GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: TENNESSEE (6-4) at CINCINNATI (3-7)

NFL: TENNESSEE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TENNESSEE 0 6 0 0 6
CINCINNATI 7 7 14 7 35 FINAL

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER:

7:10 CIN - TD, RUDI JOHNSON 5 YD RUN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK).
Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards in 5:17.
Key plays: Palmer 7-yard pass to C Johnson on 3rd-and-1 to
Cincinnati 40; Dorsey 10-yard run to midfield; Palmer 15-yard pass to
Houshmandzadeh to Tennessee 35; Palmer 13-yard pass to Houshmandzadeh to
Tennessee 19. CINCINNATI 7-0.

2ND QUARTER:

5:20 TEN - FG, ROB BIRONAS 28 YD.
Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards in 0:52.
Key plays: Lowry 17-yard interception return to Cincinnati 18.
CINCINNATI 7-3.
10:40 CIN - TD, CHAD JOHNSON 10 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK).
Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards in 5:20.
Key plays: Palmer 26-yard pass to Kelly to Tennessee 43; Palmer
16-yard pass to Houshmandzadeh to Tennessee 20; Palmer 9-yard pass to C
Johnson on 3rd-and-7 to Tennessee 8. CINCINNATI 14-3.
14:57 TEN - FG, ROB BIRONAS 23 YD.
Drive: 9 plays, 53 yards in 4:17.
Key plays: Barclay 18-yard kickoff return to Tennessee 42; Young
10-yard pass to Gage to Cincinnati 45; Young 27-yard pass to Hartsock to
Cincinnati 18; White 11-yard run to Cincinnati 6. CINCINNATI 14-6.

3RD QUARTER:

5:01 CIN - TD, KENNY WATSON 6 YD RUN (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK).
Drive: 11 plays, 76 yards in 5:01.
Key plays: Palmer 22-yard pass to C Johnson on 3rd-and-9 to
Cincinnati 47; R Johnson 10-yard run on 3rd-and-3 to Tennessee 26; Palmer
10-yard pass to Houshmandzadeh to Tennessee 8. CINCINNATI 21-6.
8:10 CIN - TD, CHAD JOHNSON 2 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK).
Drive: 5 plays, 52 yards in 2:12.
Key plays: Hentrich 34-yard punt plus 15-yard fair catch
interference penalty on Titans' Scanlon to Cincinnati 48; Dorsey 21-yard
run plus 15-yard personal foul penalty on Titans' Bulluck to Tennessee 16;
Palmer 8-yard pass to Watson on 3rd-and-4 to Tennessee 2. CINCINNATI 28-6.

4TH QUARTER:

2:02 CIN - TD, CHAD JOHNSON 3 YD PASS FROM CARSON PALMER (SHAYNE GRAHAM KICK).
Drive: 15 plays, 82 yards in 6:43.
Key plays: Palmer 15-yard pass to Henry on 3rd-and-7 to Cincinnati
47; Palmer 21-yard pass to C Johnson to Tennessee 32; Palmer 6-yard pass
to Coats on 3rd-and-3 to Tennessee 19; Palmer 6-yard pass to Watson on
3rd-and-3 to Tennessee 6. CINCINNATI 35-6.

TENNESSEE - CINCINNATI Final Statistics

TEAM STATISTICS TENNESSEE CINCINNATI

FIRST DOWNS 10 30
Rushing 2 9
Passing 8 19
Penalty 0 2
THIRD DOWN EFFICIENCY 2-10-20% 14-18-78%
FOURTH DOWN EFFICIENCY 0-2-0% 0-0-0%
TOTAL NET YARDS 305 426
Total offensive plays 50 75
Average gain per play 6.1 5.7
NET YARDS RUSHING 61 148
Rushing attempts 18 36
Average gain per rush 3.4 4.1
Tackles for loss-yards 0-0 1-4
NET YARDS PASSING 244 278
Times sacked: Number-Yards 1-2 1-5
Gross passing yards 246 283
PASS ATTEMPTS-COMPLETIONS-HAD INTERCEPTED 31-19-1 38-32-1
Avg gain per pass play 7.6 7.1
KICKOFFS: Number-In End Zone-Touchbacks 3-0-0 6-1-0
PUNTS: Number and Average 3-32.7 2-43.5
Had blocked 0 0
Net punting average 32.7 42.5
TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE (Not including kickoffs) 17 6
Number-Yards: Punt Returns 1-0 1-2
Number-Yards: Kickoff Returns 6-123 3-86
Number-Yards: Interception Returns 1-17 1-4
PENALTIES: Number-Yards 6-55 4-35
FUMBLES: Number-Lost 1-1 1-0
TOUCHDOWNS 0 5
Rushing 0 2
Passing 0 3
Interceptions 0 0
Other (blocked kicks, etc.) 0 0
EXTRA POINTS: Made-Attempts 0-0 5-5
Kicking: Made-Attempts 0-0 5-5
Passing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
Rushing: Made-Attempts 0-0 0-0
FIELD GOALS: Made-Attempts 2-2 0-1
FGs - PATs had blocked 0-0 0-0
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY 0-5-0% 5-6-83%
GOAL TO GO EFFICIENCY 0-3-0% 5-6-83%
SAFETIES 0 0
TIME OF POSSESSION 21:30 38:30


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

TENNESSEE CINCINNATI

RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD RUSHING ATT YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
C BROWN 8 28 3.5 8 0 R JOHNSON 25 88 3.5 10 1
L WHITE 8 27 3.4 11 0 D DORSEY 5 42 8.4 21 0
V YOUNG 2 6 3.0 5 0 K WATSON 4 17 4.3 7 1
A CHATMAN 1 5 5.0 5 0
T HOUSHMAN 1 -4 -4.0 0 0

PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG PASSING CM-AT-YDS IN TD LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
V YOUNG 19-31-246 1 0 73 C PALMER 32-38-283 1 3 26

Sacked-Yards Lost: V YOUNG 1-2. Sacked-Yards Lost: C PALMER 1-5.

RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD RECEIVING NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
B SCAIFE 5 33 6.6 9 0 C JOHNSON 12 103 8.6 22 3
J GAGE 4 98 24.5 73 0 T HOUSHMAN 7 66 9.4 16 0
E MOULDS 2 54 27.0 46 0 K WATSON 5 32 6.4 9 0
R WILLIAMS 2 9 4.5 5 0 C HENRY 3 41 13.7 19 0
L WHITE 2 -1 -0.5 0 0 R KELLY 3 35 11.7 26 0
B HARTSOCK 1 27 27.0 27 0 D COATS 1 6 6.0 6 0
B TROUPE 1 13 13.0 13 0 D DORSEY 1 0 0.0 0 0
C BROWN 1 7 7.0 7 0
C BARCLAY 1 6 6.0 6 0

INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD INTERCEPTIONS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
C LOWRY 1 17 17.0 17 0 J JOSEPH 1 4 4.0 4 0

PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG PUNTING NO YDS AVG T I LG
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
C HENTRICH 3 98 32.7 0 0 39 K LARSON 2 87 43.5 0 1 48

T = Touchbacks, I = Inside 20

PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD PUNT RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
B JONES 1 0 0.0 0 0 A CHATMAN 1 2 2.0 2 0

KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD KICKOFF RETURNS NO YDS AVG LG TD
-------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
C BARCLAY 5 108 21.6 37 0 G HOLT 3 86 28.7 36 0
C LOWRY 1 15 15.0 15 0

KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA KICKING XP/XPA FG/FGA
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
R BIRONAS 0/0 2/2 S GRAHAM 5/5 0/1
Dist.: 28 23 Dist.: (26)

O-D O-D
FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC FUMBLES NO LOST FF REC
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
V YOUNG 1 1 0 0-0 R JOHNSON 1 0 0 0-0
K VANDEN BOSCH 0 0 1 0-0 D JONES 0 0 1 0-0
R JEANTY 0 0 0 0-1
B WILLIAMS 0 0 0 1-0

DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD DEFENSE TK SO AS SK-YD
------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
K BULLUCK 14 11 3 0-0 D JONES 9 6 3 1-2
C FINNEGAN 9 7 2 0-0 M WILLIAMS 5 5 0 0-0
D THORNTON 8 4 4 0-0 J JOSEPH 5 4 1 0-0
N HARPER 7 6 1 0-0 J SMITH 4 0 4 0-0
C LOWRY 7 6 1 0-0 D JACKSON 3 3 0 0-0
R FOWLER 6 3 3 0-0 B ROBINSON 3 2 1 0-0
T BROWN 3 3 0 0-0 C NDUKWE 3 2 1 0-0
S TULLOCH 3 3 0 0-0 L JOHNSON 3 1 2 0-0
K VANDEN BOSCH 3 2 1 1-5 R JEANTY 3 1 2 0-0
M GRIFFIN 3 2 1 0-0 D PEKO 2 2 0 0-0
D VEAL 3 1 2 0-0 R GEATHERS 2 1 1 0-0
C HOPE 2 1 1 0-0 L HALL 2 1 1 0-0
V FULLER 2 1 1 0-0 J THORNTON 1 1 0 0-0
A ODOM 1 0 1 0-0 D O'NEAL 1 0 1 0-0
R STARKS 1 0 1 0-0 A SCHLEGEL 1 0 1 0-0

Officials: Referee-John Parry, Umpire-Tony Michalek, Head
Linesman-Derick Bowers, Line Judge-John Hussey, Field Judge-Gary
Cavaletto, Side Judge-Laird Hayes, Back Judge-Perry Paganelli.

Att: 65,489 Time of Game: 2:46</div>

 

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Bengals have been waitingfor Chad Johnson to make a difference. He finally did.

Johnson caught three touchdown passes and became the franchise'sall-time leader in receptions as the Bengals routed the reelingTennessee Titans, 35-6, on Sunday.


Johnson broke Carl Pickens' team record of 530 career receptionswhen he hauled in a 10-yard pass from Carson Palmer with 4:36remaining in the second quarter.


It was Johnson's first touchdown since Week Two and gave theBengals (4-7) a 14-3 lead.


Since losing tackle Albert Haynsworth to a knee injury, theTitans (6-5) have suffered three straight losses.


In the previous two games, Tennessee was burned on the ground,allowing 312 yards rushing in losses to Jacksonville and Denver.

On Sunday, Palmer picked apart the Titans' struggling defense,completing 32-of-38 passes for 283 yards.


Tennessee quarterback Vince Young turned the ball over twice inthe first half, including a critical fumble on the Bengals'3-yard line with the Titans trailing, 7-0, early in the secondquarter.


A 73-yard completion to wide receiver Justin Gage gave theTitans a 1st-and-goal at the 7-yard line, but one play later,cornerback David Jones forced a critical turnover after sackingYoung. Linebacker Rashad Jeanty recovered the fumble.

Rob Bironas kicked two field goals in the second period to pullthe Titans within 14-6 at halftime.


The Bengals' offense took over in the second half, however,turning the contest into a rout.


Kenny Watson's 6-yard TD run and Palmer's 2-yard TD pass toJohnson made it 28-6 in the third quarter.


Palmer and Johnson hooked up again in the fourth quarter for a3-yard score with 13 minutes remaining.


Johnson, who came into the game with just three touchdowns,finished with a career-high 12 receptions for 111 yards, toppinghis previous best of 11 catches in a 51-45 loss at Cleveland inWeek Two.


Young finished just 19-of-31 for 246 yards, while the Titanswere held to 61 yards on the ground.


After reaching the mid-point of the season at 6-2, Tennessee isin danger of missing the playoffs. It fell one game behindthe surprising Cleveland Browns (7-4) in the battle for the AFC'ssecond wild-card spot.

 

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Bengals have been waitingfor Chad Johnson to make a difference. He finally did.

Johnson caught three touchdown passes and became the franchise'sall-time leader in receptions as the Bengals routed the reelingTennessee Titans, 35-6, on Sunday.


"I think that is obviously the best football we've played thisseason," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "I thought we madegood football plays in all three phases."


Johnson, who did not talk to the media after the game, brokeCarl Pickens' team record of 530 career receptions when hehauled in a 10-yard pass from Carson Palmer with 4:36 remainingin the second quarter.


It was Johnson's first touchdown since Week Two and gave theBengals (4-7) a 14-3 lead.


After the touchdown, Johnson mugged in front of a televisioncamera, picking up a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration.The improved field position ended up leading to a field goal bythe Titans.


"It was good to see Chad get into the end zone," Lewis said."It wasn't good to see his celebration penalty. But he said ithad been awhile. When I saw him move the camera pedestal, Iknew the flag was coming."


But that was the only negative for the Bengals, who amassed 30first downs by holding the ball for 38-plus minutes.

"We did a great job of executing and avoiding third-and-longplays," Palmer said.


Since losing tackle Albert Haynesworth to a knee injury, theTitans (6-5) have suffered three straight losses.


In the previous two games, Tennessee was burned on the ground,allowing 312 yards rushing in losses to Jacksonville and Denver.

On Sunday, Palmer picked apart the Titans' struggling defense,completing 32-of-38 passes for 283 yards.


"I certainly didn't see that coming," Tennessee coach JeffFisher said. "During the week, I thought we rebounded prettywell from the Monday night loss (at Denver)."


Palmer rebounded after throwing four interceptions in lastweek's 35-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.


"Jon Kitna taught me the measure of a quarterback is how heresponds to a bad play or a bad game," Palmer said. "I tookthat to heart."


"There wasn't any question that Carson was going to bounceback," Lewis added. "After last week's game, I don't thinkanybody was in panic."


Tennessee quarterback Vince Young turned the ball over twice inthe first half, including a critical fumble on the Bengals'3-yard line with the Titans trailing, 7-0, early in the secondquarter.


A 73-yard completion to wide receiver Justin Gage gave theTitans a 1st-and-goal at the 7-yard line, but one play later,cornerback David Jones forced a critical turnover after sackingYoung. Linebacker Rashad Jeanty recovered the fumble.

Rob Bironas kicked two field goals in the second period to pullthe Titans within 14-6 at halftime.


The Bengals' offense took over in the second half, however,turning the contest into a rout.


Kenny Watson's 6-yard TD run and Palmer's 2-yard TD pass toJohnson made it 28-6 in the third quarter.


Palmer and Johnson hooked up again in the fourth quarter for a3-yard score with 13 minutes remaining.


"They ran it, they threw it," Fisher said. "This isuncharacteristic of our defense."


Johnson, who came into the game with just three touchdowns,finished with a career-high 12 receptions for 111 yards, toppinghis previous best of 11 catches in a 51-45 loss at Cleveland inWeek Two.


"This may have been the first time in a long time that we playeda complete game on offense, defense and special teams," Bengalswide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said. "Carson was on themoney on every throw."


Young finished just 19-of-31 for 246 yards, while the Titanswere held to 61 yards on the ground.


After reaching the midpoint of the season at 6-2, Tennessee isin danger of missing the playoffs. It fell one game behind thesurprising Cleveland Browns (7-4) in the battle for the AFC'ssecond wild-card spot.