, 1 p.m., FOX, 700, 1290, 1530, 95.7, 102.7, 104.7