The Cincinnati Bengals went through an emotional roller coaster on Sunday night. They were down 27-6, rallied to tie the game at 27, only to give it right back to the Los Angeles Chargers with 18 seconds left. In the end, the Bengals leave SoFi Stadium on the wrong end of a 34-27 decision to fall to 4-7, putting their playoff hopes on life support. Here are some notes and numbers from yet another gut-punching loss.
Quick thoughts
- After forcing a Chargers punt on their opening drive, the Bengals marched down the field…until they stalled out inside the five following an illegal shift penalty and then intentional grounding. They went from 1st and goal from the three to 3rd and goal from the 18. The Bengals had to settle for a field goal.
- Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was dealing early but the Bengals eventually settled in and swarmed Herbert.
- The Bengals finally got into the end zone midway through the third quarter when Joe Burrow hit Ja’Marr Chase, who was one-on-one with Chargers rookie cornerback Cam Hart. It was a fourth-down play. A miss would have meant a third red zone trip without a touchdown.
- Momentum definitely started to shift there. It became more evident when the Bengals finally connected on a deep shot on a 4th and short, something they’ve tried plenty of this season but couldn’t hit. They had one go in their favor for a change when Burrow hit Higgins on a 42-yard touchdown on 4th and 2 to pull back within 27-20.
- The defense that showed up in the second half, where has it been all year? Early in the fourth quarter, between Mike Hilton and Logan Wilson, the two helped cause a fumble from Herbert that was recovered by Geno Stone. That fumble eventually led to a Chase touchdown that tied the game at 27.
- All that momentum drained when Evan McPherson missed a field goal and Herbert found his rhythm just in the nick of time.
Key stat
Between the end of the first half and the start of the second half, the Bengals had three straight three-and-outs. Couple that with the Bengals going 5-of-17 on third down and the Bengals will watch film this week thinking they left way too much on the table.
Game balls
QB Joe Burrow: Joey Cool never wavered, even when down 27-6. He orchestrated three touchdown drives to tie the game at 27. Burrow finished 28-of-50 for 356 yards and three touchdowns.
WR Tee Higgins: After briefly leaving the game in the first quarter, Higgins helped turn the momentum back in Cincinnati’s favor with a 42-yard touchdown on a 4th and 2. Higgins finished with nine catches for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Top takeaway
For most of the second half, the Bengals looked like a team that knew their season was pretty much hanging in the balance. They scored 21 straight to get to a 27-27 tie. Then that final drive happened — on top of the McPherson miss. At 4-7, it’s a very uphill battle to reach the postseason. The Steelers lead the AFC North at 8-2 and two of the wild cards have seven wins. The saving grace is that the Bengals do play the Broncos, the current holders of the final playoff spot at 6-5, in Week 17. But the Bengals need to turn things around well before that game for it to even have any sort of meaning.
