Andrew Priestley: Defences on top in the early stages, both offences stuttering and clearly suffering from play-off nerves. This will suit the Titans if this trend continues as they have the more varied offensive attack.

Tannehill takes off on third-and-seven but he can't quite move the sticks, so when we return the Titans will be punting again.

An eventful first quarter but we're still waiting for our first touchdown of the game.

Field goal - Bengalspublished at 22:06 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2022

22:06 GMT 22 January 2022

Cincinnati Bengals 6-0 Tennessee Titans

Rookie kicker Evan McPherson is "money" as they say as he sends a 45-yarder between the sticks to double the Bengals lead.

Third sack of the quarter on Joe Burrow, and this looks like being the best way for the Titans to slow down this offence today.

They'll likely need to settle for a field goal here.

That's the big play the Bengals are after! Ja'Marr Chase takes a flat short pass but with one drop of a shoulder he's away from his defender and he's off to the races.

He's eventually brought down after a huge 57-yard gain but it almost looked like he'd be making a house call once he turned on those jets.

What an electric player this rookie is.

A couple of drops ends that drive just as Ryan Tannehill looked to be starting to find some sort of groove, and they have to kick it away.

The Bengals start on their own 12 yard line.

That's more like it! Julio Jones gets the first first down of the game for the Titans on a short catch and run.

Derrick Henry then gets another first down with two runs as the Titans go a little up-tempo to try to force the pace.

Osi Umenyiora
Two-time Super Bowl winner

The Titans have excelled on third down and in the red zone (within 20 yards of the end zone) - on both defence and offence.

The Bengals' offence, meanwhile, has failed to shine in those areas, even during last week's win over the Las Vegas Raiders on wildcard weekend, which is a worry for Osi Umenyiora.

"They kept on kicking field goals, they were not finishing drives," said the BBC pundit.

"Playing against a really good football team, that is not going to work, and I'm a little concerned. That is the hallmark of a young football team not being able to step on the throat of the opponent."

Joe Burrow was sacked more than any other QB this season and the Titans had 43 during their campaign - so no surprise really that they've already dropped him twice in this game.

That's enough to force the punt, where the Bengals give up 15 yards with a silly penalty.

Some defence being played in this game so far.

Andrew Priestley: Mike Vrabel for Coach of the Year. People are forgetting the obstacles the Titans have had to overcome this season. AFC #1 seed all while using an NFL record 91 players. Skill position players (QB, RB, WR, TE) missed 112 games this year, the most in the NFL.

Image source, Getty Images

Rough old start to the day for Ryan Tannehill, who is taken down on third down when the Bengals bring the cavalry at him all from his right-hand side.

The overload does the trick and down he goes - forcing a Titans punt after a three-and-out. Work to do on offence.

Derrick Henry does get the ball this time as the Titans try again - just a couple of yards to settle him down.

Jason Bell
Former NFL cornerback

Cincinnati's QB-WR connection between Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase has produced many big plays this season, helping the Bengals lead the league for highest yards per catch,

"They're a big-play offence," said BBC pundit Jason Bell. "They need the chunk plays with big yardage to score.

"They're going to have to be more efficient in the red zone because you're not going to win these tight play-off games kicking field goals."

Image source, Reuters

Field goal - Bengalspublished at 21:40 Greenwich Mean Time 22 January 2022

21:40 GMT 22 January 2022

Cincinnati Bengals 3-0 Tennessee Titans

That penalty worked out well as Evan McPherson kicks a 38-yard field goal. Without that penalty they'd have been way further out.

An awful start from the Titans offence but my word their defence has come out flying - as have their fans!

Joe Burrow takes a huge sack for a massive loss on third down, but he gets off the hook as the whistle went for a delay of game.

It's a penalty on the Bengals, but it helps them out as they play the down again and it makes a field-goal attempt much easier.

It's a funny old game sometimes...

The second play of the game - Joe Burrow is dropped in the backfield as he goes looking for a pass.

What a start to the game this is!

Incredible! The first play of the game is a Ryan Tannehill interception, with Jessie Bates making the grab!

They went with play action and faked the hand-off to Henry, but the defence wasn't fooled and it was an easy catch in the end for Bates.

What a start!

Tony Husband
Nashville-based sports broadcaster

“Aside from a sparsely populated play-off defeat here last year against Baltimore, this is the first full capacity play-off game the Titans have staged since 2009. For some fans tailgating outside Nissan Stadium, this is the first time in their lives that they’ve attended a home play-off game. The Titans have had an extra week’s rest, Derrick Henry is back, but everyone saw Joe Burrow in super form last week. It’s a feeling of nervous excitement inside Nissan Stadium.”

The Divisional Round is under way in Nashville! The Titans get the ball first and out trots Derrick Henry....