Titans Fall 19-16 to the Bengals as 2021 Season…

NASHVILLE – The Titans lost in excruciating fashion in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at Nissan Stadium on Saturday.

The Bengals won it 19-16 on a 52-yard field goal by Bengals kicker Evan McPherson at the horn.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was picked off three times, including an interception in the final seconds that set up the game-winning kick.

The Titans defense recorded nine sacks in the contest, a franchise record in the postseason. It also tied an NFL postseason record.

But it wasn’t enough, as the AFC’s No.1-seeded team went down after a 12-5 regular season, and some impressive wins.

The Titans trailed 16-6 in the third quarter before rallying.

Late in the third quarter, Titans kicker Randy Bullock made a 34-yard field goal to cut the lead to 16-9.

Then came a big play, as Titans safety Amani Hooker intercepted a pass from Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow at the Cincinnati 27-yard line with 1:19 left in the third quarter.

Two plays later, Tannehill connected with receiver A.J. Brown for a 33-yard touchdown catch to make it 16-16 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter.

But the ending was far from what Titans fans had expected, and hoped for after so much excitement at the end of the regular season.

Things didn’t start out well for the Titans, as Tannehill was intercepted on the team’s first offensive play of the game.

The turnover led to an early field goal by the Bengals, who jumped ahead 3-0.

After another stalled drive from the Titans, McPherson made it 6-0 with 2:11 left in the first quarter on another field goal.

The Titans tied the game at 6-6 on a three-yard touchdown run by running back Derrick Henry, who lined up in the Wildcat and ran into the end zone after taking the snap. The run capped a nine-play, 84-yard drive that was jumpstarted with a 43-yard catch by receiver A.J. Brown. The ensuing two-point try failed.

But the Bengals reclaimed the lead 9-6 with a 54-yard field goal by McPherson to make it 9-6 with 1:35 left in the first half.

The second half started in ominous fashion for the Titans, as the Bengals drove the field and took a 16-6 lead on a 16-yard touchdown run by running back Joe Mixon.

Just when it looked like the Titans would trim the lead after a 45-yard run by D’Onta Foreman gave the team a first-and-goal at the 9, Tannehill was intercepted by blitzing Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton, who tipped the pass, and then intercepted it.

Then came the rally, and ultimately, the disappointment.