The Bengals, despite high expectations coming into the season, entered week 4 with an 0-3 record. Their defensive issues have further led to concerns about the long term outlook. Falling to 0-4, statistically, would have their odds of making the playoffs drop close to zero, meaning that this was essentially a must win game for the Bengals. Facing a sub-par Panthers team that suddenly looks rejuvenated with former Bengal Andy Dalton starting at QB, could the Bengals give their season a much needed lifeline with a win?
The shaky defensive play from last week carried over into the early parts of this game. Former Bengal Andy Dalton completed a 39 yard pass to former Steeler, Diontae Johnson. Dalton then found the rookie Legette for 12 yards. Picking up a 1st down at the Bengals 2 yard line, the Panthers were looking to punch it in. However, an incomplete pass and three stuffed runs would make up the next four play sequence. It was a big goal line stand for the Bengals defence, preventing any points from going on the board.
After forcing a Bengals punt, the Panthers were looking to get back deep into opposition territory. But the Bengals defence finally came up with a clutch play. Unsurprisingly, it was Trey Hendrickson who came through. He got around the edge and got a piece of the ball as Dalton let go of his pass. The ball popped up, and Vonn Bell picked it off, returning it back to the Carolina 16.
With a short field, the Bengals were able to capitalize. Burrow found Tee Higgins for 12 yards to get things going. Then, on 3rd down, Chase Brown punched it in, putting the Bengals up 7-0 after the extra point.
The Panthers would again go on a long drive, with this one ending differently than their first. They again faced a 4th down situation inside Cincinnati territory. But this one was at the 40 yard line. Dalton completed a 3 yard pass to Johnson to keep the drive alive. Later, Hubbard took a run for 17 yards, again setting the Panthers up inside the 5. This time, he was then able to punch it in, leveling the score at 7.
Though they had just allowed a TD, it did not take long for the Bengals to answer right back. An 11 yard completion to Tee Higgins starting the drive off nicely. And just a few plays later, they hit the big one. Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase maybe 15 or 20 yards down the field. Chase bounced off a botched shoulder tackle, and then outran the defence the rest of the way down the sideline. It was a 63 yard TD, and the Bengals were up 14-7.
On their next possession, the Panthers were looking to again drive deep. An illegal contact penalty negated a Cam Taylor-Britt interception on 3rd down, and afforded them a new set of downs. The drive consisted largely of short gains, before Dalton then found Legette for 17 yards. With the ball at the Cincy 22, they called on Sanders to take the handoff, and he took it for a 14 yard gain. Then, Dalton went back to Legette, finding him for the 8 yard TD. 14-14.
The Panthers went on a long drive, but still left the Bengals with 1:09 on the clock and 1 timeout in their pocket. Two short gains by Moss put them in an early 3rd down situation, but Burrow’s 11 yard completion to Higgins moved the sticks. A 29 yarder to Andrei Iosivas put them into opposition territory, and a defensive pass interference call that followed quickly had them inside the 5. Eventually, the Bengals were facing 3rd & goal from the 1 yard line, with 6 seconds left in the half. In what was a massive risk, Burrow opted to hit Moss on the swing pass. Had he been tackled in bounds, the half would have ended. Luckily, former Bengal Nick Scott slipped, allowing Moss to find the end zone. They survived a scare on that last play, and found themselves up 21-14 at the half.
After receiving the 2nd half kickoff, the Bengals had the chance to go up two scores. Erick All and Chase Brown went for 10 and 8 yards, respectively, on the first two plays. Chase Brown then got the ball again, going for 20 yards on the ground. The forward progress continued, with a few nice plays by different players, including Chase, who made an 11 yard catch to set the Bengals up at the 1 yard line. From there, Brown punched it in for his second TD of the game, putting the Bengals up 28-14.
After an attempted fake punt failed for the Panthers, the Bengals again had good starting field position. But after a big negative play and a penalty, they were forced to settle for a 56 yard Evan McPherson field goal. Still, they were sitting in a good spot, holding a 31-14 lead.
Carolina, however, started to claw their way back. A 38 yard run by Hubbard seemed to spark things for them, and Dalton later found Johnson for a 21 yard TD to make it a 10 point game. A Carolina field goal then made it 31-24.
The Panthers had the ball back with a 7 point deficit, but were unable to get anything going. Cincinnati’s defence did well to force three straight incompletions. On the drive that followed, the Bengals were able to get the run game going with Moss and Brown, as they melted away the clock. They ended up kicking a field goal, and left the Panthers needing two scores in just 1:17. Time would expire, however, with the Bengals getting the 10 point victory. 34-24 final.
The Bengals improve to 1-3, and will return home for a divisional matchup against the Baltimore Ravens next week.
Modified Home Page Image Via: Erik Drost (CC)