Titans lose 43-36 in overtime; Hooker records three interceptions
The Tennessee Titans lost 43-36 in overtime to the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Nov. 1, 2026. The high-scoring contest featured several standout individual performances that kept Tennessee competitive. The game produced momentum swings but ended in a frustrating defeat for the Titans. Costly mistakes in the late stages proved decisive.
Safety Amani Hooker intercepted Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow three times. It was Hookers first three-interception game since high school and the first three-interception game by a Titan since Kevin Byard on Oct. 22, 2017. Hooker said Burrow “gave me opportunities” and credited preparation throughout the week for the result. Coach Robert Saleh called Hooker “playing at a Pro Bowl level” and said, “I think he’s got five interceptions this year,” and the performance was the first three-interception game in the NFL since Jordan Whitehead on Sept. 11, 2023.
Running back Tony Pollard carried 21 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns. His 40-yard touchdown run in the first quarter featured multiple Bengals who had a hand on him as he delivered several stiff-arms. Pollard threw Bengals safety Bryan Cook off him on the way to the end zone and posted his second straight 100-yard game. He has five touchdowns over the last two games, underscoring his recent scoring burst.
Quarterback Cam Ward completed 26 of 40 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns with a passer rating of 104.6. It was Ward’s first 300-yard game as a pro and he threw scoring passes to Chimere Dike and Wan’Dale Robinson. Saleh said Ward “looked awesome today,” and Ward said the team is focused on winning games. Ward also lost a fumble on a sack and was sacked in the closing minute of regulation, which ended Tennessee’s potential game-winning drive.
Jacob Martin had three sacks and increased his season total to 6.5. He finished with four tackles, three tackles for loss and six quarterback pressures. Martin’s biggest play came on a fourth-and-2 at the Tennessee five-yard line when he sacked Burrow for a 15-yard loss, stalling a Cincinnati threat. Martin said the team battled but expressed disappointment in the narrow loss.
The Titans played their first game without defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons since he was traded to the Chicago Bears. The defensive linemen wore red sleeves in tribute to Simmons, who had regularly worn a red sleeve with the team. Thomas said the players wore the sleeves to let Simmons know they were thinking of him and to show appreciation. Thomas added that Simmons was an “unbelievable leader” who created a strong bond in the room.
The Titans committed two fumbles and suffered multiple dropped passes in the game. Tennessee was penalized 10 times for 73 yards, which hindered sustained drives and late-game opportunities. Despite being nearly two-touchdown underdogs, the Titans pushed Cincinnati to overtime with a competitive effort. However, the recurring self-inflicted errors prevented a different outcome.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Amani Hooker’s three-interception game was a major defensive bright spot and Jacob Martin’s pass rush provided timely stops that kept Tennessee in the contest. Tony Pollard’s rushing and Cam Ward’s first 300-yard game signaled offensive progress heading into the bye week. The Titans must eliminate turnovers, dropped passes and excessive penalties to turn such performances into victories. The team leaves for the bye with clear positives to build on and avoidable issues to fix.