With the 2016 NFL season officially underway, my Cincinnati
Bengals are once again looking to end the playoff win draught that has plagued
the Queen City for over 25 years. Being a lifelong Bengals fan, I have seen it
all. I was a kid during the Dark Ages of the 1990s, and I have experienced the
renaissance of this franchise during the Marvin Lewis era. I have seen dramatic
comebacks and primetime meltdowns. I experienced the lowest of lows during the
2015 playoff implosion, but I have also experienced the highest of highs such
as the 17 point comeback against the Seattle Seahawks. In fact, that is my
all-time favorite Bengals game, and in this post, I will explain why.
The game between the Seahawks and my beloved Bengals
happened during week 5 of the 2015 NFL season. The Bengals were riding a huge
wave of momentum after sprinting out of the gates to a 4-0 start. The Seahawks
were the Super Bowl champs in 2013 as well as the reigning 2014 NFC champions.
This game had a big fight feel to it and was hyped in Cincinnati in the week
leading up to the battle on the gridiron. Needless to say, it delivered.
The Bengals got off to a hot start by scoring on their
opening drive and taking a 7-0 lead. The Seahawks responded later in the
quarter and dominated the Bengals throughout the rest of the half and the
entire third quarter. By the time the fourth and final quarter of play started,
the Bengals were on the wrong end of a 24-7 score with the Seahawks’ “Legion of
Boom” standing in their way. It was not looking good for Who Dey Nation.
Despite being down, the team was not out and still fought
with determination and the will to win. Quarterback Andy Dalton connected with
Tyler Eifert for a touchdown, Eifert’s second receiving touchdown of the game,
to cut the lead to 10. Then with a little over three and half minutes left in
the game, Dalton called an audible at the line of scrimmage and ran the ball
into the end zone from five yards out to bring the Bengals within three points.
Time was not on the home team’s side but the defense was able to force the
Seahawks to punt the ball. After Adam Jones’ punt return was called back after
a controversial fair catch call, the Bengals had one last shot to put points on
the board.
They moved the ball down the field on a methodical drive
that was highlighted by a tremendous diving catch by Tyler Eifert while the
clock continued to tick. After a scramble by Dalton fell short of the first
down marker, the offense rushed off the field as the special teams unit
sprinted on with no timeouts left to use. Kicker Mike Nugent kicked the ball as
time ran out, and the ball sailed through the uprights! The Bengals had tied
the game at 24-24 and forced overtime!
Overtime was very competitive as both teams’ defensives were
able to force stops. Neither team seemed able to break through and end the game
with a scoring drive…until the Bengals were able to string together a couple of
offensive plays that put them in a position to win the game. With a little over
three and a half minutes left in overtime, Nugent ran onto the field to attempt
a 42-yard field goal. The snap was good, the hold was good, and the kick began
to sail to the left of the uprights in midflight. The ball hit the left post
but banked in for the win! The stadium erupted with cheers, and I was going
nuts on my couch! My beloved Cincinnati Bengals climbed out of a 17-point hole
and defeated the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in overtime!
This was the most exciting Bengals game I have ever watched.
It was an emotional rollercoaster ride from start to finish, and by the time it
was over, I was exhausted. It was the peak of Bengals fever in 2015, and is one
of the first games I think about when discussing the 2015 Bengals teams. It is
my all-time favorite Bengals game as it had everything that makes the sport of
football so thrilling to watch. To see how incredible this game was, check out
the highlights here.
Who Dey!
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