Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Sports

TBO > Sports

Cincinnati Pounds Tennessee

The Associated Press

Published: November 26, 2007

CINCINNATI - Chad Johnson got into the end zone at long last, then celebrated his breakthrough by squatting behind a television camera, spinning it around and aiming it at the field.

What he saw: A downcast Tennessee Titans team playing itself out of contention.

Johnson had a career-high 12 catches, set the Cincinnati record for career receptions, scored three touchdowns and steadied the Bengals to a 35-6 victory Sunday against the fast-fading Titans.

After emerging as one of the NFL's first-half surprises, Tennessee (6-5) has lost three in a row to slip back into the pack. The offense has been sloppy and the defense has suddenly lost its ability to stop anybody, giving up 28, 34 and 35 points during the slide.

It was the same story in Cincinnati.

One week after Carson Palmer threw a career-high four interceptions, the Bengals (4-7) had a breakout game behind Johnson, who had gone into a shell and a funk for the past month.

Stewing about suggestions that his look-at-me antics were hurting the team, the chatty receiver had stopped talking to the media. Finally, he has something to crow about.

Johnson piled up 103 yards and his first TDs since a 51-45 loss in Cleveland on Sept. 16. In that one, he dived into the Dawg Pound and a got a sticky, eye-stinging shower of beer.

Johnson eclipsed Carl Pickens' club mark with his 531st career reception in the second quarter Sunday. His next catch was a 10-yard touchdown that broke the long drought and left the 65,489 fans wondering how he would celebrate.

He ran through the end zone, commandeered a TV camera, peered into the viewfinder and swung it toward the field, drawing a penalty.

Tennessee	0	6	0	0	-	6
Cincinnati	7	7	14	7	-	35

First Quarter

Cin-R.Johnson 5 run (Graham kick), 7:50.

Second Quarter

Ten-FG Bironas 28, 9:40.

Cin-C.Johnson 10 pass from Palmer (Graham kick), 4:20.

Ten-FG Bironas 23, :03.

Third Quarter

Cin-Watson 6 run (Graham kick), 9:59.

Cin-C.Johnson 2 pass from Palmer (Graham kick), 6:50.

Fourth Quarter

Cin-C.Johnson 3 pass from Palmer (Graham kick), 12:58.

A-65,489.

	Ten	Cin
First downs	10	30
Total Net Yards	305	426
Rushes-yards	18-61	36-148
Passing	244	278
Punt Returns	1-0	1-2
Kickoff Returns	6-123	3-86
Interceptions Ret.	1-17	1-4
Comp-Att-Int	19-31-1	32-38-1
Sacked-Yards Lost	1-2	1-5
Punts	3-32.7	2-43.5
Fumbles-Lost	1-1	1-0
Penalties-Yards	6-55	4-35
Time of Possession	21:30	38:30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Tennessee, C.Brown 8-28, White 8-27, Young 2-6. Cincinnati, R.Johnson 25-88, Dorsey 5-42, Watson 4-17, Chatman 1-5, Houshmandzadeh 1-(minus 4).

PASSING-Tennessee, Young 19-31-1-246. Cincinnati, Palmer 32-38-1-283.

RECEIVING-Tennessee, Scaife 5-33, Gage 4-98, Moulds 2-54, R.Williams 2-9, White 2-(minus 1), Hartsock 1-27, Troupe 1-13, C.Brown 1-7, Barclay 1-6. Cincinnati, C.Johnson 12-103, Houshmandzadeh 7-66, Watson 5-32, Henry 3-41, Kelly 3-35, Coats 1-6, Dorsey 1-0.

Share this: