Penalties pile up in Bengals loss to Titans

The two penalties that led to Burfict's ejection were part of a bigger problem as the Bengals were flagged a season-high 12 times for a season-high 84 yards inthe 24-20 loss at Tennessee on Sunday.

It marked the most penalties the Bengals have had since committing 13 in a 37-37 tie against Carolina on Oct. 12, 2014, and the most in a non-overtime game since committing 13 in a 31-24 win at Green Bay on Sept. 20, 2009.

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“We can’t have the penalties,” Lewis said. “We just can’t do that.”

Six of the 12 penalties resulted in first downs for the Titans, including three defensive holding calls on third down in the fourth quarter. All three of them — two for defensive holding, one for illegal contact — were on Josh Shaw, who was forced into a bigger role when cornerbacks Adam Jones (concussion) and William Jackson (toe) left the game with injuries.

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The third Shaw penalty came on a third-and-5 incompletion on the final drive, five plays before DeMarco Murray’s game-winning touchdown with 36 seconds remaining.

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“We got every call on us today,” Lewis said. “So we’ve got to do a better job.”

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