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The Cincinnati Bengals dropped their last game of a three-game road trip against the New York Jets.
It was a drastically disappointing game for several reasons. Cincinnati just came off a win against the Baltimore Ravens and were the talk of the NFL. New York was also 1-5 and forced to start a quarterback who had never started a game in the NFL before.
As they say though, this is why they play the games.
Defense couldn’t ground Jets offense
The Bengals were coming off their best performance of the season by holding Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to just 17 points. It looked like they were a completely different team for most of this game.
Even when they weren’t leaving screens or short passes wide open, the tackling was suspect at best on several key plays that could have swung this game. Was it a combination of being a little gassed from the road trip, not taking New York seriously enough and the Jets just wanting it more? Probably. However, it was still really rough to watch and the coaches and players have to go back to the drawing board after that effort.
Bengals defense is being embarrassed
— Vance Meek (@vancemeek) October 31, 2021
Bengals defense asleep out there.
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) October 31, 2021
Bengals struggling to stop a backup quarterback is such a common thing.
— Patrick Judis (@PatrickJudis) October 31, 2021
They’re so flat
— Santori Miles (@Cincy_Suave) October 31, 2021
This team is not good enough to start thinking they’re good
— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) October 31, 2021
First quarter mercifully ends. Bengals struggling to get any positive yardage, but are oh-so-close to tying this thing up.
— Anthony Cosenza (@CJAnthonyCUI) October 31, 2021
Wake up! Lets go!
I know the #Bengals offense has slow starts, but damn.
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) October 31, 2021
There's 9:38 remaining in the second quarter and the Bengals have FIVE YARDS and averaging 0.4 yards/play.
A thrilling turnaround
The Bengals offense did get going in the second quarter when they scored 17-straight points. It seemed like they had finally turned it around at that point. Joe Mixon was able to find some running room and Ja’Marr Chase made up for an earlier dropped pass.
.@Joe_MainMixon's Thriller⚡#BudLightCelly pic.twitter.com/rLTyAad5dh
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 31, 2021
TEE HIGGINS NO WAY pic.twitter.com/s4cGNxyYdN
— PFF CIN Bengals (@PFF_Bengals) October 31, 2021
Tee just “Moss’d” the DB Hall. Whew!
— Anthony Cosenza (@CJAnthonyCUI) October 31, 2021
Burrow for his 3rd TD of the game off script to Boyd in the corner. 12 plays, 5 minutes to make it 31-20 with 7:30 left.
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) October 31, 2021
Two TDs out of structure for Burrow today, who feels like he should have 5 TDs instead of "just" 3.
The Jets kicked two 24-yard field goals, while the Bengals scored two TDs in response. Bend-don't-break is the Anarumo idea in the second half on D and the offense has been up to the task so far.
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) October 31, 2021
Bengals cross 30 points for the third consecutive game after not doing so through the first five.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) October 31, 2021
Burrow for his 3rd TD of the game off script to Boyd in the corner. 12 plays, 5 minutes to make it 31-20 with 7:30 left.
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) October 31, 2021
Two TDs out of structure for Burrow today, who feels like he should have 5 TDs instead of "just" 3.
The collapse
The wheels came off after getting up on the Jets by 11 points. It was then that Mike White found some magic in New York on Halloween. He drove down the field with little resistance from the defense to get the Jets within four points.
Early it was getting got on hot throws and screens and misdirection, but it has devolved into atrocious tackling here late in the game as they're trying to just play bend don't break defense. Really gotta tackle to play that brand of defense. Worst game for this D all year.
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) October 31, 2021
Then disaster struck on the first play of the Bengals’ next drive as Joe Burrow tossed a screen pass that was deflected and then intercepted. That gave White all the opportunity to get New York up with another touchdown.
Wouldn't put it on Burrow really just a fantastic play on defense. Maybe he could have faked the pass and thrown around him but idk
— Mike (Sans) (@bengals_sans) October 31, 2021
This is the most Bengals thing I’ve ever seen
— Sam (@sammy______G) October 31, 2021
Tyler Kroft, known Bengals killer
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) October 31, 2021
What just happened?
Flashing forward following a Cincinnati three-and-out, the Jets had a third down attempt right after the two-minute warning, which could very well decide the game. For those who haven’t seen the play here it is.
HOW DO YOU CALL H2H ON AN ANKLE TACKLE?!
— CJ Errickson (@CJErrickson_NFL) October 31, 2021
pic.twitter.com/0mQhVY8SHe
The Bengals’ defense came up big in the moment they needed it most, but it was taken away by a truly terrible call, and Bengals fans were not happy.
That's a wild call tbh...
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) October 31, 2021
That’s unreal. I mean that’s just insane. On the biggest play of the game.
— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) October 31, 2021
HIS HEAD WAS AT THE DEFENDERS THIGH
— Mike (Sans) (@bengals_sans) October 31, 2021
Refs just gave the game to the Jets
— Vance Meek (@vancemeek) October 31, 2021
Even the rules analyst for CBS, Gene Steratore, couldn’t defend the call by essentially saying it was the wrong call without saying it.
In #CINvsNYJ, the defender and offensive player are bracing themselves for contact.
— Gene Steratore (@GeneSteratore) October 31, 2021
I'm not in favor of having even more reviews, but fouls involving the helmet are very difficult to rule correctly on in real-time. These are safety fouls and could benefit from being reviewable. pic.twitter.com/08rR2eV1lU
Still, the Bengals had their opportunities to win this game easily, but they kept shooting themselves in the foot while the Jets played about as good of a game as they could have. One team simply wanted it more today, and it has to be a lesson for this young team to keep that energy up whether it is the Ravens or the Jets lined up across from them.
Cincinnati was favored by 11.5. Per @ESPNStatsInfo, today’s defeat to the Jets is Cincinnati’s second-biggest upset loss in the last 40 seasons.
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 31, 2021
Bengals blew an 11-point 4th quarter lead vs. a 1-win team playing a backup QB making his NFL starting debut. Cannot happen.
— Andre Perrotta (@andreperrotta13) October 31, 2021
The penalty on Mike Hilton was the worst call I've seen. Just a terrible and likely game-deciding call.
Both statement above are true.
The NFL has to review roughing calls in the off-season
— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) October 31, 2021
A defender following through from trying to bat a pass into a QBs helmet is no more dangerous than a stiff arm to the face
Bengals RB Joe Mixon: "Today, we just weren’t ready. We came out flat. They wanted it more. That’s just what it was."
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 31, 2021
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