Instant analysis: Bengals' offense still in search of consistency
It wasn’t pretty - the first 30 minutes of football - Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. There were highlights – the 50-yard Jeremy Hill run and his two red-zone touchdowns that capped 5- and 8-play drives that totaled 130 total yards. Then there was a special-teams turnover, and the defense allowed 16 points to a quarterback making his first career road start, but it seemed it would only take a spark to launch the Bengals out of the slog.
Super Bowl MVP Von Miller's sack adds to Bengals' fourth-quarter woes
Cedric Ogbuehi held off Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller for most of the game, but allowed a sack with just 74 seconds remaining. The right tackle held off Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller for most of the game, but allowed a sack with just 74 seconds remaining Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. Miller dropped Andy Dalton for a 5-yard loss.
Cincinnati Bengals: Five takeaways from a 1-2 start
The Cincinnati Bengals dropped a 29-17 decision to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. The loss dropped the usually fast-starting Bengals to 1-2 with Miami coming to town Thursday. Third-down penalties were a problem on defense. The offense didn’t take advantage of opportunities.
Bengals blunders haunt them in 29-17 loss to Broncos
Nine penalties, several key turnovers and missed opportunities lead to a disappointing day against Denver. If the season continues the way it has the past two weeks, the Bengals (1-2, 0-1 AFC North) likely will look back at key moments and bemoan what could have been.
I have a blog entry that will have much more substance than this particular entry later on. For now, though, the Bengals are 1-2, cranking their heads up as they look toward the top of the division, and after the home team lost to a quarterback who was making his first ever pro start on the road, I am very, very, worried.
Bengals CB Adam Jones 'can't wait' for Vontaze Burfict's return from suspension
How badly does Bengals cornerback Adam Jones want his teammate Vontaze Burfict back on the field? The question was barely even out of a reporter's mouth before Jones threw back his head and started yelling.
On a day the Bengals saw someone named Trevor Siemian play like John Elway and Shane Ray have three times as many sacks as Von Miller in Denver’s 29-17 upside-down victory in Sunday’s sold-out Paul Brown Stadium opener, the 3-0 Super Bowl champions reminded them they’re not vacating the top of the AFC anytime soon. Suddenly, the 1-2 Bengals, who were so close to snaring the top seed in the Dec. 28 overtime game in Denver, are now talking about “gut checks,” and “important,” games as the Dolphins pile in to PBS Thursday night (8:25-NFL Network) in a prime-time game that has become crunch-time.
Siemian shreds Bengals as Denver sets AFC pace
The proud Bengals defense dared Denver quarterback Trevor Siemian to beat them with his arm in the first road start of his career at Sunday’s sold-out Paul Brown Stadium opener and he shocked the crowd of 63,850 with four touchdown passes in a stunning 29-17 victory that dropped the 1-2 Bengals to under .500 for the first time since the morning of Nov. 18, 2012. The loss came five years to the day of the Bengals’ last September loss at PBS and that’s the last time they’ve been 1-2 and lost a home opener.
Broncos at Bengals Postgame Quotes
“The thing from the game is, we go up in the fourth quarter there, and aren’t able to win the game. And a couple times today we had field position and came away with field goals. One time we get knocked back and didn’t get any opportunity at points.'
AFC North Bytes
Browns Kicker: Coaches Wanted Robbie Gould, Execs Favored Parkey
Cleveland Browns kicker Cody Parkey missed three field goals, including the game winner, during the Browns loss to the Miami Dolphins Sept. 25. If the Browns coaches had their way, Parkey would’ve never been in uniform.
Tucker makes another bomb, moves Ravens to 3-0
The Ravens are 3-0, and Justin Tucker looks like the best kicker in the league. Tucker’s fourth field goal of the day, a 53-yarder, with 1:02 to go provided the winning margin as the Ravens rallied to beat the Jaguars, 19-17. Ravens linebacker Zachary Orr intercepted Blake Bortles to seal it.
Six starters injured, four of them defenders
On top of losing to the Eagles in near historic fashion Sunday the Steelers added injury to insult. Six starters left the game with injuries and four did not return. The Steelers lost linebacker Lawrence Timmons and safety Robert Golden in the first half. Timmons injured his shin and went to a local hospital. He was in the locker room after the game with his lower leg bandaged. Golden exited with a hamstring injury and did not return.
Random Bytes
No one could have scripted Vin Scully's perfect final call and game
On Sunday, Charlie Culberson ended the Dodgers game against the Rockies in the 10th inning with a walkoff home run, clinching the NL West and a spot in the postseason for Los Angeles. And more importantly, the moment before that — a tied game in extra innings — was simply a perfect situation for yet another iconic Vin Scully call, his last at Dodger stadium
Wilson injury casts cloud over Seahawks' romp of 49ers
SEATTLE (AP) — Just as the Seattle Seahawks' offense got going, they're back wondering if another injury to Russell Wilson will return them to the slog of the first two weeks.
Rivers complains about unsportsmanlike call
Philip Rivers' rough day could get more costly later this week. After the San Diego Chargers gave up a 63-yard TD pass with 1:17 to go Sunday and then fumbled the ball away twice in the final 62 seconds to lose 26-22 at Indianapolis, the feisty veteran quarterback was asked about an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he received for jawing with Colts defensive tackle David Parry following a 43-yard completion. Instead of having the ball the Colts 6-yard line, the Chargers lined up at Indy's 22.
Rookie Dak Prescott solid again, Cowboys beat Bears 31-17
Maybe the Cowboys will be OK without quarterback Tony Romo this time. The future of the Dallas running game with Ezekiel Elliott looks pretty good, too. Dak Prescott led scoring drives on all four Dallas possessions in the first half before throwing his first career touchdown pass in fellow rookie Elliott's first 100-yard game, and the Cowboys beat the Chicago Bears 31-17 on Sunday night to snap an eight-game home losing streak.
Snap Judgments: Zimmer, Vikings riding defense to 3-0 start
No Teddy Bridgewater was supposed to spell disaster. No Adrian Peterson was expected to all but ensure doom. But so far, the Minnesota Vikings have no injury problems that can't be overcome, thanks to a defense that never seems to go missing when it's needed most.
Forty-two things we learned from Week 3
Week 3 saw the return of the Packers' offense, the emergence of Trevor Siemian: offensive juggernaut and Carson Palmer show shades of regression. Here is what we've learned so far