LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: Loveland Magazine

  • Game Preview: Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs, AFC Championship, Sunday, January 30, 2022

    Game Preview: Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs, AFC Championship, Sunday, January 30, 2022

    Photo by Cincinnati Bengals

    by Bengals.com

    Kickoff: 3 p.m. Eastern. Television: The game will air nationally on CBS-TV. In the Bengals’ home region, it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton and on WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington. Broadcasters are play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and analyst Tony Romo, with sideline reporters Tracy Wolfson, Evan Washburn and Jay Feely. 

    Radio: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst). 

    The game also will air nationally on Westwood One Radio. Broadcasters are Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Tony Boselli (analyst) and Ross Tucker (sideline reporter). 

    Setting the scene: The Bengals on Sunday travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the two-time defending AFC-champion Kansas City Chiefs, in what will be Cincinnati’s third-ever appearance in an AFC Championship Game. Cincinnati won both of its previous AFC Championship appearances — vs. San Diego in the 1981 season, and vs. Buffalo in the 1988 season. 

    The Bengals earned their spot in the NFL’s final four in thrilling fashion on Saturday, when rookie K Evan McPherson nailed a 52-yard FG as time expired in the Divisional Playoff to give Cincinnati a 19-16 win over top-seeded Tennessee. 

    “It feels great,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “This is the expectation for these guys — it’s not too big for them. 

    “I know we haven’t been here before, but it sure feels like we have. You see the attitude of the team and the confidence that they have, that we’re going to find a way to win. You just can’t replace the confidence that these guys have earned in themselves.” 

    The contest began in what turned out to be fitting fashion — with a key defensive play that swung the game’s momentum. On the very first play from scrimmage, Titans QB Ryan Tannehill faked a handoff to star RB Derrick Henry, who was playing for the first time since Halloween (foot injury), and then fired a pass over the middle that was intercepted by Bengals S Jessie Bates. 

    “They were in a ‘pass-alert’ formation that we talked about all week,” Bates said. “Honestly, Tannehill just stared it down, and I knew exactly what was going on. We talked about coming out fast with a sense of urgency, and it couldn’t have worked out any better.

    The Bengals took over possession at the Titans’ 42-yard line, however the offense managed just a FG. Cincinnati went on to add two more FGs in a first half dominated by defense, and took a 9-6 lead into the locker room. 

    The Bengals received the opening kickoff of the second half and quickly jumped ahead 16-6, thanks to a nine-play, 65-yard drive that HB Joe Mixon capped with a 16-yard TD run. The Bengals have now come away with points on their first offensive drive of the second half in 14 of 19 games this season (six TDs, eight FGs). During the regular season, Cincinnati’s 56 combined points on the first possession of the second half were second-most in the NFL.

    “We called ‘stretch right,’ and all of a sudden the linebackers and safety were flowing hard over the top,” Mixon said. “I put my toe in the ground, then I put my toe in the ground again, and I just (saw) the backside was like open like the Red Sea. I was fortunate enough to find daylight, and everything worked out.”

    On the ensuing possession, Tennessee turned to its fifth-ranked rushing attack and marched 66 yards on just four runs to reach Cincinnati’s nine-yard line. But on the fifth play of the drive, Bengals nickel CB Mike Hilton batted a screen pass from Tannehill into the air and came down with an INT. 

    “We had a lot of jokes about Mike getting caught after that pick,” Bates said with a laugh. Hilton returned the INT 19 yards before being caught by Tannehill. 

    “We were trying to line up the order of who had the worst returns this year, and I think Mike’s pretty much at the top of that list right now (laughs). But he made a hell of a play. You jump in the air and you track the ball — I think he was almost maxed out at that point, so we can’t complain too much about that.” 

    After a Bengals punt, the Titans again marched downfield but mustered only a 34-yard FG that cut the margin to seven points. On the ensuing possession, a pass from QB Joe Burrow bounced off the hands of HB Samaje Perine and into the grasp of Titans S Amani Hooker. The INT was Burrow’s first since Week 13 against the L.A. Chargers, and broke a string of 209 consecutive passes (regular season plus playoffs) without a pick — the second-longest such streak in team history.

    Tennessee took over possession on Cincinnati’s 27-yard line, and two plays later Tannehill found WR A.J. Brown for a 33-yard TD that knotted the game at 16. Entering the game, Cincinnati had allowed just one third-quarter TD in its previous nine contests. It was also just the fourth TD allowed by Cincinnati’s defense in the 19 combined possessions (regular season plus playoffs) immediately following a Bengals turnover.

    After scoring a combined 17 points in the third quarter, neither team’s offense found much traction in the final period. Cincinnati’s first two possessions in the fourth quarter both were thwarted by third-down sacks of Burrow. The Titans ended the day with nine total sacks of Burrow, the most takedowns of a winning QB in NFL postseason history. 

    “He’s the toughest guy in the league,” DT D.J. Reader said of Burrow. “He’s a super tough guy, and he’s gritty. I love that about him. He doesn’t complain, he just goes out there and does his job. I really appreciate Joe.” 

    But the Bengals’ defense put together an impressive showing of its own. Henry was held to just 3.1 yards per carry on 20 attempts, and most notably was stopped for a two-yard loss by LB Logan Wilson on a fourth-and-one play mid-way through the fourth quarter. But while Bates, Hilton and Wilson made the highlight plays of the day, there was little question among players and coaches about the defense’s key component. 

    “D.J. Reader was unbelievable,” Taylor said on Sunday. “He was Superman, quite frankly. 

    “You see him make some plays during the game, but then you really dial in and watch the tape, and you can further understand the impact he had on the game. Overall, you can point out every single player on defense making some key plays in that game. But if you’re going to single out one guy for their performance, D.J. Reader is certainly deserving of that.” 

    With the score knotted at 16, Tennessee took over possession just before the two-minute warning and looked to move into range for a potential game-winning FG. But Reader yet again stopped Henry for no gain, and then Tannehill threw a five-yard completion as the Titans seemed content to drain nearly all of the remaining clock. On the next play — a third-and-five with 28 seconds remaining — Bengals CB Eli Apple tipped a pass into the air, and a leaping Wilson came down with one of the most significant INTs in team history. 

    This week’s AFC Championship features a battle between two of the NFL’s top young players in Burrow and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. This will be Mahomes’ fourth consecutive AFC Championship game (all at home), while Burrow last week became the first QB picked No. 1 overall to reach a conference title game within his first two seasons. 

    The game is also a rematch of a dramatic Jan. 2 meeting between the two teams, which ended in a 34-31 Bengals win at Paul Brown Stadium. That contest was also decided by a McPherson walk-off FG, and it clinched the AFC North division title for Cincinnati. But among Bengals fans, it is perhaps best remembered for Chase’s 266 receiving yards, which set both a Bengals single-game record and the NFL’s single-game rookie record. 

    “I’m tired of the underdog narrative,” Burrow said after the Titans game. “We’re a really, really good team. We’re here to make noise, and teams are going to have to pay attention to us. We’re a really good team with really good players and coaches, and we’re coming for it all.” 

    The AFC West champion Chiefs finished the regular season 12-5, and earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. They opened postseason play with a 42-21 home win over Pittsburgh in the Wild Card Playoff. Then, in Sunday night’s Divisional Playoff against Buffalo, they scored a walk-off TD in overtime to win 42-36 at Arrowhead.

  • Joe Burrow Wins The PFWA 2021 Comeback Player Of The Year

    Joe Burrow Wins The PFWA 2021 Comeback Player Of The Year

    Photo by Cincinnati Bengals

    from Bengals.com

    Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who bounced back from a left knee injury suffered in 2020 to throw for a franchise-record 34 TDs and lead the Bengals to the playoffs for the first time since 2015, is the 2021 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

    Burrow was on pace to break several Bengals single-season and NFL rookie passing records, along with NFL rookie passing marks before he suffered a knee injury against Washington on November 22, 2020 in his 10th game of his rookie season. He had surgery on December 2, 2020, and he embarked on a long rehab process that culminated in him taking the first snaps of Cincinnati’s 2021 training camp.

    He returned to the starting lineup and led the NFL in completion percentage (70.4 percent) and yards per attempt (8.87) and was second in passer rating (108.3) in his 16 games (all starts). He completed 366 of 520 passes for 4,611 yards (sixth in the NFL) and 34 touchdowns. On December 26, Burrow set a franchise record with 525 passing yards – the fourth-highest total in NFL history – on 37 of 46 passing and four touchdowns in a 41-21 home victory over the Baltimore Ravens. He was a 2021 PFWA All-AFC selection.

    Burrow is the second member of the Cincinnati franchise to receive Comeback Player of the Year honors (QB Jon Kitna in 2003) since the award was instituted in 1992.

    ABOUT THE PFWA

    In its 58th season in 2021, the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) is the official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public. The PFWA is made up of accredited writers who cover the NFL and the 32 teams daily. Lindsay Jones of The Athletic is the PFWA president for the 2021-22 seasons and the organization’s 30th president. Jenny Vrentas of Sports Illustrated is the PFWA’s first vice-president, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News is the second vice-president and Mike Sando of The Athletic is the secretary-treasurer. At-large board members include USA Today’s Mike Jones, ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold, The Athletic’s Dan Pompei and ProFootballTalk.com’s Charean Williams. Follow the PFWA at ProFootballWriters.org and on Twitter at @PFWAwriters.

  • Ranking Dem says GOP attorney general blocked her from lawyers in redistricting suit

    Ranking Dem says GOP attorney general blocked her from lawyers in redistricting suit

    Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

    BY: JAKE ZUCKERMAN – Ohio Capital Journal

    Columbus, Ohio – The ranking Democrat in the Ohio House said Attorney General Dave Yost has blocked her from legal representation as the Ohio Supreme Court reviews the latest redistricting proposal from state lawmakers.

    The Ohio Redistricting Commission voted 5-2 along party lines Saturday to send over a revised map after the court overturned its first effort, determining it to be an unconstitutional gerrymander.

    Democrats on the commission have previously been represented by their own counsel and submitted their own arguments — distinct from Republicans on the committee. House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Columbus, said in a statement Wednesday however that Yost has since blocked them from their legal representation. This comes as a deadline looms for the state officials to respond to objections to the GOP-approved map submitted for the court’s review.

    Through spokeswoman Maya Majikas, Russo said Yost is “denying” her “the ability to consult with her legal counsel,” two attorneys with the Ice Miller law firm in Columbus retained through the attorney general’s office.

    “Leader Russo is being denied her outside counsel representation at this stage of the litigation period,” Majikas said. “Ice Miller is not permitted by the AG to provide Democrats counsel/bills for any service to us.”

    Yost seemed to confirm Russo’s central claim through spokeswoman Bethany McCorkle on Wednesday evening.

    “The Ohio Supreme Court ordered the Commission to draw a new map, which is why one counsel will respond to the court on behalf of the entire commission,” McCorkle said. “None of the individual members will respond separately.”

    Democratic members of the commission are technically named as defendants in the lawsuit. However, their interests largely align with the plaintiffs — a spread of special interest and voting rights organizations — and against Republicans on the commission who defended the maps.

    This has put the Democrats in the unusual position of arguing, as a defendant in the case, that the court should do what the plaintiffs want.

    “The Republican Legislative Commissioners prepared maps so lopsided that Republicans are essentially guaranteed veto-proof majorities in the General Assembly no matter how many votes Democrats earn,” the Democrats’ lawyers wrote in court filings.

    The Supreme Court, overturning the legislative maps, found they likely guaranteed Republicans a supermajority in defiance of voter’s preferences, as required by the constitution. They ordered the commission to draw a map as close as possible to the state’s 54% Republican to 46% Democratic partisan tilt.

    The newest proposal would create a projected 57-42 split in the House and 20-13 split in the Senate, far more advantageous for Democrats than the original. However, the Democrats’ margins are much tighter. For instance, in the House, 12 of the “Democratic leaning” seats in the latest map could also be considered tossups, with a Democratic edge of only 50-51%. All of the GOP-leaning seats favor Republicans by more than 52%.

    The plaintiffs who challenged the first map filed objections to the Ohio Supreme Court over the edited version this week. They argued it still disproportionately favors Republicans in violation of anti-gerrymandering Constitutional amendment approved by voters.

    The Ohio Redistricting Commission — comprised of four, bipartisan legislative appointees along with the governor, state auditor and secretary of state — was ordered to respond to the objections by Friday.

    The commission itself is represented by two lawyers. The statewide officeholders and Republicans on the commission have their own lawyers as well. Even if, as Yost said, the commission’s members don’t respond individually, it’s likely that Republicans who control it will likely shape its arguments.

    Sen. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, the other Democrat on the committee, did not respond to an inquiry to his office.

  • Join Your Fellow Community Members at the 2022 State of the Region Update!

    Join Your Fellow Community Members at the 2022 State of the Region Update!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – It’s that time of year again to hear what’s in store for your community in 2022 and we want you there to get your feedback!

    Join the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance on Thursday, February 3rd at the Hamilton County Cooperative (HCC) from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM to learn more about what your community has planned for 2022! Topics will range from economic development to how your community officials plan on keeping you informed this year.

    This informative and exciting event will include lunch and guest speakers David Kennedy, Loveland’s City Manager, Jeff Wright, Miami Township Administrator, and Kim Lapensee, Symmes Township Administrator. Chamber members can attend the event for $30 while non-members can attend for $35. If you would like to attend the 2022 State of the Region Update sign up here!

    If you have any questions concerning the 2022 State of the Region Update please contact Meredith Taylor or visit the LMRCA website!

    We encourage everyone that can attend the 2022 State of the Region Update to come by and listen to what your local officials have to say about your community’s future! Let’s unite our communities and support one another along the way!

    For more local event updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for you

    COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for you

    Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020.

    Find Funeral Assistance information in your language:

    中文 | Español | Kreyòl Ayisyen | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt |Français | عربي | हिन्दी | Português | Pусский | Tagalog | Bengali

    COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline
    844-684-6333

    Hours of Operation:
    Monday – Friday
    9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time

    Call this dedicated, toll-free phone number to complete your COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application with a FEMA representative. Multilingual services are available.

    If you use a relay service, such as your videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, please provide the specific number assigned to you for service. It is important that FEMA is able to contact you, and you should be aware phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number.

    Get answers to frequently asked questions about the application process on our Funeral Assistance FAQ page.

    Funeral Assistance Policy

    On June 29, 2021, we amended the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance policy to assist with COVID-19 related deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic.Policy change FAQ

    Required Documents

    • Official death certificate that shows the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and District of Columbia.
    • If the death certificate was issued between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020, it must either 1) attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 or 2) be accompanied by a signed statement from the original certifier of the death certificate or the local medical examiner or coroner from the jurisdiction in which the death occurred listing COVID-19 as a cause or contributing cause of death. This signed statement must provide an additional explanation, or causal pathway, linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate to COVID-19.
    • If the death certificate occurred on or after May 17, 2020, the death certificate must attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19.

    If you are eligible for funeral assistance you will receive funds by direct deposit or a check by mail, depending on which option you chose when you applied for assistance.

    Additional Resources

    VIDEO: Providing Financial Assistance for COVID-19 Related Funeral Expenses (ASL Video)

    VIDEO: Providing Financial Assistance for COVID-19-Related Funeral Expenses

    COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Individuals and Households Program Policy (Interim) (Version 2)

    Funeral Assistance FAQ

    FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-Related Deaths Press Release |

    COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Flyer

    (Last updated January 25, 2022)

  • Please help with this week’s needs at the LIFE Food Pantry

    Please help with this week’s needs at the LIFE Food Pantry

    Loveland, Ohio – Here are this week’s needs at the LIFE Food Pantry. It’s easy to donate. Learn how HERE.

    Deodorant

    Baby Wipes

    Cereal

    Bisquick

    Canned Stew

    Canned Chili

    Spaghetti Sauce

    Canned Fruit

    Mayonnaise

    Regular Coffee

  • Todd Jordon family didn’t get the break we prayed for – Now you can help

    Todd Jordon family didn’t get the break we prayed for – Now you can help

    Paula and Todd Jordan toasting their 16th anniversary in 2019

    Loveland, Ohio – The “GoFundMe” page to help this Tiger family begins:

    “Hello Loveland family and friends, we have a Tiger family in need after the heartbreaking passing of Todd Jordon.”

    It continues…

    Beloved husband, father, son, uncle, friend, neighbor, and life-long resident of our beautiful Loveland, unfortunately, and shockingly passed away on January 20th, 2022. He was 52.

    A little bit about Todd, he was a devoted family man. He was a great husband to his wife Paula, who he loved dearly. He unconditionally loved and was ridiculously proud of his two kiddos, Isabella and Sebastian. He was devoted to his father, Ron Jordan, and checked on him daily. He was especially attentive after the loss of his mother he adored, Beth Jordan, a few years ago. He was an attentive and caring Uncle to many nieces and nephews. And he was true to his friends. He was a sincere, kind-hearted man. When he asked how you were doing, he genuinely listened and cared about your response. And he gave the best hugs. He was quirky, fun, sometimes slightly ridiculous, and most definitely stubborn. He dreamed of Montana often as he loved the beauty of the state. And he had planned on taking his daughter, Isabella, there soon to get her situated with a summer job. 

    After a picture-perfect family Christmas, Todd fell ill. The whole family did. Victims of this awful pandemic time. But while everyone else got better, Todd got worse and worse. Todd had bladder cancer last year which made his fight with Covid a difficult one. After being hospitalized he, sadly, succumbed to his illness in the early evening of January 20 with family by his side. He passed peacefully. 

    Todd had been laid off from his job due to Covid and downsizing of his department a couple of months before the Holidays putting a strain on the family’s finances which makes this even more difficult. He had no life or health insurance. His wife Paula, unfortunately, has been in a series of accidents that limits her ability to work consistently.

    Any help that can be provided to assist the family with celebrating his life and helping with the financial difficulties of losing a husband and father will be greatly appreciated.

    Read more about Todd and his surviving family at GoFundMe.

  • Loveland Schools Covid-19 Dashboard for January 23, 2022

    Loveland Schools Covid-19 Dashboard for January 23, 2022

    Loveland, Ohio – At the beginning of each week, the Loveland City School District releases their latest Covid 19 Dashboard.

     
     
     
     

    Note the correction to the 10/3/ report and that community cases increased from 51 to 62.

     
     

     

     
  • Loveland Firefighters Will be Giving Back and Celebrating the Love Birds of the Community at the Valentine’s “Mask”erade Ball!

    Loveland Firefighters Will be Giving Back and Celebrating the Love Birds of the Community at the Valentine’s “Mask”erade Ball!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – “We are asking our local businesses to support the Valentine’s ‘Mask’erade Ball through sponsorships to cover the cost of the event,” LSFD (Loveland Symmes Fire Department) Chief Otto Huber said, “We want to send as many interested firefighters to medic school as possible. It will be a great time to take your sweetheart out for a romantic evening and support a great charity!”

    When the LCFA (Loveland Symmes Community Firefighter’s Association) found out about Loveland planning its first Hearts Afire Weekend, they knew they wanted to be involved. So in true Loveland style, they decided to plan a heart-felt event where they could not only be involved with the Hearts Afire festivities but they could also give back to a great cause at the same time.

    After the LSFD’s Chief Financial Officer, Candice Cook, passed in 2018, they wanted to be sure to keep her memory alive because for 25 years she was such an important part of the department. Cook’s family and the LCFA started the Candice M. Cook Scholarship Foundation in hopes that the fund would help and encourage firefighters to attend paramedic school.

    For firefighters attending paramedic school, it not only means they advance within their careers but also gives them an opportunity to explore higher education. Because paramedic schooling can be both time-consuming and expensive (over $10,000) the LCFA and Cook’s family wanted the sole mission of their scholarship foundation to be providing funds for the cost of tuition and books for paramedic high education. 

    The Loveland Firefighters attempted to celebrate Cook and the scholarship foundation with a music festival in September of 2020 but unfortunately, the event had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 spike. Now the Loveland Firefighters are ready more than ever to get the Cook Foundation up and running, which is why they decided to launch their first-ever Valentine’s “Mask”erade Ball!

    “Valentine’s Day in Loveland is a big deal,” Huber said, “Our city’s theme is ‘Sweetheart of Ohio.’ Every year, people from all over the world send their Valentine’s Day cards to the Loveland Post Office, where the red-clad Loveland Valentine Ladies see to it that each Cupid-themed communication receives the city’s official Valentine’s Day stamp.”

    The Valentine’s “Mask”erade Ball sponsored by the Candice M. Cook Foundation will be held at the Landing Event Center in downtown Loveland on Saturday, February 12th from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Ball will include a beautiful dinner, an open bar, free valet parking, “casino” activities, and local entertainment featuring The Nasty Nati Brass Band. Dancing is of course encouraged and Loveland’s very own Mayor, Kathy Bailey, will be renewing wedding vows for those that are interested in “re-tying the knot!” Tickets are $65 per person or $120 per couple for the Valentine’s “Mask”erade Ball. If you cannot attend but would love to donate to the Candice M. Cook Foundation, click here.

    The Valentine’s Day fun won’t end at the Landing Event Center! Beginning at 10 p.m. The Nasty Nati Brass Band will lead an impromptu 2nd line parade to the after-party, which will take place on Bishop’s Quarter’s rooftop. Those that attend will be able to enjoy New Orleans-inspired drinks and food in addition to fireworks!

    We are so happy to help get the word out about this unbelievably giving event! Be sure to purchase tickets for the Valentine’s “Maskerade” Ball if you can attend and if not you can still donate to the Candice M. Cook Scholarship Foundation by clicking the button above! We hope to see you at the Ball!

    For more local event updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • Joey B. Goode, Money Mac Rock Music City To Put Bengals in AFC Title Game

    Joey B. Goode, Money Mac Rock Music City To Put Bengals in AFC Title Game

    Bengal rookie Evan McPherson (Bengal file photo)

    by Geoff Hobson as reported by Bengals.com

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Bengals are going to next Sunday’s AFC title game on rookie Evan McPherson’s 52-yard field goal at the gun that felled the top-seeded Titans, 19-16

    After stuffing Derrick Henry on fourth-and –one, Bengals middle linebacker Logan Wilson caught cornerback Eli Apple’s deflected pass with 20 seconds left at the Bengals 47. Joe Burrow then threw a 19-yard arrow to rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to set it all up as Burrow finished with 348 yards and a 93.1 passer rating.

    A killing turnover turned into Burrow’s first interception since Dec. 5 and 209 straight passes. And it shouldn’t have happened. He went play action and threw a catchable ball to running back Samaje Perine and it went right off his hands. Safety Amami Hooker made a diving catch at the Bengals 27 with 1:19 left in the third quarter.

    Then the Titans took a page out of the Bengals playbook against a Cincinnati secondary that had an uncharacteristically tough night defending the long ball. On second-and-16, Tannehill threw a beauty at the right pylon to wide receiver A.J. Brown racing past cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and strong safety Vonn Bell (having a great game) and when Awuzie didn’t turn his head in time, Tannehill put it right in Brown’s stomach for a 33-yard touchdown that tied it at 16 with 15 seconds left in the third quarter.

    Burrow’s offensive line responded on the first series of the second half, when they scored another touchdown to continue a season-long trend. On third-and-one, the Bengals, who seven yards rushing in the first half, went to a quick screen to wide receiver Tee Higgins, to get it. Then on third-and-five, Burrow pulled off a quarterback draw for seven yards, complete with the first down sign.

    Then Mixon finally got some room. He went to the right, got hemmed in and then made a razor jump cut to the left and there was nobody there and he knew it as he high-stepped in from the 5. It was a 16-yard touchdown run and with 9:34 left in the third quarter they had that coveted two-score lead at 16-6 lead that everyone thought the Titans wouldn’t be able to erase.

    But they did with 10 points in the final 95 seconds of the third quarter.

    The Bengals drove to within field-goal range, but Burrow took a 16-yard loss on a sack by unblocked linebacker Harold Landry that was cleaned up by outside linebacker Bud Dupree and they had to punt.

    The Bengals defense responded again from their own 35 on fourth-and-one when Wilson dethroned The King and blew up Henry for no gain.

    But the Bengals could do nothing with it. After running back Joe Mixon false stared, the Titans ended the drive with 2:43 left on their ninth sack of the night, tackle Jeffery Simmons’ third and the 13th hit of the game on Burrow.

    The Bengals took a 9-6 halftime lead on three McPherson field goals as the Titans’ ferocious pass rush gave Burrow no room to breathe and in the first half pummeled him for five sacks.

    But the Bengals defense was even better, rumbling downhill to hold Henry to 30 yards on 10 carries and the Titans to just 129 total in ushering them off the field on four of five third downs.

    They only faltered once in the half and that was when Tannehill hit wide-open wide receiver A.J. Brown for 41 yards in the half’s lone touchdown drive. But another Bengals penalty proved to be fortuitous for them. When a too-many-men-on-the-field penalty on the extra point, nudged it closer, the Titans went for two. But little-used linebacker Clay Johnston came screaming off his left edge as they tried to bang Henry on the right side. But Johnston grabbed an ankle, rookie tackle Tyler Shelvin penetrated and strong safety Vonn Bell stood him up to keep it tied at 6.

    Burrow got sacked five times in the first quarter, but a delay of game flag and a timeout wiped out two of them. The Titans tortured them with basically four-man rushes, but they disguised them well and the Bengals had a tough time sorting out who was coming and who wasn’t. Burrow finished the half with a 102 passer rating on 17 of 24 for 178 yards.

    When they got the ball back with 6:07 left in the half, they seemed to figure it out. After Burrow converted a a rare third-and-short (the Bengals were just four of nine in the half) over the middle to tight end C.J. Uzomah, Burrow hit two big plays over the middle of the Titans zone for a total of 35 yards. Higgins, the Tennessee native, was the Bengals leading offensive player in the half with five catches for 71 yards.

    But they had the ball at the Titans 20 at the two-minute warning and went backward. Uzomah fell down on a screen to set up yet another third-and-long that was made even longer when right tackle Isaiah Prince false started. Then Burrow didn’t get rid of it and took a tough sack (his fifth of the half) snap that gave McPherson a 54-yard try in the freezing weather. He made it 9-6 with 1:30 left in the half for his third of the game and seventh field goal of the postseason, already the second most in Bengals history and two shy of Jim Breech’s club record.

    The defense again came up big, force Tannehill out of the pocket on his next three passes to force the Titans’ fourth punt.

    Free safety Jessie Bates III, who picked Tannehill last year at Paul Brown Stadium, did it here on the first play of the game. It looked like Tannehill saw nine men at the line and checked to a play-action pass and Bates was all over wide receiver Julio Jones in the middle of the field and the Bengals had it at the Tennessee 42.

    Mixon bounced off linebacker David Long Jr, to get the majority of his yards on a 21-yard check down after Burrow took a sack when he couldn’t find anyone open. McPherson delivered a 38-yarder to start the scoring courtesy of Bates.

    On the Titans’ first full series, the blitz forced a three-and-out. Strong safety Vonn Bell drilled Henry for nothing on second down and both Bell and slot cornerback Mike Hilton came on third down to sack Tannehill.

    But the Bengals couldn’t protect Burrow. On first down Burrow threw an uncharacteristically poor pass when he hurried a low throw to Uzomah. Then he got drilled for a sack with Harold Landry blowing through a hole vacated by right guard Hakeem Adeniji.

    A great first-down stop by nose tackle D.J. Reader led to a stop and Burrow went to a screen to offset an all-out rush that was disregarding everything but the pass. Chase got inside on old LSU buddy, cornerback Kristian Fulton, and raced 57 yards to the Titans 28.

    But there was nothing available. Burrow got sacked on second down with Denico Autry getting past left tackle Jonah Williams when Burrow couldn’t unload in time and it was another unworkable third-and-long, so McPherson hit a 45-yarder with 2:11 left in the first quarter for the 6-0 lead.

    It was a dominant defensive quarter for the Bengals. Reader led a surge that held Henry to 11 yards on his first five carries as the Titans scrounged for just 37 yards.