Tennessee Titans vs. Cincinnati Bengals: 2014 Week 3 Recap

Game story

In Week 3 of the 2014 NFL season on 2014-09-21, the Cincinnati Bengals took care of business against the Tennessee Titans, pulling away with a 33–7 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Locker (Tennessee Titans) paced the passing game, with -7.97 total EPA, and -9.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Green (Cincinnati Bengals) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.79 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.9% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Tennessee Titans changed the game: (11:30) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass short middle to 82-D.Walker to CIN 20 for 23 yards (59-E.Lamur) [91-R.Geathers].

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 A. Green · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +4.79 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.53 EPA/play
2. 2 J. Hill · Cincinnati Bengals · Rushing · +2.38 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Stevens · Tennessee Titans · Receiving · +2.36 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.18 EPA/play
4. 4 B. Sankey · Tennessee Titans · Rushing · +2.20 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
5. 5 M. Sanu · Cincinnati Bengals · Passing · +2.18 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.18 EPA/play
6. 6 A. Dalton · Cincinnati Bengals · Receiving · +2.18 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.18 EPA/play
7. 7 A. Dalton · Cincinnati Bengals · Passing · +2.17 total EPA · 26 snaps · +0.08 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Battle · Tennessee Titans · Rushing · +2.16 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.16 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Cincinnati Bengals — A. Dalton (M. Sanu pass) (Q1 45:06)
• Cincinnati Bengals — G. Bernard (Q2 33:32)
• Cincinnati Bengals — G. Bernard (Q3 17:03)
• Cincinnati Bengals — J. Hill (Q4 9:28)
• Tennessee Titans — S. Greene (Q4 6:14)

Field goals

• Cincinnati Bengals — M. Nugent (Q1 49:52)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 10–0. Cincinnati Bengals connected on a field goal from the TEN 11 (Q1 49:52) — (4:52) 2-M.Nugent 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the TEN 18 (Q1 45:06) — (:06) (Shotgun) 12-M.Sanu pass short left to 14-A.Dalton for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. {Dalton pitched out to Sanu, who then passed to Dalton.}; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q1 45:00) — 2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The second quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 9–0. Cincinnati Bengals registered a safety from the CIN 96 (Q2 36:36); Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the TEN 1 (Q2 33:32) — (3:32) 25-G.Bernard right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q2 33:29) — 2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The third quarter: Cincinnati Bengals won the period 7–0. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the TEN 1 (Q3 17:03) — (2:03) 25-G.Bernard right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q3 16:58) — 2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber..

The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Cincinnati Bengals found the end zone from the TEN 4 (Q4 9:28) — (9:28) (Shotgun) 32-J.Hill right tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Cincinnati Bengals added 1 points from the TEN 2 (Q4 9:26) — 2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.; Tennessee Titans found the end zone from the CIN 1 (Q4 6:14) — (6:14) 23-S.Greene up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Tennessee Titans added 1 points from the CIN 2 (Q4 6:09) — 8-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Tennessee Titans (Q1 56:30) — (11:30) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass short middle to 82-D.Walker to CIN 20 for 23 yards (59-E.Lamur) [91-R.Geathers]. [WPA +11.9% · EPA +2.51]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 53:56) — (8:56) 8-R.Succop 40 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern. [WPA -9.1% · EPA -4.17]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 58:41) — (13:41) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker scrambles up the middle to CIN 49 for 29 yards (96-C.Dunlap). [WPA +9.0% · EPA +3.49]
• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 30:50) — (:50) 14-A.Dalton pass short left intended for 25-G.Bernard INTERCEPTED by 21-G.Wilson at CIN 22. 21-G.Wilson to CIN 22 for no gain (65-C.Boling). [WPA -6.7% · EPA -4.39]
• Tennessee Titans (Q2 30:27) — (:27) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker pass deep middle intended for 85-N.Washington INTERCEPTED by 20-R.Nelson at CIN -1. Touchback. [WPA -4.6% · EPA -3.28]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Cincinnati Bengals (Q2 30:50) — (:50) 14-A.Dalton pass short left intended for 25-G.Bernard INTERCEPTED by 21-G.Wilson at CIN 22. 21-G.Wilson to CIN 22 for no gain (65-C.Boling). [WPA -6.7% · EPA -4.39]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 53:56) — (8:56) 8-R.Succop 40 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern. [WPA -9.1% · EPA -4.17]
• Tennessee Titans (Q2 41:16) — (11:16) 8-R.Succop 44 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern. [WPA -4.4% · EPA -3.94]
• Tennessee Titans (Q1 58:41) — (13:41) (Shotgun) 10-J.Locker scrambles up the middle to CIN 49 for 29 yards (96-C.Dunlap). [WPA +9.0% · EPA +3.49]

Quarterback report card

J.Locker led all passers in efficiency for Tennessee Titans, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Locker (Tennessee Titans) · 42 dropbacks · 40.5% completion · -9.2% CPOE · -0.19 EPA/play · -7.97 total EPA
• A.Dalton (Cincinnati Bengals) · 26 dropbacks · 57.7% completion · -4.1% CPOE · +0.08 EPA/play · +2.17 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Cincinnati Bengals held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.12 vs -0.19), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Cincinnati Bengals: 12 drives, +9.33 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Tennessee Titans: 12 drives, -16.87 total EPA, 2 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Cincinnati Bengals leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• A. Green (Cincinnati Bengals) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• J. Locker (TEN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• A. Dalton (CIN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Cincinnati Bengals FG (+3) — Q1 49:52 · TEN 11 · Score 0-3
   (4:52) 2-M.Nugent 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
2. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q1 45:06 · TEN 18 · Score 0-9
   (:06) (Shotgun) 12-M.Sanu pass short left to 14-A.Dalton for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN. {Dalton pitched out to Sanu, who then passed to Dalton.}
3. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q1 45:00 · TEN 2 · Score 0-10
   2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
4. Cincinnati Bengals Safety (+2) — Q2 36:36 · CIN 96 · Score 0-12
   (6:36) 6-B.Kern punts 43 yards to TEN 47, Center-48-B.Brinkley, downed by TEN-48-B.Brinkley. PENALTY on TEN-53-Q.Groves, Offensive Holding, 4 yards, enforced in
5. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q2 33:32 · TEN 1 · Score 0-18
   (3:32) 25-G.Bernard right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q2 33:29 · TEN 2 · Score 0-19
   2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
7. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q3 17:03 · TEN 1 · Score 0-25
   (2:03) 25-G.Bernard right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
8. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q3 16:58 · TEN 2 · Score 0-26
   2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
9. Cincinnati Bengals TD (+6) — Q4 9:28 · TEN 4 · Score 0-32
   (9:28) (Shotgun) 32-J.Hill right tackle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Cincinnati Bengals XP (+1) — Q4 9:26 · TEN 2 · Score 0-33
    2-M.Nugent extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Harris, Holder-10-K.Huber.
11. Tennessee Titans TD (+6) — Q4 6:14 · CIN 1 · Score 6-33
    (6:14) 23-S.Greene up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Tennessee Titans XP (+1) — Q4 6:09 · CIN 2 · Score 7-33
    8-R.Succop extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Brinkley, Holder-6-B.Kern.