Cincinnati Bengals vs Tennessee Titans Match Player Stats
Quick Stats Summary:
- Final Score: Cincinnati 37, Tennessee 27
- Total Turnovers: 10 (first since 2007)
- Key Stat: Cincinnati scored 24 points off turnovers
- Burrow: 26/37, 271 yards, 3 TDs, franchise record 36th TD pass
- Levis: 8/12, 89 yards, 0 TDs, 4 turnovers before benching
- Game MVP: Geno Stone (39-yard pick-six)
- Attendance: 63,745 at Nissan Stadium, December 15, 2024
Cincinnati walked into Nissan Stadium and left with a 37-27 victory after forcing six turnovers. The NFL hadn’t seen a game with 10 total turnovers since 2007, and 63,745 fans in Nashville got to witness history for all the wrong reasons if you were rooting for Tennessee.
Game MVPs Right Up Front
Cincinnati’s Hero: Geno Stone Only five tackles on the stat sheet, but his 39-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter basically ended this game. Cincinnati led 31-14 after that play, fans started heading for the exits, and Will Levis got benched.
Tennessee’s Bright Spot: Tyjae Spears While his team fell apart, Spears kept producing. Six catches for 87 yards, two total touchdowns, and a 43-yard reception that was Tennessee’s longest play. Guy was the only Titan who showed up ready to play.
Burrow Sets Records While Levis Implodes
Joe Burrow threw touchdown pass number 36 on the season, breaking his own Cincinnati franchise record. He went 26 of 37 for 271 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Not perfect with that 95.7 passer rating, but when your defense forces six turnovers, you don’t need perfect.
Complete Quarterback Statistics
Joe Burrow – Cincinnati
| Completions/Attempts | 26/37 |
| Passing Yards | 271 |
| Touchdowns | 3 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Passer Rating | 95.7 |
| Completion % | 70.3% |
| Yards per Attempt | 7.3 |
| Times Sacked | 1 for 2 yards |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 |
| Longest Time to Throw | 9.01 seconds (per NFL Next Gen Stats) |
Six straight games with three-plus touchdown passes puts Burrow with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and just two others in NFL history. Harold Landry strip-sacked him once (T’Vondre Sweat recovered), but Burrow bounced back with two touchdown passes afterward.
Will Levis – Tennessee (Before Benching)
| Completions/Attempts | 8/12 |
| Passing Yards | 89 |
| Touchdowns | 0 |
| Interceptions | 3 |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 |
| Passer Rating | 49.0 |
| Total Turnovers | 4 |
| Pick-Sixes This Season | 4 (leads NFL) |
Four turnovers that led to 24 Cincinnati points. That’s basically the entire game right there.
Mason Rudolph – Tennessee (In Relief)
| Completions/Attempts | 21/26 |
| Passing Yards | 209 |
| Touchdowns | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Passer Rating | 109.8 |
| Completion % | 80.8% |
| Rushing | 2 for 14 yards |
Home crowd actually cheered when Rudolph came in. He played well, but Cincinnati already led 31-14 by then. Too little, too late.
Running Game Production
Chase Brown absolutely carried the load. Twenty-five rushes for 97 yards and a touchdown, plus three catches for 16 yards and another score. That’s 113 total yards with two touchdowns, first time in his career scoring both ways in the same game.
Complete Rushing Statistics
Cincinnati Ground Game
| Player | Attempts | Yards | Avg | TDs | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Brown | 25 | 97 | 3.9 | 1 | 13 |
| Khalil Herbert | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 |
| Team Total | 26 | 101 | 3.9 | 1 | 13 |
Tennessee Ground Game
| Player | Attempts | Yards | Avg | TDs | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Pollard | 17 | 45 | 2.6 | 1 | 15 |
| Tyjae Spears | 4 | 5 | 1.3 | 1 | 6 |
| Calvin Ridley | 1 | 19 | 19.0 | 0 | 19 |
| Mason Rudolph | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 0 | 12 |
| Will Levis | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 |
| Team Total | 26 | 83 | 3.2 | 2 | 19 |
Tony Pollard’s rough day got worse when McKinnley Jackson knocked the ball loose. Jordan Battle grabbed it, ran 60 yards, had the end zone in sight… then fumbled at the goal line. Touchback. You really can’t make this stuff up.
Receiving Corps Stats
Ja’Marr Chase grabbed nine passes on 11 targets for 94 yards. No touchdowns but who cares? He’s now the fifth player ever to hit 100 catches, 1,400 yards, and 15 touchdowns in one season. That puts him with Jerry Rice and Randy Moss. Not bad company.
Pass Catching Production
Cincinnati Receivers
| Player | Catches | Yards | Avg | TDs | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ja’Marr Chase | 9 | 94 | 10.4 | 0 | 11 |
| Tee Higgins | 5 | 88 | 17.6 | 1 | 8 |
| Mike Gesicki | 3 | 37 | 12.3 | 0 | 4 |
| Chase Brown | 3 | 16 | 5.3 | 1 | 3 |
| Cam Grandy | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 0 | 2 |
| Tanner Hudson | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Drew Sample | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Andrei Iosivas | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 4 |
| Sam Hubbard | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 1 | 1 |
Sam Hubbard made history catching a 2-yard touchdown pass from Burrow. First defensive player in Bengals history to catch a touchdown. Took 56 years for that to happen.
Tennessee Receivers
| Player | Catches | Yards | Avg | TDs | Targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyjae Spears | 6 | 87 | 14.5 | 1 | 7 |
| Chig Okonkwo | 8 | 59 | 7.4 | 0 | 10 |
| Calvin Ridley | 3 | 41 | 13.7 | 0 | 5 |
| Tyler Boyd | 2 | 39 | 19.5 | 0 | 3 |
| Josh Whyle | 5 | 37 | 7.4 | 1 | 5 |
| Mason Kinsey | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 | 3 |
| Bryce Oliver | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 2 |
| Nick Vannett | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 0 | 1 |
Tyler Boyd’s 40-yard catch against his former team set up Tennessee’s second touchdown. Spears’ 43-yarder was their longest play all day.
Defense Creates the Chaos
Six forced turnovers for Cincinnati, most since 2007. Four picks, two fumbles, 24 points scored off them. Meanwhile Tennessee forced four turnovers themselves but only managed seven points from them. That’s the difference in your final score right there.
Turnover Breakdown
Cincinnati’s Takeaways:
- Geno Stone: 39-yard pick-six (3rd quarter)
- Cam Taylor-Britt: 28-yard INT return (2nd quarter)
- Josh Newton: 12-yard INT return (4th quarter)
- Mike Hilton: INT, no return (2nd quarter)
- Maema Njongmeta: Fumble recovery (Levis)
- Jordan Battle: Fumble recovery (Pollard)
Tennessee’s Takeaways:
- Luke Gifford: INT on game’s 2nd play
- Daryl Worley: INT in 3rd quarter
- T’Vondre Sweat: Fumble recovery after Landry strip-sack
Defensive Leaders
Top Tacklers
| Player | Team | Total | Solo | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akeem Davis-Gaither | CIN | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| Jordan Battle | CIN | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Germaine Pratt | CIN | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| James Williams Sr. | TEN | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| Luke Gifford | TEN | 8 | 5 | 3 |
Davis-Gaither was everywhere. Battle nearly had a defensive touchdown before that goal-line fumble. Harold Landry recorded Tennessee’s only sack.
Third Downs Tell the Tale
How do you win when you’re outgained? Convert third downs and force turnovers. Cincinnati went 10 for 13 on third downs (76.9%), their best rate all season. Tennessee managed 5 of 8 (62.5%).
Key Situational Stats
| Category | Cincinnati | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Down Success | 10/13 (76.9%) | 5/8 (62.5%) |
| 4th Down Attempts | 0/0 | 0/0 |
| Red Zone Visits | 5 | 4 |
| Red Zone TDs | 3 | 4 |
| Red Zone Efficiency | 60% | 100% |
| Points Off Turnovers | 24 | 7 |
Tennessee scored on all four red zone trips. Great, except they only made it there four times because they kept coughing up the football.
Special Teams Notes
Ready for this? Each team punted once. ONCE. In an entire NFL game. That’s what happens when you combine 10 turnovers with constant scoring.
Kicking Game
| Kicker | Team | FG Made/Att | XP Made/Att | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cade York | CIN | 1/1 (21 yds) | 4/5 | 7 |
| Nick Folk | TEN | 0/0 | 3/3 | 3 |
York missed an extra point after Brown’s late touchdown. Didn’t matter by then.
Punting
- Cincinnati: Ryan Rehkow, 1 punt, 36 yards
- Tennessee: Ryan Stonehouse, 1 punt, 67 yards
Returns
- Jermaine Burton: 32-yard kickoff return (CIN)
- Isaiah Williams: 15-yard punt return (CIN)
- Tyjae Spears: 20-yard kickoff return (TEN)
Penalty Problems
Both teams played sloppy football. Cincinnati drew 14 flags for 113 yards. Tennessee had 12 for 110 yards. That’s 26 penalties for 223 yards total. Zac Taylor called it “unacceptable” after the game, and he wasn’t wrong.
Cincinnati’s five false starts killed drives. Tennessee’s defensive pass interference penalties extended Cincinnati drives. Neither team deserved to win based on discipline, but Cincinnati’s turnovers mattered more.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter (Tennessee 14, Cincinnati 7) Luke Gifford picked off Burrow on Cincinnati’s second play. Bang, just like that Tennessee had the ball. Tony Pollard scored from 3 yards out. Cincinnati answered with Chase Brown’s 6-yard TD catch. Tyler Boyd then ripped off a 40-yarder to set up Tyjae Spears’ 1-yard plunge.
Second Quarter (Cincinnati 24, Tennessee 14) Will Levis lost his mind. Three turnovers in one quarter led to 17 Cincinnati points. Sam Hubbard caught his historic TD to tie it. Tee Higgins grabbed a 38-yard bomb after Taylor-Britt’s pick. Cade York drilled a 21-yarder at the buzzer. Complete momentum flip.
Third Quarter (Cincinnati 31, Tennessee 14) Geno Stone’s pick-six ended it. Levis threw right to him, Stone took it 39 yards, game over. Fans started leaving. Brian Callahan had seen enough and yanked Levis for Rudolph.
Fourth Quarter (Cincinnati 37, Tennessee 27) Garbage time. Rudolph threw TDs to Spears (17 yards) and Josh Whyle (13 yards, final play). Chase Brown scored from 5 yards out in between. Nobody cared anymore.
Complete Team Statistics
| Category | Cincinnati | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 370 | 374 |
| Plays Run | 64 | 65 |
| Yards per Play | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| First Downs | 24 | 25 |
| Passing First Downs | 12 | 13 |
| Rushing First Downs | 9 | 9 |
| Penalty First Downs | 3 | 3 |
| Time of Possession | 28:31 | 31:29 |
| Total Turnovers | 4 | 6 |
| Sacks Allowed | 1 | 1 |
Tennessee outgained Cincinnati. Had the ball longer. Converted every red zone chance. Still lost by 10 because math is simple: six turnovers beats four turnovers, and 24 points off turnovers beats seven.
Records and Milestones Hit
This game rewrote record books all over the place:
- 10 total turnovers: First since Week 2, 2007 season
- Burrow: 36 TD passes, new Bengals single-season record
- Burrow: 6 straight games with 3+ TDs (5th QB in NFL history)
- Chase: 100/1,400/15 club member (5th player ever)
- Hubbard: First Bengals defensive player with receiving TD
- Levis: 4 pick-sixes lead all QBs in 2024
- Cincinnati: 6 forced turnovers, most since 2007
- Cincinnati: 76.9% third-down rate, best all season
Wild Plays That Changed Everything
Gifford’s pick on play two gave Tennessee instant momentum. They scored right after.
Harold Landry strip-sacked Burrow, T’Vondre Sweat recovered, Tennessee had great field position… then Levis immediately fumbled it away. That started his meltdown.
Second quarter was all Levis disasters. Fumble, interception, another interception. Each one turned into Cincinnati points. Trey Hendrickson’s strip-sack added to the carnage.
Jordan Battle’s fumble at the goal line after running 60 yards? Can’t blame the guy for trying to score, but man, that summed up this sloppy game perfectly.
Stone’s pick-six was the dagger. After that, Nissan Stadium started emptying and Levis hit the bench.
What These Numbers Mean
Cincinnati improved to 6-8, still technically alive for playoffs. They face Kansas City next in a huge AFC matchup.
Tennessee fell to 3-11, fourth straight loss. They’ve struggled against good teams all year, and this game continued that trend. Serious questions about the quarterback position going forward.
Statistical Oddities Worth Mentioning
Some weird numbers from this wild game:
- 26 penalties, 223 yards (season high for both teams combined)
- One punt per team (lowest in any Bengals game this year)
- 10 different Bengals caught passes
- Tennessee went 100% in red zone but still lost by double digits
- Cincinnati’s 24-0 run from down 14-7 to up 31-14
- 63,745 watched it live, many left after Stone’s TD
Why the Stats Don’t Match the Score
Tennessee gained more yards. Controlled the clock longer. Perfect in the red zone. How’d they lose by 10?
Simple. They turned it over six times to Cincinnati’s four. More importantly, Cincinnati scored 24 points off those turnovers while Tennessee only managed seven. Burrow threw two picks and lost a fumble but still found ways to score. Levis threw three picks and lost a fumble, giving Cincinnati short fields all day.
Rudolph actually played well (80.8% completion rate, two TDs) but entered with his team down 17. His stats made the final score respectable, nothing more.
Final Numbers from Nashville
These Cincinnati Bengals vs Tennessee Titans match player stats show exactly how turnovers trump everything else in football. Tennessee outgained Cincinnati 374-370, held the ball for 31:29, and scored on every red zone trip. But when you turn it over six times and give up 24 points off those mistakes, you’re going home with a loss.
In a game with 10 total turnovers and 26 penalties at Nissan Stadium, Cincinnati simply made their opportunities count while Tennessee gift-wrapped them the victory with four turnovers from their starting quarterback before he got benched in the third quarter.
Sources: Pro Football Reference, Tennessee Titans Official Recap, CBS Sports Game Tracker
