Bengals vs. Seahawks: Instant Reaction

Oct 11, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback

(3) looks to pass in the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Bengals faced their toughest test with the Seattle Seahawks rolling into town. The Bengals started out quick and took a touchdown lead after their opening drive but that was the best thing about this game until the fourth quarter when they came back from 17 down. This offense couldn’t convert, turned the ball over, and the defense didn’t have much answer for undrafted rookie Thomas Rawls and Russell Wilson.

They were just exposed in every way today and that is not what many fans were expecting from the 4-0 Bengals. Andy Dalton threw an ill-advised pass, that most quarterbacks would choose to throw as well. Rex Burkhead got caught up in the back field and fumbled the ball, which was returned for a touchdown. It was a physical game that the Bengals just couldn’t keep up with in the end.

The defense forgot to tackle, especially with Thomas Rawls taking a 69 yard run to the end zone. They allowed two punts downed inside the two to come out of the end zone with out Rawls or Wilson taking a lose. Jimmy Graham was found for his best game of the season so far. This was probably the poorest performance we have seen by either side of the ball this season for the first three quarters.

Andy Dalton was taken down three times for a sack, his helmet ripped off from behind when he was flushed from the pocket, and then three consecutive unnecessary dirty hits from the Seahawks lineman, Michael Bennett. He threw one interception but he was not the problem, his line couldn’t keep the defense out of the back field. Russel Bodine could not stop anyone up the middle, except for the quarterback sneakin the fourth, and it seemed like the edges were broken down with seven and eight man rushes.

But then, Eifert had a huge game, Giovani Bernard stepped up, Andy Dalton played his best quarter of his career, and the Benglas forced overtime. The Bengals showed that the games ends when the clock reads 00:00. The 17 point deficit was erased and we had a new game.

In overtime, the defense was superb, the Seahawks made the mistakes and the Bengals made the plays and Mike Nugent made the field goal. What a win! The Bengals move to 5-0 for the first time 1988. They will move into week six against the Buffalo Bills up at least two games on the AFC North.