There’s no extra stark instance of the Bengals’ early-season futility than this: They stumbled their method into their Week 4 recreation in opposition to the woeful Carolina Panthers, and Carolina had extra wins on the season, since “1” is greater than “0.”
However Carolina tends to be good for what ails its opposition, and Cincinnati managed to drag out a 34-24 victory for its first win of the season. Joe Burrow nonetheless lacks the sharpness of previous, and the Cincinnati protection was far too charitable to former Bengal Andy Dalton, however a win is a win.
The Bengals had been already going through big odds to make the playoffs; solely six groups have ever made the playoffs after beginning 0-3, and just one — the 2018 Houston Texans -– has managed it since 2000. And just one group in NFL historical past — the 1992 then-San Diego Chargers — made the playoffs after beginning 0-4. Sure, Cincinnati misplaced its first three video games of the season by a mixed whole of 12 factors … however there’s no “close to miss” column within the standings. So till additional discover, the Bengals are in a must-win scenario from right here on out.
Sunday will not go down in Bengals historical past as a fairly win, nevertheless it was a vital one. The groups traded touchdowns for many of the first half, however Cincinnati took the lead for good one second earlier than halftime, when Burrow discovered Zack Moss for a one-yard landing to go up 21-14. The Bengals would prolong the result in 31-14 earlier than the Panthers acquired again on the board.
Burrow completed the day with 232 yards on 22-of-31 passing, with two touchdowns. However he made some uncharacteristic errors, none extra apparent or evident than a fourth-quarter interception. Scrambling to elude stress, Burrow slung a move within the obscure path of Ja’Marr Chase, however ended up lofting it proper into the arms of Carolina’s Xavier Woods:
It was a little bit of redemption for Woods, whose missed sort out on Chase earlier within the recreation led on to an extended Cincinnati landing:
Dalton, in the meantime, was as soon as once more regular in his second begin after the benching of former No. 1 general draft decide Bryce Younger, throwing for 220 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to one first-quarter interception. It wasn’t sufficient for a victory, nevertheless it was seemingly sufficient to maintain Dalton within the QB1 position going ahead.
Alternative nonetheless looms for Cincinnati, which faces division rivals Baltimore and Cleveland within the subsequent three weeks, with an out-of-conference date with the Giants sandwiched between. The opponents will seemingly get more durable than Carolina, so now’s the time for the Bengals to step on the gasoline.
