Former Bengals player tells revealing story of past upset win over Giants involving A.J. Green
It's a rare occasion when the Cincinnati Bengals face the New York Giants like they will this Sunday night, which makes their past meetings all the more memorable. Not necessarily the last meeting in 2020 when Joe Burrow didn't play following his season-ending knee injury, or the meeting before that in 2016 when the Bengals lost […]
It's a rare occasion when the Cincinnati Bengals face the New York Giants like they will this Sunday night, which makes their past meetings all the more memorable.
Not necessarily the last meeting in 2020 when Joe Burrow didn't play following his season-ending knee injury, or the meeting before that in 2016 when the Bengals lost their last game against the G-men on the road.
The 2012 matchup comes mind since it was the last time Cincinnati defeated New York's NFC team thanks to a vintage A.J. Green performance. As it happens, the Bengals were fueled by comments directed at Green.
Former wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, who played in Cincy from 2011-13, revealed on X/Twitter that New York's defensive backs were trash-talking Green leading up to the game, and it inspired all of them to show out in support of the renowned nice guy Green was (and still is!).
Everyone played well that day, Green most of all. He hauled in seven receptions for 85 yards and one of Andy Dalton's four touchdown passes in a 31-13 victory. The Bengals were 3-5 at the time and were 4.5-point underdogs at home to the reigning Super Bowl champions. Hawkins himself even caught a touchdown; one of four from both that season and his entire Bengals career.
It's funny looking back at this time when the Bengals were led by different kinds of elite players. Green, as Hawkins stated, was a notoriously kind person who rarely ever let things get under his skin. He at least didn't show it with his words, he just strapped up and went to work.
Winning that game was also critical for the Bengals. It started a four-game win streak and became the first of seven wins in the final eight weeks. The Bengals eventually clinched a playoff berth after being out of the playoff picture entirely in the heart of the season.
It may've been 12 years ago, but it's very relevant to what's happening right now.
The Bengals of today are 1-4 with the Giants on deck. If they're to pull a miraculous turnaround to get back into playoff contention, it starts with a win in East Rutherford on "Sunday Night Football."
It starts with Joe Burrow and offense continuing to roll. It starts with the defense figuring a way to get back to a respectable level, even without one of their best players.
It starts with much-needed win, like the one Hawkins thinks back on with such contentment.
Bengals’ roster shuffling sets up an inevitable move ahead of Week 6 matchup vs Giants
Cincinnati’s secondary is still one player short, but not for long.
