Firing at Their Own Feet

The final game of the NFL season was a battle between two teams that love to hate each other. On one side of the field you have the Cincinnati Bengals, a team who pulled off an incredible upset against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, the reigning and defending American Football Conference champions in a huge Monday Night primetime battle that clinched a playoff spot for the Bengals for the fourth straight year. On the other side of the field you have the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team that has bullied the Bengals the past few years and that every member of Who Dey Nation despises with a passion. It was an AFC North Division battle with the AFC North Division crown on the line. The game was a hard-hitting war that ultimately came down to what team committed the fewest mistakes. Unfortunately for the Queen City, the Bengals shot themselves in the feet one too many times as the Steelers defeated the Bengals and captured the AFC North Division Championship.

The Bengals were their own worst enemy as they committed too many errors that contributed to their downfall on Sunday night. The most obvious mistake that plagued the Bengals all night was the turnovers. The Bengals had three the entire game, and the all cost the Bengals points. The first turnover occurred when the Bengals were driving toward the end zone. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton threw a ball down the sideline that was intended for Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green who, for some odd reason, cut the route, which resulted in the ball being overthrown by a mile. Waiting for the ball was Steelers cornerback Brice McCain. He intercepted the ball, effectively ending the Bengals’ offensive drive and preventing the Bengals from scoring.

While Green gets the blame for the first interception by cutting off the route, the second turnover was Dalton’s fault. He threw the ball way too high and completely missed a wide-open Green who only managed to tip the pass. The ball fell once again into the hands of McCain for his second interception of the game.

The third turnover was the most costly of not only the game, but perhaps the season. The Bengals were down by three points late in the game and had put together a steady offensive drive that was set up when Bengals wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher picked off a pass thrown by Steelers punter Brad Wing during a fake punt attempt. The Bengals had momentum, and it looked like they were at least going to tie the game. Dalton connected with Green for a 17-yard pass play that would have put the Bengals on the Steelers 31 yard line. However, Green did not tuck the ball in to his body as he fought for extra yards and had it stripped by Steelers cornerback Antwon Blake. Blake recovered the fumble, which set up a scoring drive for the Steelers that put the game and the AFC North Divison title out of reach for the Bengals. Green took a shot to the head during the play and left the game. Early reports indicated that Green suffered a concussion. This is in an injury that could be devastating for the men in the black and orange stripes during wild card weekend should Green not be cleared to play.

The turnovers were not the only reasons why the Bengals lost. Bengals kicker Mike Nugent missed a field goal, the special teams allowed Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown to return a punt for a touchdown, and their overall inability to stop the Killer B’s of the Steelers all contributed to the loss.

Up next for the Bengals is a playoff game against the AFC South Division Champions, the Indianapolis Colts. The last time these two teams played, the Bengals were embarrassed as the Colts shut them out in a 27-0 manhandling in Indianapolis. However, that was in October. The season starts anew in January as the playoffs begin, and I believe the Bengals will permanently bury the memory of that October meeting with the Colts by finally winning in the playoffs for the first time since the 1990 season. Keep the faith Who Dey Nation! The Super Bowl Championship run beings now!

Who Dey!