The Cincinnati Bengals squandered a huge first-quarter lead in their week six loss to Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts.
The Cincinnati Bengals fall to 1-4-1 after a disappointing week six loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Despite sprinting out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, Zac Taylor’s squad fell apart down the stretch and couldn’t hang on for the win.
The final nail in the coffin was an interception from rookie quarterback Joe Burrow as the team was driving. In an attempt to find Tyler Boyd down the seam, safety Julian Blackmon stepped in front of the pass to seal the Bengals’ fate.
Old tendencies come back to haunt the Bengals
A lot of the same old storylines rang true for Cincinnati this week. When looking back on their fourth loss of the season, it will be evident that some of the same mistakes that have cost them games in the past cost them this contest as well.
Chief among those weaknesses is the defense’s inability to stop opposing offenses to end the half. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has become notorious for switching to a soft zone and gambling with dangerous blitzes, allowing points in the final two minutes consistently.
Unsurprisingly, it happened again this week, as Philip Rivers was able to find the endzone in the closing moments of the second quarter.
The kicking game hasn’t helped the situation either. After shanking a field goal in week one to seal Cincinnati’s defeat against the Chargers, Randy Bullock again missed another kick down the stretch. Instead of attempting to get the offense in field goal range, Burrow was required to force something down the field, which resulted in his turnover.
Another week, another game filled with the reoccurring mistakes that have plagued the Bengals. Perhaps at some point the coaching staff can right these wrongs and find another victory this season. They get their next opportunity in one week’s time as they travel back home to take on the Cleveland Browns.