Now we're cruising.
Following Kyle Cook's third preseason penalty that wiped out Tyler Eifert's 15-yard tight end screen, Marvin Jones picks up five yards on a quick pass. An incomplete led to a third and eight with 1:18 remaining in the first quarter. Dalton takes the shotgun snap and hits Brandon Tate's crossing pattern in stride. Tate left Bernard Pollard in the dust, turning the corner near the right sidelines and picking up 22 yards to the Titans 37-yard line.
Dalton, who was crushed when he released the football, overthrew Mohamed Sanu down on second down and slammed his hands into the turf in frustration. Look, he's getting drilled on a lot of plays tonight. Third and five from the Titans 22-yard line, Dalton flips the football to Mohamed Sanu down the right hash-marks, picking up 10 yards and the first down.
It's the third successful third down conversion for the Bengals on four opportunities.
End of the first quarter.
Giving Bernard a rest, the Bengals bring in Cedric Peerman who takes a pick for four yards, then adds a bruising six-yard gain to the Titans eight-yard line. Dalton takes the first down snap and flips a quick pass to Marvin Jones for a six-yard gain. Giovani Bernard explodes through the line of scrimmage falling two yards short of the endzone; but he picks up the first down instead. I suppose that's alright.
Dalton floats the first-and-goal pass to Mohamed Sanu for the touchdown, giving Cincinnati a 14-3 lead with 12:40 remaining in the second quarter.