Bengals called identical routes on Tyler Eifert's touchdowns

Tyler Eifert was monstrous against the Seattle Seahawks. In addition to generating a team-leading eight receptions and 90 yards receiving, Eifert secured two touchdowns and recorded one of the game's most amazing receptions, eventually leading to Mike Nugent's field goal that sent the game into overtime.

The pair of touchdowns by Eifert were one part recognition, two parts blown coverage/miscommunication by Seattle's defense.

It was because of this, Cincinnati sustained a season-long trend. Against the Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati took a 7-0 lead with touchdowns on their first possessions -- and the one time they didn't against the Chargers, Cincinnati scored a touchdown on their second (before San Diego's offense even conducted a snap thanks to a muffed catch on a punt return).

They were prepared to do it again on Sunday.

With a 11:06 remaining in the first quarter. Marvin Jones had just completed a 44-yard reception, reaching the Seahawks' 14-yard line when Andy Dalton called a timeout.

How they reached this point was easy. After Cincinnati returned the game-opening kickoff to their own 14-yard line (damn it, Brandon Tate), Dalton snapped a fast ball to A.J. Green for eight, gained six on the read-option, and added 14 yards on a rollout pass to Green, covered by all-pro cornerback Richard Sherman reaching Cincinnati's 42-yard line. After Jones' 44-yard gain and Cincinnati's timeout, the Bengals had first down on Seattle's 14-yard line.

Eifert ran a vertical into the endzone while linebackers Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright cleared Dalton's passing lane. Dalton noticed safety Kam Chancellor allowing Eifert unimpeded access into the endzone.

Dalton lofted the football over Chancellor for the touchdown. Blown coverage. Miscommunication. Whatever. It happens to the best teams and players, especially with a safety who spent most of his offseason and two games of the regular season holding out.

The trend continues: For the fourth time in five contests this year, Cincinnati scored a touchdown on their first possession of the game.

Unfortunately, those were the only points Cincinnati scored until the fourth quarter. In fact, it was worse than that. Thanks to a Thomas Rawls 69-yard touchdown run (horrible pursuit and tackling by the defense) and a Rex Burkhead fumble returned for a touchdown by Wagner (horrible overall), Seattle muscled themselves into a comfortable 24-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

Cincinnati wasn't done. They had no intention on being done.

It all started when Adam Jones -- Marvin Lewis' secret weapon when he needs an emotional spark -- returned a punt 35 yards to the Seahawks 33-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati called Giovani Bernard's number on three consecutive runs, advancing to Seattle's 10-yard line with 12:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.

It the immortal words of Britney Spears, "oops, Chancellor did it again."

Eifert bolted for the endzone and Chancellor did nothing to impede his progress... again. However, unlike the first touchdown, Chancellor had more support over the top with Cary Williams coming off his coverage. A bit late, obviously.

It was the exact same route.

"Through the game," Jackson said Sunday night via Peter King's Monday Morning QB, "I could see the adjustment hadn't been made by Seattle. I don't call the same play down there very often at all. But I saw something, and so we called it again."

This, coupled with the Adam Jones return, was the moment momentum shifted. In addition to a touchdown that reduced Cincinnati's deficit to 10 points, the Bengals defense held Seattle to only two first downs in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. Eventually Cincinnati won 27-24 in overtime.