The Cincinnati Bengals hosted the Las Vegas Raiders for the first game of wild card weekend and it didn’t disappoint. There was a tremendous amount of pressure on the Bengals due to the fact that their last playoff win came more than thirty years ago on January 6, 1991. The Raiders, a 10-7 regular season team that battled tremendous adversity all year including an embarrassing coaching change in week 5, arguably overachieved and impressively overcame significant challenges to reach the playoffs. 

The Bengals, an AFC Central team without a playoff win in thirty years, were in control for most of the game and were only forced to punt twice. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase were in sync all game with Chase recording 9 catches for 116 yards. It’s clear this duo is going to be deadly for years to come. However, the Bengals had trouble finding the endzone which allowed the Raiders to hang in the game. The Raiders had a big drive to end the first half when quarterback Derek Carr hit wide receiver Zay Jones in the back of the endzone for a touchdown making the score 20-13 Bengals. In the second half, the Raiders offensive line struggled getting multiple holding calls making it hard for Derek Carr and the team to move the ball down the field consistently and effectively. Regardless, the Raiders defense fought till the end and gave the pigskin to Carr and the offense with 2 minutes to go with a chance to tie the game and force overtime. In the end, it was the Bengals defense that stood tall denying the pesky Raiders on four chances within the 10 yard line, ultimately sealing the deal with an interception by linebacker Germain Pratt stopping the Raiders on 4th and goal. 

Bengals fans let out a huge sigh of relief and went wild after snapping the thirty year playoff drought and moving on to round 2. If all goes to form, the confident Bengals will likely be heading to Tennessee to face the Titans. This game should be another close one with all eyes on the Burrow-Chase combination and the best runner in the league, Derrick Henry.