The Bengals returned home off a 2 game road trip, looking to get back to .500. They were taking on a 3-1 Seahawks team that has been exceeding expectations thus far. With Burrow’s health improving, the expectations continue to rise for the Bengals offence. And after the first two drives, those expectations were met. However, as the game went on, it took a different shape.
Seattle started out hot offensively. On their opening drive, they were able to slice through the Bengals defence, with Walker being a big part of that, both on the ground and through the air. After a penalty put the ball at the 1 yard line, Walker punched it in to put the Seahawks up 7-0.
Zac Taylor got the Bengals offence started with a few plays to Mixon. They worked the short game on this drive, as they continued to make their way down the field. In addition to Mixon, Boyd, Higgins, and Trayveon Williams were involved in this drive, with Burrow able to spread it around. With 1st & goal on the 8, Burrow found Tyler Boyd for the TD to tie the game at 7.
The Bengals got the ball back after the Seahawks went 3 and out. On this drive, the field was definitely stretched a lot more. Burrow hit Chase for 31 yards on the first play, and again for 23 on the second play. Chase Brown saw a rare look on this drive, making a catch for 8 yards, with the Bengals already deep in Seattle territory. A couple of plays later, Burrow found Andrei Iosivas from 3 yards out for the TD. It was his first career TD. 14-7 Bengals.
From there, the offence largely dried up for both teams. The Seahawks managed to score the only other points in the 1st half, via a field goal, and the Bengals took a 14-10 lead into the half.
Burrow threw an interception on the opening drive of the 2nd half on a pass intended for Chase. Seattle began to drive, making into the redzone. However, Mike Hilton got it back for Cincy, intercepting Geno Smith’s pass near the goal line.
Unfortunately, the Bengals were not able to do anything with the turnover, and punted. Seattle drove down the field, again bending the Bengals defence. But like the last drive, they did not break. With the Seahawks facing 3rd & goal at the Cincinnati 5, the defence came up with a big stop to force a field goal. 14-13 Bengals.
Now in the 4th quarter, the Cincinnati defence came up with their second turnover of the game, as Cam Taylor-Britt layed out to make a nice catch, picking off Smith’s pass. Despite starting at the +34 yard line, the offence could not get a 1st down, and were forced to attempt a field goal. McPherson drained it from 52 yards out, restoring the Bengals 4 point lead. 17-13 Bengals.
The Bengals were unable to manage any other production on offence, but for Seattle, they got inside the Bengals 10 yard line on both of their final two drives. With the Seahawks needing a TD, both drives ended up in critical 4th down situations. And on both of them, the defence, especially the d-line, came up huge to keep them out of the endzone. The final stop came with just 41 seconds left on the clock.
Those two stands were enough to seal the win. The offensive production, outside of the first two drives, was disappointing, but the defence did well to keep them in it.
The Bengals even out their record, and they now sit at 3-3. Next week, they are on their bye, and will have an extra week to rest up, before a tough matchup against the 49ers.
Modified Homescreen Image Via: Alexander Jonesi (CC)