Bengals refuse to crumble in the face of adversity, hold 14-10 half time lead over the Lions

Talk about adversity.

Leon Hall suffers an Achilles injury and could be lost for the year. Devon Still was carted off with an elbow injury, already announced as out for the rest of the game. Reggie Nelson came out after an awkward tackle in the second quarter for a few plays before eventually returning. Jermaine Gresham gets a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and was sent to the lockerroom, but eventually returned as well.

It even seemed that the wind was punched out of Cincinnati's sails following Leon Hall's Achilles injury. Two plays after Hall distracted the football to force an incomplete from the three-yard line, the Lions tied the game on a three-yard touchdown to tight end Brandon Pettigrew. Cincinnati's offense responded with a quick three-and-out and the Lions pieced together a 13-play drive that resulted in a field goal to take a 10-7.

On Cincinnati's ensuing possession, the Bengals reached Detroit's 27-yard line on Giovani Bernard's seven-yard run. Instead of a second and seven, the Bengals have second and 19 thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct on Jermaine Gresham. Cincinnati is unable to pick up the first down and Mike Nugent pushes the field goal attempt wide left.

Then what happens?

On the Lions fourth possession of the game, on the 12th play of the drive, Carlos Dunlap blocks an attempted field goal that was scooped up by Reggie Nelson. During his return, Nelson pitched the football (forward) to Carlos Dunlap when Cincinnati's offense takes possession from the Lions 40-yard line.

Cincinnati took the 14-10 lead on Marvin Jones' beautiful 12-yard touchdown reception at the back of the endzone, leaving 41 seconds in the first half. As characteristic of the half, Jones walked to the lockerroom before the half concluded, favoring his left shoulder.