Bengals Edge Titans

The Bengals are heading to their first conference championship game since 1988 after escaping Tennessee with a win over the Titans on Saturday.

The 19-16 divisional round victory, courtesy of rookie kicker Evan McPherson’s 52-yard field goal as time expired, also marks the first road playoff victory in team history. Cincinnati was in position to win after Logan Wilson picked off Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill with 22 seconds remaining. It was Tannehill’s third interception of the game.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed 28 of 37 passes for 348 yards with an interception, but the Titans made several stops on third down to limit the Bengals’ scoring chances. McPherson kicked four field goals, capped by the game-winner.

Cincinnati rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (five receptions, 109 yards) became the first rookie to record more than 100 receiving yards in a playoff game. Running back Joe Mixon (14 carries, 54 yards) scored the Bengals’ only touchdown on a 16-yard run.

Tannehill completed 14 of 24 passes for 220 yards with a TD in addition to the three INTs. He set the stage for his performance on the first play of the game when he threw an interception that the Bengals converted into a field goal in the first three minutes. He threw his touchdown pass to A.J. Brown in the third quarter. Derrick Henry scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter for Tennessee’s other touchdown.  

The Bengals will be on the road for next weekend’s AFC championship. They’ll face the winner of Sunday night’s game in Kansas City, between the Bills and Chiefs.