CINCINNATI, Ohio — Joe Burrow delivered another historic performance Sunday afternoon, throwing five touchdown passes, surpassing 175 career passing touchdowns and leading the Cincinnati Bengals to a dramatic 43-36 overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans at Paycor Stadium.
Burrow completed 33 of 48 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns before adding a nine-yard rushing touchdown in overtime to secure Cincinnati’s third consecutive victory. The Bengals improved to 5-2, continuing their resurgence in the AFC playoff race despite a game filled with turnovers, defensive struggles and multiple fourth-quarter lead changes.
The performance also placed Burrow among some of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. With his third touchdown pass of the afternoon, the 29-year-old became the third-fastest quarterback in league history to reach 175 career passing touchdowns, accomplishing the milestone in just his 84th regular-season game.
Although Burrow threw three interceptions, he repeatedly responded with critical touchdown drives, including a game-tying connection with Tee Higgins in the final two minutes of regulation.
The victory provided another example of Burrow’s ability to produce under pressure, reinforcing his position among the NFL’s premier quarterbacks. (AP)
Burrow Becomes Third-Fastest Quarterback to Reach 175 Passing Touchdowns
Burrow entered Sunday’s matchup with 172 career touchdown passes, needing just three to reach another significant milestone.
After Cincinnati fell behind 13-0 in the opening quarter, Burrow began leading the Bengals back into contention.
His first touchdown came early in the second quarter on a 30-yard completion to Ja’Marr Chase, cutting Tennessee’s lead to 13-7.
Later in the quarter, Burrow connected with rookie tight end Jack Endries for a one-yard touchdown with just 20 seconds remaining before halftime, giving Cincinnati a 14-13 advantage.
The historic moment arrived early in the third quarter.
Burrow found Higgins for a 17-yard touchdown pass, extending Cincinnati’s lead to 21-13 and officially recording the 175th touchdown pass of his NFL career.
Reaching the milestone in just 84 games made Burrow the third-fastest quarterback in league history to accomplish the feat.
The achievement was particularly impressive considering the significant injuries that have interrupted his career, including a torn ACL during his rookie season and a wrist injury that ended his 2023 campaign prematurely.
Despite those setbacks, Burrow has consistently ranked among the league’s most productive passers when healthy.
He previously became the third-fastest quarterback to reach 150 career touchdown passes during the 2025 season, further demonstrating his remarkable scoring efficiency.
Sunday’s performance brought his career total to 177 touchdown passes, adding another accomplishment to a résumé that already includes a Super Bowl appearance, multiple Pro Bowl selections and an NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. (Ohio Sports Hub)
Five Touchdown Passes Highlight Another Remarkable Performance
Burrow’s milestone was only part of an extraordinary afternoon.
The Bengals quarterback finished with 462 passing yards and five touchdowns, distributing the football among several different receivers while repeatedly attacking Tennessee’s secondary.
Higgins emerged as Burrow’s most productive target, recording 10 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
Chase also delivered a strong performance, catching 11 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Together, Cincinnati’s star receiving duo surpassed 100 receiving yards in the same game for the fourth time since 2021.
Burrow’s five touchdown passes were distributed among four different receivers, with Higgins catching two and Chase, Endries and Mike Gesicki each recording one.
Gesicki’s 25-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter extended his streak to five consecutive games with a touchdown catch.
However, the performance was far from flawless.
Burrow threw three interceptions, all of which were recorded by Tennessee safety Amani Hooker, who became the first NFL player to intercept three passes in a single game since Jordan Whitehead accomplished the feat in September 2023.
The turnovers repeatedly gave Tennessee opportunities to regain control of the contest.
Nevertheless, Burrow’s ability to overcome those mistakes proved decisive.
Rather than allowing the interceptions to disrupt Cincinnati’s offense, he continued attacking downfield and generating scoring opportunities.
His five touchdown passes matched the highest single-game total of his NFL career, further emphasizing his ability to produce explosive offensive performances. (AP)
Bengals Overcome Early 13-0 Deficit
Sunday’s game began with Tennessee appearing poised to deliver one of the biggest upsets of the NFL weekend.
The Titans entered the matchup with just one victory and were significant underdogs against a Cincinnati team riding a two-game winning streak.
However, Tennessee immediately established control.
A 46-yard field goal from Joey Slye opened the scoring before running back Tony Pollard broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run, extending the Titans’ lead to 10-0.
Slye added another field goal later in the quarter, giving Tennessee a surprising 13-0 advantage after the opening 15 minutes.
Cincinnati responded in the second quarter behind Burrow’s passing attack.
His touchdown passes to Chase and Endries erased the early deficit and allowed the Bengals to enter halftime with a narrow 14-13 lead.
The momentum continued into the third quarter when Burrow connected with Higgins for his historic 175th career touchdown pass.
However, Tennessee refused to disappear.
Pollard scored his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon, and quarterback Cam Ward converted the ensuing two-point attempt to tie the game at 21.
Cincinnati briefly regained the advantage when defenders Demetrius Knight Jr. and Dexter Lawrence tackled Pollard in the end zone for a safety, giving the Bengals a 23-21 lead late in the third quarter.
The play marked Cincinnati’s first safety since 2024.
What followed was a fourth quarter featuring multiple lead changes and increasingly dramatic offensive possessions. (Ohio Sports Hub)
Fourth-Quarter Drama Forces Overtime
Tennessee regained the lead early in the fourth quarter when Ward connected with Chimere Dike for an 11-yard touchdown, putting the Titans ahead 28-23.
Burrow responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gesicki, restoring Cincinnati’s advantage at 29-28 after an unsuccessful two-point conversion.
However, the Titans once again answered.
Ward found Wan’Dale Robinson for a 15-yard touchdown with less than four minutes remaining, and Tennessee successfully converted another two-point attempt to extend its lead to 36-29.
The Bengals suddenly faced a seven-point deficit with their third consecutive victory hanging in the balance.
Burrow responded by orchestrating another critical scoring drive.
With 1:17 remaining in regulation, he connected with Higgins for an 18-yard touchdown, completing his fifth touchdown pass of the afternoon.
Evan McPherson converted the extra point, tying the game at 36.
Tennessee received one final opportunity to win in regulation, but Cincinnati’s defense prevented the Titans from reaching scoring position.
The Bengals entered overtime having overcome multiple deficits, setting the stage for Burrow to deliver one final decisive play. (Reuters)
Burrow’s Overtime Touchdown Completes Cincinnati’s Comeback
Cincinnati received the opening possession of overtime and wasted little time taking advantage.
Burrow directed a five-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, moving the Bengals downfield against a Tennessee defense that had already surrendered more than 400 passing yards.
The decisive moment came when Burrow scrambled nine yards into the end zone for his sixth total touchdown of the afternoon.
The rushing score gave Cincinnati a 43-36 lead and placed Tennessee in a position where it needed a touchdown to extend the game.
The Titans were unable to respond.
Ward’s fourth-down pass intended for Elic Ayomanor fell incomplete, ending Tennessee’s final possession and securing the Bengals’ victory.
The dramatic finish capped one of the most productive individual performances of the NFL season.
Burrow accounted for six touchdowns, five through the air and one on the ground, while helping Cincinnati overcome a 13-point first-quarter deficit.
The victory also demonstrated the Bengals’ ability to remain competitive despite committing four turnovers and allowing Tennessee to accumulate substantial offensive yardage.
While the defensive performance raised legitimate concerns, Burrow’s ability to consistently generate scoring drives ultimately proved to be the difference. (AP)
Bengals Improve to 5-2 as AFC Playoff Race Intensifies
With Sunday’s victory, Cincinnati improved to 5-2 for the first time since 2021, the same season the franchise advanced to Super Bowl LVI.
The Bengals have now won three consecutive games, providing important momentum as they approach the middle portion of the regular season.
Burrow’s performance reinforced the importance of having an elite quarterback capable of overcoming mistakes and delivering in critical situations.
However, Cincinnati’s defensive struggles remain an area of concern.
The Bengals surrendered 36 points and allowed Tennessee to repeatedly regain the lead despite entering the matchup as substantial favorites.
Ward delivered one of the strongest performances of his young career, throwing for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns, while Pollard added 117 rushing yards and two scores.
Against stronger opponents, Cincinnati may not be able to rely on Burrow producing five passing touchdowns to overcome defensive shortcomings.
Nevertheless, the Bengals’ offensive potential remains among the most dangerous in the AFC.
With Chase and Higgins providing two elite receiving options, Gesicki emerging as a reliable red-zone target and Burrow continuing to produce at a historic pace, Cincinnati possesses the personnel necessary to compete with the conference’s top teams.
The Bengals will look to extend their winning streak next Sunday when they face the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, Spain, as part of the NFL’s international series.
Burrow Continues Building His Legacy Among the NFL’s Elite
At just 29 years old, Burrow has already established himself as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Cincinnati franchise history.
Since being selected first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, he has transformed the Bengals from a rebuilding organization into a team capable of competing for championships.
His leadership during Cincinnati’s 2021 postseason run helped the franchise reach its first Super Bowl since the 1988 season, ending decades of playoff frustration.
Burrow followed that achievement with another AFC Championship Game appearance the following season, further establishing himself as one of the league’s premier postseason quarterbacks.
His ability to deliver accurate throws under pressure, extend plays and maintain composure during difficult situations has become central to Cincinnati’s offensive identity.
Sunday’s performance against Tennessee provided another example.
Despite three interceptions and several momentum swings, Burrow continued producing when his team needed him most.
The historical significance of reaching 175 touchdown passes in just 84 games further strengthens his standing among the most productive quarterbacks of his generation.
While career milestones do not guarantee championship success, Burrow’s statistical pace places him in distinguished company and suggests that he could continue climbing the NFL’s all-time passing records if he remains healthy.
For Cincinnati, the priority remains translating that individual excellence into sustained postseason success.
The Bengals have already demonstrated that they possess a quarterback capable of leading them to the Super Bowl. Their challenge now is building a complete roster that can consistently complement his production.
Sunday’s 43-36 victory was far from perfect, but it illustrated why Cincinnati remains dangerous regardless of the circumstances.
Joe Burrow threw five touchdown passes, reached another historic milestone and delivered the game-winning score in overtime. For a Bengals team with championship aspirations, it was another reminder that as long as Burrow is under center, Cincinnati is rarely out of a game.
