The Cincinnati Bengals turned some heads by sprinting out to an early lead in Foxboro during the 22-18 win over the New England Patriots, promptly blowing the lead and almost losing, then picking up the team’s seventh consecutive win anyway.
A rollercoaster of sorts might be the best way to describe that one.
Sprinkle in a few unexpected Joe Burrow turnovers, at least one major injury and some late-game shenanigans and there were plenty of interesting reactions worth documenting from the Christmas Eve showdown.
Before starting to talk about Cincinnati’s upcoming showdown with the Buffalo Bills on a Monday night, here’s a look at the top reactions from right after Saturday’s game went final.
Wow, just wow. Have to clean some things up. Specifically the run game, it's back to looking terrible.
NE aided by some fluky stuff in this one, D bails out the offense again.
— Dean (Dustin) (@DDMeritt) December 24, 2022
Bengals have just escaped Gillette Stadium with a 22-18 win. It’s their 7th straight W
— Elise Jesse (@EliseJesseTV) December 24, 2022
Bengals win their 7th straight but will have some hard lessons to learn when they watch the second half of this one. Clutch play to get the fumble out, but man. That game had no business being close.
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) December 24, 2022
We need a complete 4 quarter game to beat the Buffalo Bills.
— Not Jake 🥷🏻 (@CincyHub) December 24, 2022
3 massive plays in the second half of the game:
Game changed after Joe Burrow's pick-six
The non-fumble call on the blitz by Vonn Bell
The Ja'Marr Chase fumble— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) December 24, 2022
Whewwwwww #BuildingCharacter
— Anthony Cosenza (@CJAnthonyCUI) December 24, 2022
Build that Lou statue tonight.
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) December 24, 2022
Bengals sneak out of New England with a win 22-18. #CINvsNE pic.twitter.com/eWuxsXJcVN
— BENGALS TALK 🗣 (@BengalsTalk) December 24, 2022
This game felt like it would end weird. Whew. #Bengals
— Andrew Fox Miller (@AndrewFoxMiller) December 24, 2022
That would have been the dumbest loss lol
— Teth-Adam (@DCRezz) December 24, 2022
Seven in a row, mates.
It might have been tight today, but that's a great achievement.
Big one Monday week.
— Bengals UK (@WhoDey_UK) December 24, 2022
UGLY W IS STILL A DUB pic.twitter.com/isH0PFRYKt
— Ace Boogie (@NewStripeCity) December 24, 2022
They tried to break our hearts, but Vonn Bell saved Christmas for every Bengals fan.
— Willie Lutz (@willie_lutz) December 24, 2022
Cam Taylor-Britt got picked again a bit in this game, but stepped up when it mattered most with a PBU. Way to finish the game.
— Mike (@bengals_sans) December 24, 2022
Mike Hilton’s reaction leaving the field is so good. Also, Cam Taylor-Britt would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
A happy group of Bengals heading home for Christmas pic.twitter.com/kQgwVahJuh
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) December 24, 2022
Can’t feel good about that win.
That’s escaping a bad team
— Santori Miles (@Cincy_Suave) December 24, 2022
Seven straight and Merry Christmas!
— Patrick Carey (@PatCareySports) December 24, 2022
Patriots luck ran out, and I’ve never in my life seen a team aided by horrible calls other then today with NE
The Bengals made plenty of mistakes, improve to 11-4. #Bengals
— 🐅 (@stripe_city) December 24, 2022
What’s nice about that win is that it may help the Bengals tighten up despite winning. Knowing they barely won and now have a huge game coming up.
— Jack 💥 (@Cincinneumeyer) December 24, 2022
The #Bengals have won a game in New England for the first time since 1986.
A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE 🎄 pic.twitter.com/E3YTNkzwgy
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) December 24, 2022
After winning six games in a row, I started thinking the Bengals needed to experience one more loss before the postseason. I say this with positive/optimistic intentions: This was the "loss" I was waiting for.
— Andrew Fox Miller (@AndrewFoxMiller) December 24, 2022
7 in a row all won’t be pretty. Who Dey Merry Christmas Eve!!!
Just win Baby!!!
— Matt (@MrKCincy) December 24, 2022
I am incredibly impressed with Cam Sample
— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) December 24, 2022
2021 Bengals finished the (regular) season 10-7. 2022 Bengals 11-4 with two games to go.
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) December 24, 2022