Mason Rudolph finished Sunday’s game as the Titans quarterback, but head coach Brian Callahan didn’t say who will get the start in Week 16.
Callahan pulled Will Levis after Levis threw his third interception of the game in the third quarter. Bengals safety Geno Stone took the pick back for a touchdown that put the Bengals up 31-14 on their way to a 37-27 win.
After the game, Callahan said Sunday “wasn’t Levis’s day” so he made the move to Rudolph because “you want to give those guys that are fighting the feeling that they’ve got a chance in that game.”
“We just needed some momentum,” Callahan said, via Nick Suss of the Tennessean. “We needed something to spark us a bit. We had three turnovers in a really tight amount of time. That gave them some points. . . . I just felt like we needed something. Not everything’s on the quarterback, but he’s the one that’s going to take the most heat when those decisions happen.”
Callahan declined to say who would start against the Colts, but having to make that call days after talking about how excited he is about Levis’s future is hardly a step in the right direction for the franchise.
Sunday’s matchup between the Bengals and Titans was a wild one, featuring an astounding 10 turnovers and 26 penalties.
But Cincinnati was able to come out on top 37-27 to keep the team’s increasingly slim postseason chances alive.
Quarterback Joe Burrow set a new single-season franchise record with 36 touchdown passes, finishing the day 26-of-37 for 271 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions and a lost fumble. Ja’Marr Chase caught nine passes for 94 yards while Tee Higgins finished with five catches for 88 yards with a TD.
Defensive end Sam Hubbard caught the first touchdown of his career in the second quarter but also suffered a knee injury on the play and was ruled out.
On the other side, Will Levis was benched after struggling mightily. He threw his third interception of the day midway through the third quarter, with Geno Stone bringing it back for a 39-yard pick-six. Levis finished 8-of-12 for 89 yards with three interceptions and a lost fumble on a strip-sack.
Mason Rudolph came in to relieve Levis, ending the game 21-of-26 for 209 yards with two touchdowns and another pick.
According to the Fox broadcast, it was the first game with at least 25 penalties and at least 10 turnovers since at least 2000.
Now at 6-8, the Bengals will be back at home to play the Browns next Sunday.
The 3-11 Titans will be on the road to face the Colts in Week 16.
Will Levis’ rough day against the Bengals has come to an end midway through the third quarter.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan has benched Levis for Mason Rudolph after Levis threw his third interception of the contest — this one a pick six to Geno Stone that gave Cincinnati a 31-14 lead.
Levis also was strip-sacked during the first half, losing the fumble.
Levis has now thrown 12 interceptions in 11 games this season.
He’ll end Sunday’s outing 8-of-12 for 89 yards with three picks.
It’s been an entertaining first half between the Bengals and Titans, with Cincinnati building a 24-14 lead at halftime.
A big man has rumbled off of a fumble recovery with a stiff arm, a defensive player has gotten a touchdown, Will Levis has committed multiple turnovers, and Joe Burrow has set a new single-season franchise record for touchdown passes.
Burrow completed 20-of-27 passes for 216 yards with three touchdowns with an interception and a lost fumble. Burrow now has 36 touchdown passes, which eclipses his previous single-season franchise record of 35 from 2022.
Burrow’s second touchdown went to defensive end Sam Hubbard, who recorded the first reception and touchdown of his career. But it was a costly play for Hubbard, as he suffered a knee injury on the catch and was ruled out.
Cincinnati ended the first half with 258 yards, 14 first downs, and 7-of-8 on third down. Ja’Marr Chase has six catches for 79 yards while Tee Higgins caught four passes for 65 yards with a 38-yard touchdown late in the second period.
On the other side, the Titans scored first with Tony Pollard’s 3-yard run — capitalizing off a Burrow interception. The club then scored in Tyjae Spears’ 1-yard run late in the first quarter.
Defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat picked up a Burrow fumble and stiff-armed an offensive player for one of the more exciting plays of the first half.
But Levis has again struggled, finishing the first half 7-of-10 for 86 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble.
Tennessee will receive the second-half kickoff.
Every week we bring you all the inactives from the 1 p.m. ET games in one post, constantly updated with the latest information.
The Chiefs won’t have to contend with Browns tight end David Njoku on Sunday.
Njoku was listed as questionable to play because of a hamstring injury and the team made him inactive 90 minutes ahead of kickoff in Cleveland. Njoku has missed three other games this season and has 56 catches in the 10 games he has played.
The Browns also made kicker Dustin Hopkins inactive. Riley Patterson will handle their kicking duties.
Chiefs at Browns
Chiefs: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, T D.J. Humphries, T Ethan Driskell, OL C.J. Hanson, DE Joshua Uche, DT Marlon Tuipulotu, DE Malik Herring
Browns: K Dustin Hopkins, TE David Njoku, QB Bailey Zappe, RB D’Onta Foreman, CB Chigozie Anusiem and DE James Houston
Jets at Jaguars
Jets: CB D.J. Reed, WR Malachi Corley, S Jaylin Simpson, CB Brandin Echols, OL Xavier Newman, TE Tyler Conklin, DL Braiden McGregor
Jaguars: RB D’Ernest Johnson, DE Myles Cole, OL Javon Foster, DT Esezi Otomewo, DT Jordan Jefferson
Ravens at Giants
Ravens: S Marcus Williams, RB Keaton Mitchell, S Sanoussi Kane, LB Adisa Isaac C Nick Samac
Giants: CB Deonte Banks, CB Dru Phillips, CB Cor’Dale Flott, LB Bobby Okereke, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, QB Drew Lock
Cowboys at Panthers
Cowboys: CB Trevon Diggs, S Juanyeh Thomas, RB Deuce Vaughn, C Cooper Beebe, WR Ryan Flournoy, DE Tyrus Wheat
Panthers: RB Raheem Blackshear, S Nick Scott, CB Shemar Bartholomew, CB Akayleb Evans, LB Trevin Wallace, OL Jarrett Kingston, DT Sam Roberts
Commanders at Saints
Commanders: WR K.J. Osborn, QB Jeff Driskel, CB Michael Davis, LB Dominique Hampton, K Zane Gonzalez, C Tyler Biadasz, DT Phidarian Mathis
Saints: QB Derek Carr, RB Jordan Mims, WR Mason Tipton, DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, DT Khristian Boyd
Bengals at Titans
Bengals: QB Logan Woodside, WR Charlie Jones, OL Cody Ford, OT Orlando Brown Jr., TE Tanner McLachlan, DT Sheldon Rankins
Titans: LB Jerome Baker, WR Jha’Quan Jackson, CB Roger McCreary, CB Tre Avery, RB Joshua Kelley, LB Otis Reese
Dolphins at Texans
Dolphins: T Terron Armstead, CB Ethan Bonner, WR Dee Eskridge, DL Neil Farrell, OL Kendall Lamm, TE Jack Stoll, RB Jeff Wilson
Texans: TE Cade Stover, WR Steven Sims, OL Juice Scruggs, DE Jerry Hughes, DT Kurt Hinish
