Titans hold Joe Burrow, Bengals to 3 points: Time for Cincinnati to seriously worry?

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Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals mustered just 3 points in a game for the second time this season as they fell to the Tennessee Titans 27-3 on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:

Burrow went 20-of-30 passing for 165 yards with no interceptions. Tennessee held Cincinnati to 72 yards rushing, with running back Joe Mixon posting 67 on 14 carries.
Titans (2-2) quarterback Ryan Tannehill was 18-of-25 passing for 240 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Derrick Henry rushed for one touchdown and 122 yards on 22 carries, and threw a TD pass.
The Bengals fell to 1-3, after previously losing 24-3 to the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 and 27-24 to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. They eked out a 19-16 win against the Los Angeles Rams last week.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

What’s the concern level for Cincinnati?

It’s time to seriously worry about the 2023 Bengals. They still have not scored an offensive touchdown before halftime and have three total through four games. They’re the first team since the 2019 New York Jets to go four games without an offensive TD before the break.

The defense that they desperately needed to help carry them through this stretch of gradually getting Burrow back to full health turned in one of its worst efforts under Lou Anarumo. Players were out of position often, beaten consistently and missing tackles. There’s just nothing you can trust with this team right now that has far more holes to fill than answers. — Dehner

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What’s going on with Burrow?

Burrow started 4-of-4, featuring a steady diet of quick game throws, but after that, Tennessee blitzed early and often challenged his mobility. That meant Burrow taking huge hits trying to hold the ball against the pressure and unable to create any explosive plays. There’s still no threat downfield (2-of-22 on the year) and nothing that resembles a consistent offensive threat.

Burrow even stayed in the game late, a questionable decision by coach Zac Taylor, taking more punishment and risking re-injury. — Dehner

Higgins injury looming

The injury to Tee Higgins (ribs), who was ruled out after the first half, will be one to track. His contract year has been a nightmare thus far. Outside of a solid day against Baltimore in Week 2, he has caught four of 18 targets, had drops, an offensive pass interference and now a rib injury he’ll need to fight through. — Dehner

How did Tennessee look?

A week after the most putrid Titans offensive output in 17 years — 94 total yards in a 27-3 loss at Cleveland — they had their most creative, dynamic day on that side of the ball since Falcons coach Arthur Smith was coordinating Mike Vrabel’s offense. First-year OC Tim Kelly, when performing in front of the home fans, has been a wizard.

The Titans made some huge plays to outlast the Chargers 27-24 in overtime in Week 2, and Sunday they had everything working. Henry as a runner and touchdown passer, Tannehill, DeAndre Hopkins — it didn’t matter that receiver Treylon Burks (knee) and left guard Peter Skoronski (appendix) couldn’t play. Henry had a wildcat touchdown pass to rookie tight end Josh Whyle and ran 22 times for 122 yards, passing Earl Campbell for No. 2 on the franchise’s all-time rushing list. He’s at 8,631 for his career, now trailing only Eddie George (10,009). — Rexrode

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Titans defense comes up big

The Titans are only a player in the AFC if their defensive front can dominate, and while that has yet to be a consistent sight this season, it was the case all day against the Bengals. The total of three sacks does not fully convey what the Titans did to bother and hurry the mobility-challenged Burrow. Trevis Gipson, activated for the first time this season, had one of those sacks and stripped Burrow in the process. Another Burrow fumble recovered by the Titans was overturned and called an incomplete pass upon review.

The Bengals did not convert a third down until just over nine minutes remaining in the game, which is also a testament to the Titans’ embattled secondary having a bounce-back day despite a tough assignment. — Rexrode