Tennessee was beat up and tired. The Titans came into Sunday's game after losing 16-10 at home Monday night to Baltimore.

        Safety Blaine Bishop didn't play, and several star players — quarterback Steve McNair, tight end Frank Wycheck and linebacker Randall Godfrey — were playing with injuries that easily could have kept them out.

        But the Bengals' special teams let the Titans off the hook on the first play of what would be a 20-7 Tennessee victory at Paul Brown Stadium, and it would not be a particularly good day for the special teams.

        Wide receiver Derrick Mason took Neil Rackers' opening kickoff a yard deep in the end zone, and with the possible exception of a Rackers' swipe, went 101 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead with just 17 seconds expired.

        “I was watching,” Titans running back Eddie George said. “It was definitely the spark that we need. The first play of the game, and he takes it to the house. It uplifted us after last week.”

        The play was the third-longest in franchise history against the Bengals, all kickoff returns for touchdowns, and it put them in a hole they couldn't get out of.

        “It was just great blocking,” said Ron Dugans, the Bengals' special teams tackles leader.

        Mason reached the 30-yard line before a potential Bengals tackler was within five yards of him.

        “They did a great job of blocking,” Mason said. “Basically, I ran to daylight. It got everybody geared up and ready to play. The defense is ready to go out on the field and make some plays.”

        Bengals returner Curtis Keaton ran 41 yards to midfield with the Titans' kickoff, and Cincinnati drove 18 yards to the 32 before stalling and getting into position for Rackers' 49-yard field-goal attempt. Holder Nick Harris instead pitched the ball back to Rackers, who punted, and the ball rolled into the end zone for a touchback. The Bengals gained 12 yards on the change of possession.

        Two times in the second quarter the Bengals drove deep into Tennessee territory. On fourth down-and-25 from the 32, coach Dick LeBeau chose to punt. One drive later, the Bengals had fourth-and-1 from the Tennessee 29, and LeBeau chose to run Corey Dillon, who was tackled for a 1-yard loss.

        The Bengals defense held, and when Tennessee punted, Cincinnati was penalized for having 12 men on the field. The next punt went deeper, and the Bengals were forced to run out the clock before halftime.

        LeBeau said his decisions to pass up field-goal attempts were based on field position, not on any lack of confidence in Rackers, who is 9-of-16 on field goals this season.

        “We had some mistakes in special teams,” LeBeau said. “We had some mistakes on offense and defense.”

That run-down feeling DAUGHERTY: Playing not to lose, they . . . lose SULLIVAN: Kitna fills QB void, for now Bengals notebook For openers, Bengals give Titans spark McNair has Bengals under his (sore) thumb Neal's inspiration isn't enough Titans 20, Bengals 7 Titans bounce back from demoralizing loss NFL roundup

Beach football wild for RedHawks
RedHawks need a better effort
UC women advance with upset of ND
BCS bowl picture taking shape
Ohio State hits ground running
OSU QB rejoins team but won't start
Pitino's Louisville debut a breeze
Repent will run solo in Jockey Club
NBA roundup
NHL roundup
Coming up this week
Xavier notebook
Xavier wins A-10 volleyball tourney
St. Xavier headed to Dayton

• Return to Bengals front page...