ANALYSIS: 5 takeaways from Bengals' 31-20 win over Titans

Sometimes pieces fall in place at the most unexpected time. The Bengals traded disgruntled defensive end Carlos Dunlap on Wednesday; then, on Friday, wide receiver John Ross spoke up for the first time on social media to confirm his desire to be moved. Amid all that, the team was patching together a new offensive line after losing three starters to injuries and a fourth to illness Sunday morning.

Despite the adversity, Cincinnati (2-5-1) took the first lead against Tennessee and never lost it. Now the bye week calls for some much-needed rest and recovery time. Here are five takeaways from the win Sunday:

1. Seeing is believing

The Bengals kept saying they were close to turning a corner after failing to get wins in five games decided by five points or less, and they built a lead that for once felt secure. They went up 24-7 early in the fourth quarter and the Titans only could draw within 10.

Cincinnati has matched its win total from last year, halfway through Taylor’s second season. Two weeks ago, the Bengals let go of a 21-0 lead that came early in the second quarter of a loss at Indianapolis.

“It validates everything these guys have been working for,” Taylor said. “You do need to see in front of your face that you’ve done it. … This does mean a lot.”

2. Offensive line steps up

The Bengals had four new starters on the offensive line from a week ago and none of their opening game starters, but they gave up no sacks and the team finished with 118 yards rushing -- even without Joe Mixon (foot) – their highest rushing total since a Week 4 win over Jacksonville.

Center Trey Hopkins (concussion), left tackle Jonah Williams (stinger) and right tackle Bobby Hart (knee) suffered injuries last week against Cleveland, and left guard Michael Jordan came up with an illness Sunday. Right guard Xavier Su’a-Filo has been out since injuring his ankle in the opener.

Rookie Hakeem Adeniji made his first career start at right tackle, and Shaq Calhoun – who was cut four weeks ago and brought up from the practice squad Saturday – started at left guard before getting replaced on the second series by newly signed guard Quinton Spain. Fred Johnson got his first start of the season at the left tackle spot – fourth overall after playing three games at right guard – and Billy Price made his first start at center since 2018. Alex Redmond earned his fourth straight start at right guard.

“I think it comes down to communication and execution,” Price said. “Move the down (guy), make sure that we’re targeted correctly, make sure we understand our pass protection rule, keep Joe clean as best as you can. They’ve got a good defensive front over there. Harold Landry, 99, those guys up front are a legit defense. They’re great pass rushers and they’ve got a great head coach in Mike Vrabel, so it meant a lot for us to make sure we kept things clean.”

Price got one of the three game balls Taylor awarded, as did safety Jessie Bates and linebacker Josh Bynes.

3. Turnover battle key

The offense didn’t record a turnover for the first time since tying the Eagles in Week 3. The defense came up with two interceptions and almost a third. Bates earned his game ball for picking off Ryan Tannehill in the end zone in the first quarter with the Bengals leading just 3-0.

Bynes got his after intercepting Titans holder Brett Kern on a two-point conversion pass after the final score of the game with about six minutes left. Two plays before that, Vonn Bell intercepted Tannehill, but Carl Lawson was offside, negating the play.

Burrow was bailed out by a defensive pass interference call with 3:06 remaining when he threw an interception deep in Cincinnati territory, which would have given the Titans a chance to rally. With the drive continuing, the Bengals ate up almost six minutes and Tennessee only had time for one more play.

4. Somewhat of a pass rush

The Bengals finally got more of a pass rush going after recording just one sack in the last two weeks.

Logan Wilson picked up his first career sack on a key third down play late in the third quarter as the Titans were nearing field goal range. The Bengals led just 17-7 at that time, and they went on the next drive to widen the gap to a more comfortable cushion.

Cincinnati also got four quarterback hits, and Tannehill finished with 233 yards passing with only four passes going to A.J. Brown for 24 yards.

“We knew exactly what they wanted to do,” Bates said. “The wind helped that as well, where they couldn’t really get the ball down the field. Our corners, they’re going through some adversity as well and haven’t been playing their best ball. But they step up when it matters. It’s a good thing for those guys.”

5. Bernard shines

Giovani Bernard played his best game of the season, stepping in once again for Mixon, who missed his second straight game with a foot injury.

Bernard finished with 62 yards on 15 carries and had two touchdowns, including a 6-yard catch in the fourth quarter and a 12-yard run up the middle with 32 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Bengals a 17-7 lead going into the locker room.

The talented blocker also helped Burrow in pass protection, as Burrow was trying to get the ball out quickly to help ease some of the pressure off the new guys stepping in.

Cincinnati’s 118 yards rushing was its third best team total this season and the running game proved key in running down the clock at the end of both halves, something the Bengals didn’t do last week in allowing the Browns time to score the game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes.

“We felt like our inside zone run game is one of the strong points in our offense,” Bernard said. “It’s a testament to the coaches knowing the type of team we are and not deviating from that and doing something pretty and cute and all that stuff. It’s about, ‘Hey, we’re going to continue to do this no matter who we’re going to play.’ We continue to do things that we know we’re good at. So my hats off to Coach Turner and Coach Taylor up front being able to get those plays and get those yards.”