When the Bengals lost to the Steelers in the Wild Card game back in January, it had quite a bit to do with bad officiating, but, also a lot to do with the Bengals losing their cool and blowing the game. Today, in their first matchup since that playoff game, eight months ago, the officials decided to allow the Steelers to seal the win by ruling that a Tyler Boyd reception was a fumble. It seemed pretty clear to many observers, both by watching on TV and in person, that a fumble did not occur, as Boyd’s knee was down before the ball slipped out of his grasp. Essentially, the officials ended the second consecutive Bengals-Steelers game on their terms. And, as we know, when that happens, the Bengals don’t win.
The Tyler Boyd play #Bengals pic.twitter.com/2Ajhqf9TAC
— Lance McAlister (@LanceMcAlister) September 18, 2016
The reaction to “#KneeGate”, C.J. Uzomah’s questionably out-of-bounds touchdown catch, and the rest of the aspects to Bengals’ loss to the Steelers is a bit of a roller coaster, with mostly sharp downhills. Here it goes:
Andy Dalton 31/54, 366, 1 TD, 0 INTs in the rain and people are ripping him? He was pinned in deep in own territory almost every drive.
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) September 18, 2016
Bengals got screwed! Week 2 of NFL just as good as Week 1. Great games and finishes everywhere.
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) September 18, 2016
Adam Jones: "We'll see them mother f*****s again. Can't wait until we see them again. I take my hat off to Pittsburgh today."
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurke_SI) September 18, 2016
I'm biased, but looked clear. Steelers defense thought so too...came back out expecting call to be overturned https://t.co/mbEgES0kNj
— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) September 18, 2016
Lewis on #Bengals rookie Tyler Boyd's fumble and if he thought knee was down: "I was told it was down even by the officials on our sideline"
— Richard Skinner (@Local12Skinny) September 18, 2016
Just played back Marvin. Interesting what he says he was told by officials on #Bengals sideline on Boyd play: pic.twitter.com/2PAn9b8wr8
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) September 18, 2016
Tyler Boyd rolled with every single media question after the game, and his teammates showed a ton of support for the rookie receiver
— Elise Jesse (@Elise_JesseWLWT) September 18, 2016
The @NFL is an absolute joke. No way was that a fumble in the @Bengals game. #Awful
— Kevin Youkilis (@KYouk_2036) September 18, 2016
NFL VP of Officiating Mike Pareira on his Twitter said of the Boyd fumble play: "If I have to bet my bottom dollar, I think he's down."
— Richard Skinner (@Local12Skinny) September 18, 2016
C.J. Uzomah was unaware when I approached him that replay appeared to show refs missed his call. His reaction: pic.twitter.com/4WWTh3YExs
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) September 18, 2016
Bengals top graded players against Steelers
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 18, 2016
LB Vincent Rey 91.1
DE Carlos Dunlap 84.1
CB Dre Kirkpatrick 83.7
S George Iloka 82.1#CINvsPIT
Adam Jones: "I thought the game was clean. We had a little s*** talking, but that's always going to be in the game." #Bengals
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) September 18, 2016
That knee looked down, but that’s just me. #Bengals #CINvsPIT @Enquirer pic.twitter.com/CaPPyodCPs
— Sam Greene (@SGdoesit) September 18, 2016
A lot of you are asking about the fumble at the end of Bengals/Steelers game.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) September 18, 2016
Here are my thoughts pic.twitter.com/ezLmazRfUc
Just left #Bengals locker room--disappointed in loss but felt they can clean up some mistakes. 4/16 3rd down @Local12
— Brad Steinke (@bradsteinke) September 18, 2016
@Bengals should've asked for replay!!!!! https://t.co/LwHSbc1RAT
— Boomer Esiason (@7BOOMERESIASON) September 18, 2016
#kneegate in Pittsburgh. #bengals #steelers #nfl
— Boomer Esiason (@7BOOMERESIASON) September 18, 2016
The #bengals were "Kneegated" today. #NFL
— Boomer Esiason (@7BOOMERESIASON) September 18, 2016
C.J. Uzohma play #Bengals pic.twitter.com/dVeLrrfaZJ
— Lance McAlister (@LanceMcAlister) September 18, 2016
Asked Andrew Whitworth about the big missed calls. He said NFL will be shocked when they look at the tape how many holds Pitt got away with.
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) September 18, 2016
Some Bengals observers believe grass was green https://t.co/Xtrxs0tUHF
— Braden Whited (@BradenWhited) September 18, 2016
I can handle the #Bengals losing a close hard fought game... But not when they get blatantly SCREWED!
— Rick Ucchino (@Rick700WLW) September 18, 2016
A well-behaved game between heated rivals ends in a botched ref job. Love the NFL sometimes.
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) September 18, 2016
Wow...now THAT's a loco call against Boyd.
— Dave Dameshek (@Dameshek) September 18, 2016
C'est la vie, right?
One thing the players seemed proud of themselves for today, keeping the penalties low Bengals had 5 for 31 yards
— Elise Jesse (@Elise_JesseWLWT) September 18, 2016