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Bengals 27 Jets 12
You wanted a fast start, you got it....along with a win.
Sunday afternoon at Metlife Stadium, the Bengals won the toss, took the ball and jumped started the offense with a tone-setting opening drive TD as the Bengals beat the Jets 27-12. Joe Burrow threw three TD passes to three different receivers. Trey Hendrickson was in beast mode with 2 forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks. Now, the Bengals face a quick turnaround to a Thursday match up vs 3-0 Miami and will have to wait on the status of DJ Reader who left with a knee injury in the 2nd quarter and did not return.
Offense:
Changing it up: They won the toss and elected to receive for the first time since December of 2020. They marched 11 plays/75 yards (5:21) for a Joe Burrow to Samaje Perine 12-yard TD. They threw 10 times and ran once (Mixon -5). The opening drive included double pass, a shovel pass, Chris Evans in on 3rd down, Zac Taylor's 1st challenge of the year (lost). They converted 3rd down three times on the drive (9,8,12 yards) and took the lead for the first time this season.
Detonation: Big plays returned.....Tyler Boyd 56-yard TD catch, Tee Higgins 45 yard catch.
About time: 3 TD day for the O...first time scoring more than 2 TD's in seven games, including the postseason.
Burrow: He looked confident and decisive early on.....11-15-163-2 TD in 1st quarter. He wound up 23-36-275-3 TD, 0 INT, 2 sacks, 9 QB hits.
He grabbed his lower leg after one sack.
Yikes: They averaged 2.4 yards on 28 carries (68 yards). Joe Mixon: 12 for 24 (2.0), long of 9 yards. With Mixon dealing with an ankle, Perine carried
on 8 of their final 9 runs to close out the game, ....9 for 47 rushing (5.2)....2 catches, 14 yards. TD.
Trio: A combined 15 catches for 227 yards, 2 TD......They took some hits. Tyler Boyd 4-105, 56-yard blitz beating TD....hit/bounce/spin move..........Tee Higgins 5-93 (all in 1st half), including another scary shot to head and a spectacular leaping catch that was not ruled a TD in the back of the end zeon..... Ja'Marr Chase 6-29-TD, fumble, big time battles with Sauce Gardner.
OL: La'el Collins started, despite not practicing during the week.
What was that?
Part 1: The Bengals had it 1st and 10 on own 12 with :52 left in the half. They went three and out on two incompletions and a sack and punted. The Jets went 6 plays/13 yards and kicked a 52-yard FG to end the half.
Part 2: Leading 27-9 and facing 4th and 1 at the Jets 20-yard late in the 3rd quarter, Taylor called a toss to Chase that was stopped. That followed Burrow throwing four yards to Evans on 3rd and 5. The Jets turned around and marched down for a FG to make it 27-12.
Defense:
No TD allowed......4 FG, 4 sacks, 4 takeaways: 2 picks (Logan Wilson/Jessie Bates) and 2 fumbles recovered (3 forced)....allowed 7 of 21 3rd/4th down conversions, including 0-3 on 4th down. 9 QB hits and 6 tackles for loss.
No TD, for you: The defense has gone 20 consecutive drives without allowing a TD.
Hendrickson destroyed the Jets: 2 fumbles, 2.5 sacks. Huge strip sack to start 2nd half after Jets had kicked FG going into halftime.
DJ Reader: Injured his knee and did not return.
Sack-to-Sack, Jack! Cam Sample and Hendrickson recorded sacks on consecutive plays, equaling the team total in two previous games.
Hold it! They held the Jets to a FG following a Chase fumble at Bengals 43.
Blitz it: Lou Anarumo was sending guys from all over the place.
Athletic: Wilson's interception was made 30-yards down the field and added a 47-yard return that set up a FG.
Chido Awuzie had his hands everywhere, totalling three passes defended.
On the spot: BJ Hill forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles, picked up half a sack and defended a pass.
Playing time? Dax Hill was in for the first defensive snap of the game.
No-go: Germaine Pratt did not play (knee). Akeem Davis-Gaither had 13 tackles and a tackle for loss. and added one tackle for loss
Special Teams:
Evan McPherson kicked two FG's, but missed from 41-yards late in the game, his first career miss on the road after making 29 consecutive.
He nailed the upright on a kickoff.
Why does the NFL still have kickoff? The Bengals do not have a kickoff return this season. Their opponents have two.
Brutal: What a physical game. Players were entering the blue medical tent, leaving the game, being helped off and carted off left and right.
That guy: CJ Uzomah recorded his first catch of the season (5 yards).