NFL Week 3 Bengals at Packers: Cincinnati’s goat of the week

Finger-pointing has become an en vogue practice in Cincinnati this year. It’s hard to say why said practice isn’t appropriate, given the team’s 0-3 start, but the practice does have a semblance of being a bit unfair—especially when singling out individuals in a team sport.

Still, even though the Bengals made a valiant effort in one of the most difficult games on their schedule this year, there were some players who really let the team down again this week. Cast your vote and sound off on your Bengals’ Week 3 goat of the week!

Cornerback Adam Jones: It wasn’t a great afternoon from the Bengals’ starting corners—particularly late in the game when the Packers mounted their comeback. Geronimo Allison had an inexplicable six catches for 122 yards, which included the overtime 72-yard dagger, while Jordy Nelson had two other touchdown receptions. Jones and Dre Kirkpatrick were the primary culprits of Aaron Rodgers’ bullying.

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick: If Jones wasn’t your defensive scapegoat on Sunday afternoon, then maybe No. 27 was an easy target. Perhaps his most notable play of the day was on a fumble he forced that ended up being called back after a completion, only to have Green Bay get in the end zone immediately after.

Quarterback Andy Dalton: Rarely does a player make both our MVP and goat lists, but Dalton has had that kind of year in just three games. Week 3 was the best of his performances and he had zero turnovers, but there were other open plays in which Dalton missed badly. These couple of missed opportunities, of which he has seemed to take advantage of in recent years, ended up costing the Bengals big time.

Kicker Randy Bullock: It seems as if the veteran kicker is a bit of a microcosm of the Bengals themselves. He makes every kick he is supposed to make, but when it comes to the difficult, crunch-time kicks, he just can’t step up to the plate. Bullock made a 46-yard boot and converted three extra points, but a missed attempt midway through the third quarter loomed large.