Bengals: The very best part about Sunday's win that will matter a lot down the road
Ja'Marr Chase put the exclamation point on the Cincinnati Bengals' dramatic win over the New Orleans Saints to get the team to 3-3. The Bengals' star wide receiver put the dagger in the game with a 60-yard touchdown pass that put the team in the lead 30-26. That was Chase's second touchdown of the game […]
Ja'Marr Chase put the exclamation point on the Cincinnati Bengals' dramatic win over the New Orleans Saints to get the team to 3-3.
The Bengals' star wide receiver put the dagger in the game with a 60-yard touchdown pass that put the team in the lead 30-26.
That was Chase's second touchdown of the game in a game in which he finished with 132 yards in seven catches.
The best part about the final catch by Chase is that it happened at the 50-yard line with Chase taking it to the house by forcing a missed tackle.
More than the scoreboard win, this might've been a breakout performance for Zac Taylor's offense. All this time, the conversation has centered around being able to attack defenses that are trying to take the deep shots away.
Well, Burrow and the Bengals succeeded in that. He went 26-for-29 in passes thrown at 10 yards or fewer beyond the line of scrimmage. Those throws went for 225 passing yards, per Next Gen Stats.
If the Bengals are able to keep throwing quick passes and running the football (they averaged 5.4 yards per carry), the offense might just be back at full strength. This was a huge step in the right direction.
Worst defensive performance in a while.
The Bengals struggled to stop the Saints when it mattered the most. Not only did they allow 7 third-down conversions in 14 attempts, but the Saints also made Cincinnati bleed to start the third quarter.
They put together a 14-play drive good for 61 yards and a field goal that put the score 23-14. The drive almost lasted eight full minutes which kept Joe Burrow for almost a quarter's worth of time. Burrow and the Bengals had scored with 5:44 remaining in the second quarter and got the ball back until there was 7:12 in the third.
That kind of stuff right there can make or break football games. Despite the Bengals scoring a touchdown on a quick drive right after, it set the tone for New Orleans in the second half and exhausted Cincinnati's defense.
The Bengals allowed 6.3 yards per play on Sunday and 5.8 yards per carry.
Featured image via Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
