Bengals finally catch a lucky break and it was all possible thanks to a familiar face
For the first time since 2004, the Cincinnati Bengals can call themselves winners over the Dallas Cowboys. The 27-20 victory was also the franchise's first against America's Team on their own turf since 1988.And it probably shouldn't have happened at all. Not without extreme luck that was only possible because of a familiar face. With two […]
For the first time since 2004, the Cincinnati Bengals can call themselves winners over the Dallas Cowboys. The 27-20 victory was also the franchise's first against America's Team on their own turf since 1988.
And it probably shouldn't have happened at all. Not without extreme luck that was only possible because of a familiar face.
With two minutes remaining in the game, Ryan Rehkow's punt was blocked by none other than former Bengals linebacker Nick Vigil. The block kept the ball on the Bengals' side of the field at the end of a 20-20 ballgame. All the Cowboys had to do was let the play die and they'd take over with excellent field position for a short game-winning drive.
And then, madness ensued.
After Vigil broke through the line to get his hands on Rehkow's punt, Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye attempted to field the ball off of a quick bounce. Oruwariye muffed the ball and Bengals linebacker Maema Njongmeta recovered it, giving the visitors a new possession.
The crazy cherry on top? Njongmeta was the one who let Vigil get by him at the start of the play. His own error paved the way to his heroism. Head coach Zac Taylor made sure to cover all the basis when discussing the rookie's efforts.
"Yeah, he didn't quit on the play, so that's something to be said for that." Taylor said to reporters after the game. "So we've obviously got to make the correction, and can't have the first part of the play, but whirlwind of events there that got us the ball back, and allowed us to go win it."
Vigil's time with the Bengals ran for four years and 54 games from 2016-19. Njongmeta, an undrafted free agent signing from this year, has worn some big shoes after making the 53-man roster as an underdog. He's emerged as a special teams staple, entering the night with the most special teams snaps on the team, tied with captain Akeem Davis-Gaither.
Plays like this will keep him in the plans beyond just this season. Mistakes can be corrected. Effort and timeliness can't be coached.
Cincinnati was a 1-7 team in one-score games this season. The second win of that variety is historic in another way as its the second primetime road victory of the year, making this season the first in franchise history with two such wins per SI's Jay Morrison.
Despite their clear flaws that still appeared in this game, these were kinds of plays that were made by the Bengals during their recent playoff runs in games like this. All it took to see it again was a former player trying to make a play of his own.
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