Bengals comeback falls short, drop 4th straight

Packers 27 Bengals 18

Joe Flacco found a second half rhythm and the Bengals offense came alive.

But the defense without an injured Trey Hendrickson, and special teams let them down…..allowing 17 4th quarter points.

Trailing 10-0 to open the 2nd half, they marched on a stellar 17 play TD drive.

But the defense turned right around and gave up a 9 play/66 yard TD drive. 17-7.

The Bengals added a FG, but then special teams allowed a 38-yard KR and the defense a TD drive to make it 24-10.

Trailing 24-10, Flacco hit Ja’Marr Chase for a 19-yard TD on 4th & 4 with 4:17 left. They added a Chase 2-point conversion catch made it 24-18.

But the defense once again could not get a stop. The Packers got the ball back with 4:11 left. Jordan Battle beaten on 3rd & 8 completion of 31 yards. GB added a FG with 1:52 left. Ball. Game.

Total yards: GB 409 CIN 268

Half GB 240 CIN 65

1st QT: Outgained 116-1 yard.

1st D: GB CIN, Half GB 14, CIN 4

Time of possession: GB 32:44, CIN 27:16

Half GB 21:44, CIN 8:16.

1st QT: GB 13:00, CIN 2:00.

Entered NFL worst -9:00 minutes per game (25:33).

Outscored 79-9 in the first half of the last four games.

1st half scoring last four games: 3-3-3-0

Longest streak w/o 1st half TD since 1978 (CBS).

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Offense

Best drive: Start 2nd half. 17 plays, 78 yards, 10:14, Hudson 2-yard TD.

Hudson 4th and goal at 3 TD! Beat drive since opener of season.

Flacco: 29-45-219, 2 TD, 1 sack, really clicked in 2nd half.

Chase; 10-94, TD

Higgins: 5-62, TD

Chase Brown: 9-42, season high 13-yd run

Hudson: 4 catches, TD. Entered w/ 0.

Yoshi 3 drops

1st QT: 1 yard, 3 plays…total

Jet sweep Ja’Marr (-3 yards) to open the game? “That’s a curious play selection to open the game” -Lap

Why is a screen so hard for this offense?

Lost Gesicki for game w/ pectoral injury in 1st.

Amarius Mims injured, left late, Cody Ford in.

Higgins was walked off the field by officials to be checked for concussion after catch to the goal line. Missed three snaps.

Micah Parsons made his presence felt, but certainly didn’t dominate the game.

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Defense

Again, on the field a lot….but after getting rest of halftime and Bengals 10:14 drive to start 3rd, they allowed 17 points over the final three drives.

Could not get stops when needed in 4th: TD, TD, FG

Opening drive INT: Turner tip/Stone pick (25 yard return).

Had allowed opening drive TD in 4 of 5 games.

Trey Hendrickson and DJ Turner all over the place. But Hendrickson injured his back and did not play 2nd half.

CTB beaten on a 45-yard pass he didn’t get head around on, then an end zone hold same drive. TD.

Lots of missed tackles.

Logan Wilson did not start: Barrett w/ Knight Jr.

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Special Teams

Rehkow 55 yards to 8. But also the 7th touchback of the season.

McPherson missed a 67 yarder …after making it, but having it waved off by a GB timeout. Hit from 45. Missed from 56 w/ :0:41.

Allowed 38 yard KR, 37 yard KR.