The Cincinnati Bengals pulled off a surprising victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, improving their record to 5-3 and handing the Bills their second loss in three games. The Bengals dominated the game with their efficient offense and resilient defense, while the Bills struggled to find their rhythm and capitalize on their opportunities.
Burrow and Higgins shine for Bengals
The Bengals wasted no time getting on the board, as quarterback Joe Burrow led them to a 76-yard drive on the opening possession of the game. He capped it off with a 9-yard touchdown pass to tight end Irv Smith Jr., giving the Bengals a 7-0 lead. Burrow was 21-2 in his career when he scored on the game’s first drive.
Burrow continued to impress throughout the game, completing 31 of 44 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns. He showed his poise and accuracy, spreading the ball to eight different receivers and avoiding any turnovers. His favorite target was wide receiver Tee Higgins, who caught eight passes for 110 yards. Higgins made several clutch catches, including a 34-yard reception on third-and-10 that set up the Bengals’ second touchdown.
Burrow and Higgins connected again for a 22-yard touchdown just before halftime, extending the Bengals’ lead to 21-7. The duo also helped the Bengals run out the clock in the fourth quarter, as Higgins caught a 12-yard pass on third-and-8 to seal the win.
Bills offense fails to deliver
The Bills offense, which had been one of the best in the league, had a disappointing performance against the Bengals. Quarterback Josh Allen completed 26 of 38 passes for 258 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but he was unable to sustain drives and score points. He also ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter, tying the game at 7-7, but that was the only time the Bills found the end zone until late in the game.
Allen’s top receiver, Stefon Diggs, who leads the NFL with 70 receptions, was only targeted three times in the first half. He finished with six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, but most of his production came in the second half when the Bills were trailing. The Bills also failed to get much from their other receivers, as Gabe Davis was shut out and rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid lost a fumble that led to a Bengals field goal.
The Bills offense also had trouble converting on third downs, going 4-for-11, and failed to score on two trips to the red zone. The Bills only managed to score 11 points in the second half, and their comeback attempt fell short after the Bengals controlled the clock and forced them to use their timeouts.
Bengals defense steps up
The Bengals defense deserves a lot of credit for their win, as they held the Bills to 18 points and 316 yards of offense. The Bengals defense was especially strong in the red zone, where they forced the Bills to settle for two field goals and stopped them on a crucial fourth-and-1 play in the third quarter.
The Bengals defense also came up with some big plays, such as linebacker Germaine Pratt’s forced fumble on Kincaid, cornerback Darius Phillips’ interception on Allen, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson’s sack on Allen that pushed the Bills out of field goal range. The Bengals defense also limited the Bills’ running game, holding them to 58 yards on 18 carries.
The Bengals defense was able to overcome the loss of middle linebacker Terrel Bernard, who left the game with a concussion in the second quarter. The Bengals defense only allowed three points in the second half, giving their offense multiple chances to extend their lead and secure the win.
What’s next for both teams
The Bengals improved to 5-3 with their win, keeping pace with the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns in the AFC North. The Bengals will face the Los Angeles Chargers next week, hoping to continue their momentum and challenge for a playoff spot.
The Bills fell to 5-4 with their loss, losing ground to the New England Patriots in the AFC East. The Bills will have a bye week to regroup and fix their issues, before facing the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11.
