Bengals' fulfilled promise pays off big in latest win
Heading into Sunday's game versus the New Orleans Saints, we knew one thing and only one thing about the Cincinnati Bengals' game plan. They were going to target wide receiver Tyler Boyd. The Bengals, after all, came into the game looking for answers on offense after mightily struggling over the first five weeks of the […]
Heading into Sunday's game versus the New Orleans Saints, we knew one thing and only one thing about the Cincinnati Bengals' game plan. They were going to target wide receiver Tyler Boyd.
The Bengals, after all, came into the game looking for answers on offense after mightily struggling over the first five weeks of the season. It's safe to say they found themselves a nice rhythm that bodes well for the future by prioritizing quick, short throws.
A huge part of that centered around Boyd. The wide receiver was targeted six times – the most targets he's seen this season – and made it count every time. He caught six passes for 66 yards.
Some of Boyd's catches came when the Bengals needed him the most. In the first drive of the game – which went for a touchdown – Boyd showed up with one catch for six yards and another for 12 yards. Both came in first down, setting Cincinnati up in favorable situations.
The team's second touchdown drive also featured two Boyd catches, one of them for 21 yards with 14 coming after the catch. The other one was a huge grab on third and two. Simply put, the slot wide receiver kept the Bengals in the game.
And of course, when Joe Burrow went into superhero mode running around to avoid the sack in the third quarter, who was the receiver he found? Tyler Boyd.
The Bengals were able to spread the football around and involved every pass catcher in the game. That will be key to sustaining the long-sought answer they finally found: consistently attacking underneath.
Hopefully, Boyd's name continues to be called. It seems that every time he's asked to step up, he does.
As for the wide receiver himself, looks like he had fun celebrating (assuming eating a golden shoe-shaped cake counts as fun).
Featured image via Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
