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The issues Cincinnati faced in the first half didn't necessarily translate into the second. Well, not completely. Andy Dalton's propensity for turnovers was explosive in the first half, concluding with three interceptions and a 10-7 deficit when half time showed. Cincinnati's defense applied a bend-but-don't break mentality, culminating in a Doug Martin touchdown to give Tampa Bay an early 10-0 lead. Then when it mattered most, Cincinnati flexed their ravishing biceps.
Dalton, who was dealing with flu-like conditions overnight (he was given two IVs and was excused from team meetings Saturday night), applied more ball security and made the big throws when necessary. In the final two quarters, Dalton completed 12 of 16 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown... he completed 9/11 for 79 yards in the third quarter alone.
Eventually the Bengals staged a game-winning touchdown drive, capped by A.J. Green's 13-yard touchdown reception, with 2:04 remaining in the third quarter. Attempting to catch Tampa Bay off-guard, Cincinnati kicked the onside but the Buccaneers recovered. Tampa kicked a field goal but Cincinnati maintained their 14-13 lead.
Both sides exchanged punts until the Bengals had third and 11 from their own 19-yard line with 2:37 remaining in the fourth quarter. Andy Dalton chucked the football deep down the right sidelines where James Wright hauled in the football for a first down.
Huge third down conversion by Dalton and the Bengals. https://t.co/ss9nJcZgHy
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
Aside from gaining a first down, the conversion forced Tampa Bay to use all of their time outs. Because everyone realized they were going to run to milk as much clock as possible, Cincinnati eventually punted after a series of runs and a third down pass that fell incomplete. Kevin Huber's punt traveled 45 yards into the endzone and the football was brought back to the 20-yard line with 2:01 remaining in the game.
McCown hit Bobby Rainey on a running back screen. Thanks to a missed tackle, Rainey gained 29 yards and reached the Bengals 36-yard line with 44 seconds remaining.
Screen pass to Rainey gained 29 yards... with help from a Reggie Nelson missed tackle. https://t.co/C6w0mGE2qv
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
Tampa lost 10 yards on an offensive hold where the Buccaneers had second and 15 from the 41-yard line. McCown found Louis Murphy for a 21-yard reception when Cincinnati called a timeout with 12 seconds remaining... they challenged the play, but since they're not allowed, they were forced to use a timeout anyway.
The officials reviewed the play and Tampa was caught with having 12 men on the field during the 21-yard pass.
They were forced back to the original line of scrimmage (the 41-yard line) and then had five yards added... to the Bengals 46-yard line.
McCown threw two straight incomplete passes before he nailed Mike Evans with a 13-yard pass on fourth and 20. The turnover on downs gave Cincinnati the ball and the knee from victory formation gave them the win.
Cincinnati improves to 8-3-1 and maintains their hold on first place.
First for #Bengals w/win against #Bucs today: First time team has one three consecutive road games in team history. #OffTheSchneid
— Anthony Cosenza (@CJAnthonyCUI) November 30, 2014
FIRST HALF DEFICIT AND THREE INTERCEPTIONS
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton launched the football toward A.J. Green on the first offensive play of the game. Either the football sailed or Green ran his route incorrectly... the football was intercepted by Jonathan Banks.
Thankfully the Bengals defense didn't give an inch. Well, they allowed five yards on two plays but an Anthony Collins false start put Tampa back to the ten-yard line on third down. After a fumbled snap, Carlos Dunlap wrapped up quarterback Josh McCown for the sack. Tampa took a three-point lead on the ensuing field goal. Cincinnati responded with a three-and-out that was capped by a third down sack by Gerald McCoy (who beat Clint Boling).
It wasn't a good first quarter and one may conclude that the second quarter featured something similar. Cincinnati's offense had an interception and two punts in the first quarter -- the first punt was the result of a three-and-out. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, scored their first touchdown of the afternoon on a seven-yard touchdown run by Doug Martin with 12:00 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Easy. Buccaneers up 10-0 after Martin seven-yard touchdown run. Dunlap and Lamur couldn't shed the block at all.
— Cincy Jungle (@CincyJungle) November 30, 2014
Easy seven-yard TD run by Doug Martin gives the Buccaneers a 10-0 lead. https://t.co/yOeTyzF6uq
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
The maligned Bengals offense, after an interception (that led to a game-opening field goal for Tampa Bay) and two punts (the first was a three-and-out), finally strung together positive momentum midway through the second quarter. The Bengals, which opened their second quarter offense from their own 22-yard line, reached Tampa's 20-yard line. Dalton takes the snap and heaves it deep towards the front left pylon, targeting a double-covered A.J. Green.
Andy Dalton must be sick, trying to throw into double coverage and waste a RZ possession. https://t.co/GrzRWOr7Uy
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
Tampa Bay punted back to Cincinnati after the pick, who received the football from their own 36-yard line with 5:11 remaining in the second quarter. Cincinnati strung together an eight-play drive, gaining 60 yards (plus four yards of penalties) to reach Tampa's five-yard line. Dalton faked the handoff (read-option), and scored the touchdown to reduce Tampa Bay's lead 10-7.
Andy Dalton touchdown run, reducing Buccaneers lead 10-7. https://t.co/OtPQV1Q9Ho
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
Yes. Momentum.
Then with 51 seconds remaining in the first half, Terence Newman intercepted a Josh McCown pass to give Cincinnati the football at Tampa Bay's 46-yard line.
Terence Newman interception, first of the year, gives the Bengals the ball at the TB-43. https://t.co/FmwQRMLnYy
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
Dalton completed the four-yard pass to Mohamed Sanu and... didn't call a timeout? The clock ticks from 46 seconds, when the play started, to 25 seconds, when the next play was snapped. There was three timeouts being pocketed by the team, but whatever...
On the next play, Dalton threw the football into the air like a hitting coach training his fielders on how to catch a baseball in the outfield. Tampa Bay didn't threaten a score and the first half comes to a conclusion.
Dalton's third pick of the first half. https://t.co/135jmJi8RO
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
Dalton completed 7 of 11 passes for 62 yards passing in the first half. And of those four incomplete passes, three were interceptions. One could argue that only one interception (the first) lead to points for the Buccaneers... but Cincinnati actually lost points on the succeeding two interceptions because they were driving on Tampa Bay's side of the field.
THE BENGALS TAKE A LEAD
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense had come to a complete crawl. During their opening two possessions of the third quarter, Tampa failed to generate a first down and went three-and-out in both possessions. Credit goes to the Bengals defense, right?
In the meantime, the Bengals punted (after a six-play drive that generated a first down but nothing else) before receiving the football back at the Bengals 37-yard line. The Bengals pieced together a 10-play possession, spanning 63 yards with Andy Dalton completing a 13-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green.
AJ Green with the 13 yard TD, giving the Bengals a 14-10 lead w/ 2:04 remaining in the third. https://t.co/hRYehuNW4n
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
Since then, the Bengals have gone three and out in every possession.
THE VINES
The Ryan Hewitt block on James Wright end around (10:13 in the second). https://t.co/GpB2P4njGt
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
The Mohamed Sanu 11 yard pass to Green (3:28, 2nd Q) https://t.co/NirX3QiqC3
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
Huge third down pass to Sanu, picking up 15 yards, converting third and six. https://t.co/xkQl17J2w0
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
Huge third down conversion by Dalton and the Bengals. https://t.co/ss9nJcZgHy
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 30, 2014
BENGALS | BUCCANEERS |
DE Margus Hunt | LB Lavonte David |
LB Vontaze Burfict | TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins |
WR Greg Little | TE Brandon Myers |
RB Rex Burkhead | TE Luke Stocker |
CB Chris Lewis-Harris | OL Evan Dietrich-Smith |
OL Jamon Meredith | DT Clint McDonald |
OL Tanner Hawkinson | CB Crezdon Butler |