|
|
BUF |
CIN |
Green's big game rallies Bengals over Bills 20-16 in rain
CINCINNATI (AP) The Bengals took A.J. Green at his word. They kept throwing his way, even after the ball repeatedly slipped through his wet hands. The elusive receiver found a way to make the difference, just as promised.
Green contributed to three turnovers that kept it close, but he also had a 77-yard touchdown and another long catch that set up the go-ahead score Sunday, rallying Cincinnati to a 20-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills in a steady rain.
''I understand the ups-and-downs,'' Green said. ''You know me, I'm pretty level all the time. The drops hurt, but you just have to erase everything.''
After losing their first three games, the Bengals (2-3) salvaged their season by getting the ball to their stars at decisive moments. Green's 47-yard catch set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Joe Mixon that put Cincinnati ahead to stay in the fourth quarter.
Combined with Pittsburgh's 30-9 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday, the Bengals are a game out of first in the AFC North.
The Bills (3-2) got their season off to an encouraging start by relying heavily on kicker Stephen Hauschka and a defense that led the league in stinginess, allowing only 13.5 points per game through the first four. The combination wasn't enough this time as Buffalo's depleted offense failed to take advantage of Cincinnati's three turnovers.
Tyrod Taylor's off-target pass was picked off near midfield with 2:14 left, clinching it for Cincinnati. Taylor finished 20 of 37 for 166 yards with a touchdown pass to Brandon Tate . He also was sacked six times.
''It wasn't a great offensive performance and I take responsibility for that,'' Taylor said. ''I take the blame. My job is to get the ball out quicker. Sometimes we weren't on the same page.''
The Bengals changed offensive coordinators after failing to get a touchdown in their first two games. Green complained that they weren't getting the ball to their difference makers in the biggest moments. He caught seven passes for 189 yards Sunday, the third-highest total of his career.
Green ran past rookie cornerback Tre'Davious White and caught Andy Dalton's pass in stride for a 77-yard score on the Bengals' second possession. Green also had a hand in the Bengals' three turnovers that kept the Bills in it. Green had passes go off his hands and his chest for a pair of interceptions . He also fumbled after a catch .
The turnovers are so uncharacteristic that coach Marvin Lewis wondered if he was hurt.
''I asked him if he was OK,'' Lewis said. ''He said yes. I said, well, go win the game.''
Dalton twisted his left ankle in the first half and finished the game with a limp, getting it heavily taped at halftime. He was 22 of 36 for a season-high 328 yards.
The Bills got little out of an offense down to four healthy receivers because of injuries, managing only 221 yards. They've been held under 300 yards in each of their last four games.
RESURGENT DALTON
In his last two games , Dalton has completed 47 of 66 passes for 614 yards with five touchdowns. Since the Bengals changed coordinators, his passer rating is 116.2.
LOUD CHEERS
The Bengals showed clips from the Steelers' loss on the videoboard during timeouts, drawing cheers from the crowd of 52,367 that was their smallest of the season.
ANTHEM EXPRESSIONS
A fan banner in the upper deck said: ''Just Play Football.'' A pro-Trump banner was displayed briefly criticizing players and owners, signed with (hash)MakeAmericaGreatAgain. During the anthem, a fan held a cardboard sign that said ''Cincy Stands For The Anthem.'' It was the first game at Paul Brown Stadium since President Donald Trump tweeted that players should be fired if they protest during the anthem, prompting a pushback from players and some team owners. Bills and Bengals players all stood.
INJURIES
Bills: WR Jordan Matthews already was sidelined by a broken thumb. TE Charles Clay hurt his left knee when he was tackled in the first half and didn't put weight on it as he was helped to the bench. He didn't return.
Bengals: The Bengals lost starting cornerbacks Dre Kirkpatrick (right shoulder) and Adam ''Pacman'' Jones (lower back) to injuries in the first half. WR Tyler Boyd hurt his right knee in the first quarter and didn't return.
UP NEXT
Bills: Following their bye, the Bills host Tampa Bay and Oakland in the next two weeks.
Bengals: Following their bye, they play at Pittsburgh. The Bengals have lost four straight and seven of eight against the Steelers, including a first-round playoff game in the 2015 season.
---
For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
Copyright 2017 by STATS. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS is strictly prohibited.
T. Taylor
2 QB 166 PaYds, PaTD, INT, 3 RuYds |
10
FPTS
|
|
A. Green
18 WR 189 ReYds, ReTD, 7 RECs |
22
FPTS
|
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | - | - |
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Red Zone Eff. | 0-0 -0% | 0-0 -0% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 0-0 -0% | 0-0 -0% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
T. TaylorÂ
5 QB
10 FPTS
|
T. Taylor | 20/37 | 166 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
L. McCoyÂ
25 RB
8 FPTS
|
L. McCoy | 19 | 63 | 0 | 14 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. TolbertÂ
35 FB
2 FPTS
|
M. Tolbert | 3 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. TaylorÂ
5 QB
10 FPTS
|
T. Taylor | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. ClayÂ
13 WR
0 FPTS
|
K. Clay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
N. O'LearyÂ
84 TE
5 FPTS
|
N. O'Leary | 6 | 5 | 54 | 0 | 19 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. ClayÂ
85 TE
3 FPTS
|
C. Clay | 3 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 24 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. McCoyÂ
25 RB
8 FPTS
|
L. McCoy | 9 | 6 | 26 | 0 | 7 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. TateÂ
15 WR
8 FPTS
|
B. Tate | 4 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 13 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. TolbertÂ
35 FB
2 FPTS
|
M. Tolbert | 3 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. JonesÂ
11 WR
0 FPTS
|
Z. Jones | 6 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. ThomasÂ
82 TE
0 FPTS
|
L. Thomas | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. ClayÂ
13 WR
0 FPTS
|
K. Clay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. HolmesÂ
18 WR
0 FPTS
|
A. Holmes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
S. WrightÂ
20 DB
|
S. Wright | 8-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. AlexanderÂ
57 OLB
|
L. Alexander | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. BrownÂ
52 MLB
|
P. Brown | 4-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. PoyerÂ
21 FS
|
J. Poyer | 3-0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. ThorntonÂ
91 DT
|
C. Thornton | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. HydeÂ
23 SS
|
M. Hyde | 2-4 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. WhiteÂ
27 CB
|
T. White | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. HolmesÂ
18 WR
|
A. Holmes | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. ThomasÂ
29 DB
|
S. Thomas | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. DareusÂ
99 DT
|
M. Dareus | 1-1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. JohnsonÂ
24 DB
|
L. Johnson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. HughesÂ
55 DE
|
J. Hughes | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. WebbÂ
14 QB
|
J. Webb | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. TateÂ
15 WR
|
B. Tate | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. O'LearyÂ
84 TE
|
N. O'Leary | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. JonesÂ
7 RB
|
T. Jones | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. MilanoÂ
58 OLB
|
M. Milano | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. WashingtonÂ
92 DE
|
A. Washington | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. ElstonÂ
36 DB
|
T. Elston | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. WilliamsÂ
95 DT
|
K. Williams | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. LawsonÂ
90 DE
|
S. Lawson | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
S. HauschkaÂ
4 K
10 FPTS
|
S. Hauschka | 3/3 | 38 | 1/1 | 10 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
C. SchmidtÂ
6 P
|
C. Schmidt | 7 | 45.0 | 3 | 51 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
B. TateÂ
15 WR
8 FPTS
|
B. Tate | 1 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
B. Tate 15 WR
8 FPTS
|
B. Tate | 2 | 20.5 | 40 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
A. DaltonÂ
14 QB
15 FPTS
|
A. Dalton | 22/36 | 328 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. MixonÂ
28 RB
11 FPTS
|
J. Mixon | 15 | 51 | 1 | 12 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. HillÂ
32 RB
1 FPTS
|
J. Hill | 4 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. BernardÂ
25 RB
3 FPTS
|
G. Bernard | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. DaltonÂ
14 QB
15 FPTS
|
A. Dalton | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. EricksonÂ
12 WR
1 FPTS
|
A. Erickson | 1 | -6 | 0 | -6 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
A. GreenÂ
18 WR
22 FPTS
|
A. Green | 13 | 7 | 189 | 1 | 77 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. KroftÂ
81 TE
3 FPTS
|
T. Kroft | 5 | 4 | 38 | 0 | 15 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. LaFellÂ
11 WR
3 FPTS
|
B. LaFell | 8 | 5 | 32 | 0 | 16 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
G. BernardÂ
25 RB
3 FPTS
|
G. Bernard | 2 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 18 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. UzomahÂ
87 TE
2 FPTS
|
C. Uzomah | 2 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 21 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. EricksonÂ
12 WR
1 FPTS
|
A. Erickson | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. BoydÂ
83 WR
0 FPTS
|
T. Boyd | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. CarterÂ
82 TE
0 FPTS
|
C. Carter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
V. BurfictÂ
55 OLB
|
V. Burfict | 10-3 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. VigilÂ
59 OLB
|
N. Vigil | 4-5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. JohnsonÂ
90 DE
|
M. Johnson | 4-0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. MinterÂ
51 MLB
|
K. Minter | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. IlokaÂ
43 FS
|
G. Iloka | 3-2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. WillisÂ
75 DE
|
J. Willis | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. AtkinsÂ
97 DT
|
G. Atkins | 3-1 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. DennardÂ
21 CB
|
D. Dennard | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. WilliamsÂ
36 SS
|
S. Williams | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. FejedelemÂ
42 SS
|
C. Fejedelem | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. CarterÂ
82 TE
|
C. Carter | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. JacksonÂ
22 CB
|
W. Jackson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. BernardÂ
25 RB
|
G. Bernard | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. BolingÂ
65 G
|
C. Boling | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. GlasgowÂ
98 DT
|
R. Glasgow | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. KirkpatrickÂ
27 CB
|
D. Kirkpatrick | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. ShawÂ
26 CB
|
J. Shaw | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. MixonÂ
28 RB
|
J. Mixon | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. LawsonÂ
58 DE
|
C. Lawson | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. JonesÂ
24 CB
|
A. Jones | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. DunlapÂ
96 DE
|
C. Dunlap | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
R. BullockÂ
4 K
8 FPTS
|
R. Bullock | 2/2 | 30 | 2/2 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
K. HuberÂ
10 P
|
K. Huber | 4 | 46.8 | 3 | 48 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. EricksonÂ
12 WR
1 FPTS
|
A. Erickson | 3 | 25.7 | 27 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. Erickson 12 WR
1 FPTS
|
A. Erickson | 4 | 1.0 | 5 | 0 |