Bengals Take A 3-0 Lead Following Rey Maualuga Interception

Thanks to a beautiful tackle by special teams ace Andrew Hawkins, the Arizona Cardinals start Saturday afternoon from their own 12-yard line. Following consecutive plays that picked up a first down, Domata Peko broke off the pass block on first and ten from the Cardinals 31-yard line, sacking quarterback John Skelton for an 11-yard loss. Rey Maualuga picked off Skelton on a horrible throw during the following play, returning the football to Arizona’s 23-yard line.

Following a 12-yard pass to Jermaine Gresham, the Bengals breached the the red zone when Benson took consecutive handoffs for five yards to the Cardinals six-yard line. On third and five with just over 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter, Andy Dalton tried hitting A.J. Green over the middle around the goalline, but falling incomplete.

Mike Nugent easily converts the 24-yard field goal, giving the Bengals a 3-0 lead (and Cincinnati’s red zone struggles continue).