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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Severely limited by injuries to their
offensive line and receivers, the Tennessee Titans decided just to
get the ball to Eddie George.
|  | | Eddie George's 5-yard touchdown in the third quarter proved to be the difference for the Titans. |
Right plan, right man.
George piled up 214 yards on his runs and catches -- one more
yard than the Cincinnati Bengals managed as a team -- as the Titans
ground out a 23-14 victory Sunday.
He ran left, right and up the middle a career-high 36 times,
rushing for 181 yards in all -- the third-best total of his
five-year career.
George also caught three passes for 33 yards as the Titans (4-1)
held the ball for 41 minutes and overcame his fumble into the end
zone in the first quarter that gave Cincinnati a glimmer of hope.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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The Titans seem to be operating on all cylinders, with a solid offense and a
quick, opportunistic defense. It looks like they're emerging as the team to
beat in the AFC.
Titans RB Eddie George
registered another impressive performance for the second straight week (36
carrries, 181 yards). Add to that an efficient effort from QB Steve McNair and the Titans were
in good shape offensively.
For the second week in a row, the Bengals had a halftime lead but could not
hold it.
The Bengals had two big plays -- an 80-yard run by Corey Dillon and an interception
return for a touchdown -- but outside of that they generated little offense.
It's clear that the Bengals are struggling on offense due to a young
quarterback and young receivers.
But what's impressed me about Cincinnati since the coaching change is that
they're now in the games. They're playing harder, they appear to be better
organized, and it won't be too much longer -- if they keep playing like this
-- that it will translate into some victories.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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"We came out of sync a little after I fumbled," George said.
"It took us a while to get back in the groove."
Once George got rolling, the Bengals (0-5) had no chance. They
took a 14-10 halftime lead on two big plays: Corey Dillon's 80-yard
touchdown run and Darryl Williams' 36-yard interception return for
another score.
Other than that, they couldn't move the ball or stop George from
churning out the yards at an average of 5 yards per carry.
"He's a powerful guy," said defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau,
0-2 since taking over for Bruce Coslet as head coach. "He's the
key to them being able to hammer away at us, and it's typical with
a back like him that he gets more yards late in the game. We missed
a lot of tackles."
Once George scored standing up on a 5-yard run to put the Titans
ahead 17-14 midway through the third quarter, the Bengals never
threatened with their inept offense.
Cincinnati managed only one first down on its first six
possessions in the second half. Akili Smith was only 10-of-22 for
85 yards, and Dillon had just 15 yards on his other 14 carries,
finishing with 95.
The Bengals have been shut out twice and scored only 37 points
in five games, the worst season-opening stretch in franchise
history.
"I'm running out of things to say," Dillon said. "All the
work we're doing has to start paying off."
George picked up 125 yards in a victory over the New York Giants
last Sunday and was the focal point of the Titans' injury-depleted
offense. Receivers Carl Pickens and Yancey Thigpen were inactive
because of strained hamstrings and offensive tackle Brad Hopkins
was out with a sprained ankle.
The situation got more desperate when guard Bruce Matthews
sprained his right knee in the second quarter and didn't return.
Second-year backup Zach Piller took over and helped clear the way
for George.
Matthews has never missed a game because of injury during his
18-year career, starting 202 in a row -- the longest active streak
in the league. He was optimistic he could keep the streak going
next Monday night against Jacksonville.
Watching from the sideline, Matthews was impressed by the way
the banged-up offense took control, giving the Titans a 2-1
advantage in total yards and time of possession.
"If you eliminate the turnovers, that's very close to our ideal
game," he said.
It wasn't ideal early. Cincinnati got pushed around but went
ahead 14-10 with two big plays and several Tennessee blunders.
Steve McNair missed a wide-open Derrick Mason in the end zone on
Tennessee's first possession, forcing the Titans to settle for the
first of Al Del Greco's three field goals.
There was another gaffe later in the first quarter, when George
was hit by Williams at the 2 and fumbled into the end zone, where
the Bengals recovered.
Dillon, who rushed for an NFL rookie-record 246 yards against
Tennessee in 1997, then broke off his longest career run to put
Cincinnati ahead.
McNair threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Mason, then made a huge
mistake of his own. He locked onto Frank Wycheck, and Williams saw
it, cutting in front for an interception and 36-yard touchdown
return.
"That's the dangerous part of playing a team like that -- you
make mistakes early and keep 'em breathing," said Wycheck, who had
season highs with seven catches for 68 yards. "It's a team we
should have beat and we found a way to win."
Game notes
George, from Ohio State, has rushed for 884 yards in nine
games against Cincinnati, his best total against any team. He has
five 100-yard games against the Bengals -- only Jerome Bettis (7)
and Earl Campbell (6) have more. ... McNair is 6-1 as a starter
against the Bengals with 12 TD passes and two interceptions. ...
For the second time in three games at Paul Brown Stadium, the
Bengals failed to sell out. Fans unfurled several banners
criticizing general manager Mike Brown before the game, but
security quickly removed them. ... Dillon moved into third place on
the Bengals' career rushing list with 3,746, passing Harold Green.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Tennessee Clubhouse
Cincinnati Clubhouse
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