The Tennessee Titans hosted the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional round on Saturday. The Titans finished the year with an impressive 12-5 record giving them the number 1 seed in the AFC. However, the red hot Bengals are arguably one of the most dangerous teams in the league right now led by second year quarterback Joe Burrow. This game was going to come down to how much Derrick Henry impacted the game on the ground versus whether or not the Bengals mediocre offensive line could compete with the Titans dominant defensive line. 

The Bengals had control over the Titans for most of the first half as we saw Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill throw an interception on the first play of the game. The Bengals had trouble finding the endzone as they were held to 3 field goals in the first half which kept Tennessee in the game. The Titans finally clicked on offense towards the end of the first half and running back Derrick Henry punched it in the endzone on a wildcat snap from the 3 yard line. What happened next was extremely controversial. 

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel decides to go for two from the one yard line after catching the Bengals with twelve men on the field during the extra point. ​​Going for 2 made no sense as 7-6 gives you the lead, 6-6 keeps you tied and 8-6 still gives the bengals the chance to win with a field Goal. It’s these kinds of decisions where analytics take the place of common sense and in this case may have cost the Titans the game. 

If they kicked the extra point and went up 7-6, the result of this game very well could have shifted into the Titans' favor. Instead, they go for it and don’t get it, making the score 6-6. Later in the game the score is 16-16 with 3 minutes left and the Titans have the ball. If they kicked the extra point it would have been 17-16 and potentially could have run the clock out with their ground and pound style of play. 

Ryan Tannehill decides to attempt to get the first down with roughly 30 seconds left instead of running it out and going to overtime. This was a big mistake as it was deflected and intercepted by the Bengals. The rest was history as Joe Burrow hits Ja’Marr Chase down the sideline for one big play to put the Bengals in field goal range. Bengals kicker Evan McPherson was lights out all day and even told Burrow “I guess we're going to the AFC championship” before kicking the game-winning field goal. 

Even with Tennessee recording a franchise record 9 sacks, their outstanding season came to an end after failing to put up points in critical situations and the Bengals capitalized on it. While Vrabel owned up to the loss after the game, Tannehill had an abysmal day throwing 3 interceptions which eventually set up the game-winning field goal. Up next for Cincinnati will be the winner of Bills vs. Chiefs.