Bengals Dominate at Home Against Atlanta
Ryan Meyer - Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals were firing on all cylinders yesterday as they returned home for the first time in two weeks to host the Falcons. Coming off of an exciting win in New Orleans, fans were eager to get back into Paycor Stadium to watch the Bengals, and they were not disappointed.
Zac Taylor elected to receive the ball to start the game for the second time this season, and it paid off right away. After just three plays, Burrow hit a wide-open Tyler Boyd downfield for a 60-yard touchdown. This was Burrow’s second 60-yard touchdown pass in two weeks.
Ryan Meyer - Cincinnati Bengals
The subsequent three offensive drives also resulted in touchdowns for the Bengals. Joe Mixon had a short one yard rush into the endzone after tripping once he received the ball. The next drive, Ja’Marr Chase did what he does best. In double coverage, Burrow hit Chase in the hands in the corner of the endzone. As usual, Chase snagged the ball away from the defenders, kept himself inbounds, and helped put points on the board seconds after the second quarter had started, giving the Bengals a 21-0 lead.
The Falcons ate up the clock on their next drive, doing 16 plays for 10 minutes, which ultimately ended with a touchdown, but the Bengals had an answer. In a drive that included Burrow being sacked twice, the Bengals marched down the field and ended up with yet another Ja’Marr Chase touchdown, this one for 41 yards. In typical Chase fashion, he caught the ball, juked a defender, and easily ran in for a touchdown.
Ryan Meyer - Cincinnati Bengals
28-7 Bengals.
Unfortunately, the Falcons struck fast with a one play 75-yard touchdown pass with 50 seconds left in the half. The Bengals had to put the ball away for the first time all game with 20 seconds left to play, and the Falcons returned it 56 yards, giving them time to kick a field goal as the half ended.
The Bengals were up 28-17 at halftime and Burrow had 345 pass yards and three touchdowns. What more can you ask for?
Ryan Meyer - Cincinnati Bengals
The second half was much less exciting than the first, but Burrow did get a rushing touchdown for the third week in a row to put the Bengals up 35-17. For the seventh week in a row, the Bengals defense did not allow a touchdown in the second half. The defense has continued to play great while the offense has figured out how to get rolling. In his post-game interview Burrow praised both sides of the ball, saying, “We’re starting to find a rhythm as an offense, and the defense is gonna continue to do what the defense does.” He finished the game 34-of-42 for 481 yards and four total touchdowns. This performance made him become the first quarterback in NFL history to have five games for 400 plus pass yards in his first three seasons.
It was a great team win all around. Tyler Boyd had eight receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown. Chase had 8 receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns. The defense left Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota with only eight completions all game. The one person who still needs to find his rhythm is running back Joe Mixon. He struggled again yesterday, having 17 carries for only 58 yards. Once he finds his groove, this team is unstoppable.
Watch out for these Bengals as they get rolling.
