CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals faced some nerve-wracking moments as they aimed to secure their first-ever away victory against the New York Giants.
One of those moments arose when quarterback Joe Burrow momentarily exited the game to undergo a concussion evaluation after sustaining a heavy hit on a third-down pass attempt.
Tension mounted again as the Giants, down 10-7 with just over three minutes to play, prepared to attempt a fourth-and-2 at the Bengals’ 36-yard line.
Fortunately for Cincinnati, both situations turned favorable. Burrow returned to the game in good health, and on the critical fourth-down attempt, Bengals cornerback DJ Turner deflected a pass from Daniel Jones that was aimed at Darius Slayton.
This crucial defensive play granted possession back to the Bengals, and shortly after the two-minute warning, running back Chase Brown dashed 30 yards for a touchdown. That play effectively sealed the Bengals’ unusual 17-7 victory, a much-needed win as they improved to a 2-4 record.
Burrow described the performance as “ugly,” acknowledging their previous overtime loss to Baltimore but expressed relief at securing this victory.
“We’re 2-4, so we’re trying to find ourselves,” Burrow stated, reflecting on the team’s challenges. “We’re trying to find wins. We found one today.”
The Bengals’ defense, which has faced scrutiny this season, appeared revitalized and at full strength. They consistently pressured Jones throughout the game, with edge rusher Trey Hendrickson recording two sacks. The defensive unit forced four punts, managed to stop the Giants on two occasions, and added an interception to their tally.
However, there were still concerns to address. Burrow endured his season’s highest number of sacks with four and was under constant duress. Following Brown’s touchdown in the final quarter, he and running back Zack Moss had only accumulated 36 rushing yards. The Bengals have been averaging slightly over 100 rushing yards per game to date, showcasing ongoing issues with offensive line consistency.
On a positive note, defensive lineman B.J. Hill made his presence felt against his former team after returning from a hamstring injury. During the first quarter, as the Giants approached the red zone, Hill pressured Jones, leading to a turnover as linebacker Germaine Pratt intercepted a poorly thrown pass.
On the other hand, Burrow remarked that his 47-yard touchdown run was “one of my few good plays,” hinting at his struggles. He passed for 208 yards but lacked a touchdown and faced significant pressure, a situation exacerbated by the offensive line’s struggles against the Giants’ pass rushers.
In terms of injuries, aside from Burrow’s brief scare, no significant injuries were reported.
A key statistic emerging from the match was Cincinnati’s third-down conversion rate of 4 for 11 (36.4%), indicating another area in need of improvement.
Looking ahead, the Bengals will seek to capitalize on a struggling rival in the AFC North as they travel to Cleveland (1-5) this coming Sunday.