Bengals' resounding response to Tom Brady's words proves the script has changed
The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-23, overcoming a 14-point deficit at halftime. They did so by proving the script has really changed for a team commonly perceived as an underdog. Before the Bengals played the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month, the team announced what appeared to be a change of marketing […]
The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-23, overcoming a 14-point deficit at halftime. They did so by proving the script has really changed for a team commonly perceived as an underdog.
Before the Bengals played the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month, the team announced what appeared to be a change of marketing slogan but in reality was a change of identity. After carrying a "Why not us?" mentality in last year's playoffs, now the Bengals strut around confidently stating "They have to play us."
This is why the Bengals probably took offense to Bucs QB Tom Brady's words heading into the game when the future Hall of Famer described Cincinnati's defense as "fairly tough."
"We're onto Cincinnati," Brady said during the latest episode of his Let's Go! podcast. "[They have a ] great team. Great, young quarterback. Fairly tough defense. Good skill players. They do a lot of things well. We're going to have to put everything we've got into it."
The Bengals have ranked as the second-best defense since Week 10 per DVOA. "Fairly tough" was taken as a disrespectful understatement by the players.
Through 30 minutes of play, Brady backed up his point by scoring points in three of his four offensive drives. The exception was a play in which the Bucs missed a field goal.
But the Bucs had to play the Bengals for another half, and that made all the difference in the world. Here's how every second-half drive ended for Tampa Bay up until a "garbage time" touchdown drive in the last few minutes:
- Four plays, turnover on downs.
- Five plays, interception.
- Three plays, fumble.
- Three plays, fumble.
- Three plays, interception.
- Three plays, punt.
The Bengals defense showed up. Naturally, they had an answer for Tom Brady postgame as defensive tackle B.J. Hill and cornerback Eli Apple told reporters to remember they had a fairly tough defense.
"We just knew we were a fairly tough defense," Hill told reporters following the Bengals' win. "That's how we played in the first half though, not going to lie to you."
"We just came out in the second half and played our tails off."
That they did. The Bucs had no answers as the Bengals reminded everyone watching that they're a legit AFC contender while their rivals have struggled all season long.
Featured image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
