Three takeaways from the Cincinnati Bengals’ win over the Atlanta Falcons
.JPG "Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)")
Three takeaways from the Cincinnati Bengals’ 35-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Paycor Stadium:
1. Joe Burrow unleashes his brilliance
Remember, Joe Burrow underwent an appendectomy on the eve of the Cincinnati Bengals training camp. He missed a chunk of practice time. He didn’t take snap in a preseason game. Thus it was reasonable to expect the team’s star quarterback might start a bit slowly in 2022.
Ah, but seven games into this NFL season, Burrow is humming now. Last Sunday’s comeback 30-26 win at the New Orleans Saints was a teaser. This Sunday brought living proof.
The stats: Burrow was 21 of 25 for 345 yards and three passing touchdowns in the first half alone; 34 of 42 for 481 yards and three scores for the game.
True, Atlanta arrived with a secondary in shambles. Losing cornerback A.J. Terrell in the first quarter didn’t help the Falcons’ cause, but Burrow seized on the visitors’ vulnerabilities. He hit Tyler Boyd for a 60-yard touchdown on the game’s fourth play from scrimmage. It was a tone=setter. The Bengals scored touchdowns on their first four possessions. By half, Burrow had completed five different strikes for 20-plus yards.
Head coach Zac Taylor went out of his way to compliment the Bengals’ much-maligned offensive line.
“They gave outstanding protection,” Taylor said. “Especially given the amount of passes we threw.”
Burrow concurred, but the fact is when the third-year pro is locked and loaded, he’s one of the best in the game at what he does.
“We threw a lot of different looks at him, and he just knows where to go with it,” Falcons Coach Arthur Smith said.
“When he gets in rhythm, watch out,” Taylor said. “He’s tough to stop.”
2. Let’s not overlook Burrow’s terrific targets
Said the quarterback, “We have three No. 1 receivers.”
And the Bengals came oh-so-close to have three receivers gain over 100 yards in receptions. Two got there.
The previously mentioned Boyd finished with 155 yards on eight grabs, including that 60-yard scoring shot just two minutes into the contest. Ja’Marr Chase caught eight passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns — a 32-yarder on the first play of the second quarter and a 41-yarder with just 49 seconds left before halftime.
Tee Higgins ended up 93 yards on five catches. Four of his five catches went for first downs.
“We were trying to get it for him but it didn’t work out,” Burrow said. “Hopefully, we’ll get a game where all three get 100-yard days.”
Sunday was Chase’s second consecutive triple-digit outing. Over his last two games, the former LSU star has caught 15 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns.
“If we get man (coverage), I think everybody knows where the ball is going,” Burrow said.
Meanwhile, Boyd’s 155 yards was a career-high. His early shot-play touchdown set the tone, but his most impressive play was a one-hand catch between a pair of defenders for a 20-yard gain late in the first quarter.
“We have some really good players on the outside,” Burrow said.
3. After an 0-2 start, the Bengals are above .500
Two weeks into the season, the defending AFC champions sat 0-2. They had lost at home to Mitch Trubisky and Pittsburgh. They had lost on the road to Cooper Rush and Dallas. Not exactly a pair of Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
“I hope you remember I sat here and said the season is young,” Taylor said Sunday.
Indeed, the Bengals have now won four of five. They are 4-3 and tied with Baltimore for first place in the AFC North heading into next Monday night’s game at Cleveland.
Give credit to the Bengals’ defense. Where the Cincinnati offense needed time to find its gear, its defense has now gone all seven games this season without allowing a touchdown in the second half.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Down 20-14 at halftime to the Saints, coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense gave up a pair of field goals in the final two quarters as the Cincinnati offense scored 16 points.
Sunday, the Falcons hit on two big plays in the final 39 seconds of the first half. First, Marcus Mariota threw a perfect strike to a streaking Damiere Byrd for a 75-yard TD. Then Atlanta turned Avery Williams’ 57-yard punt into a field goal at the horn. After that, however, the Falcons managed zilch in the second half. In fact, they snapped the football just once in Cincinnati territory.
Taylor said he awarded a game ball to the entire defense “for what they’ve done the last seven weeks.”
Total yards: Bengals 537, Falcons 214.
Said Burrow, “I thought this was a pretty complete game.”
This story was originally published October 23, 2022 at 5:22 PM.
