Tag: Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals melt down in snow as Bills rally for 39-34 win

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Christian Benford returned a fourth-quarter interception for a touchdown as the Buffalo Bills kept pace in the playoff chase by rallying from a late 10-point deficit in the snow for a 39-34 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at Orchard Park, N.Y.

Down 28-25 with under six minutes remaining, Benford scored when he blitzed off the edge, made a leaping pick of Joe Burrow’s lob and dashed 63 yards for Buffalo’s first lead at 32-28.

AJ Epenesa picked off Burrow’s next throw, and Josh Allen hit Jackson Dawes on fourth down for a 3-yard score to lift Buffalo (9-4) to its fifth win in the past seven games.

Allen completed 22 of 28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed nine times for 78 yards, including a 40-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

Burrow completed 25 of 36 passes for 284 yards with four scores and two interceptions for Cincinnati (4-9), who lost ground in their AFC North playoff push. Chase Brown scored a pair of TDs, and Tee Higgins had six catches for 92 yards and two TDs.

The Bengals had a hot start as a snow flurry started. They converted four third downs and cashed in when Brown finished with a 5-yard rumble.

Buffalo answered with Matt Prater’s 26-yard field goal, but the Bengals kept up their march as Burrow tossed a 21-yard score to Higgins, who toe-tapped into the end zone’s side for a 14-3 lead with 13:33 remaining in the first half.

Allen tossed an 11-yard TD pass to Khalil Shakir then had a two-point conversion to Dawson Knox (six catches, 93 yards) to trim the deficit to 14-11.

Cincinnati had the half’s final response when Burrow found Brown, who hauled in a diving 10-yarder that was originally ruled short of the goal line but was overturned for a 21-11 advantage.

In the third quarter, the Bills struck first with 9:20 remaining when Allen fired a 5-yard scoring strike to Dalton Kincaid to pull within 21-18. They appeared to be headed for a first lead late in the quarter but Cook fumbled into the end zone and Oren Burks recovered.

Burrow connected on a 12-yard TD pass to Mike Gesicki, making it 28-18 with 8:44 remaining in the game, but Allen answered with a career-long 40-yard TD run just over a minute later.

Trailing 39-28, Cincinnati saw Burrow find Higgins from 25 yards for his second TD, but Allen was able to run out the clock after a 17-yard run on third down.

–Field Level Media

Ravens out to extend surge as Bengals welcome back Joe Burrow

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Joe Burrow is coming back from a toe injury, and people are questioning that decision, even though there are six games remaining in the regular season.

His Bengals are five games below .500 and have lost eight of their past nine games but Burrow doesn’t want to simply hang out on the sideline when Cincinnati visits the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.

“I’m a football player,” Burrow said Tuesday. “I’m not gonna ever go to somebody and say, ‘I’m healthy, but I don’t think I should go out there and play.’ That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.”

The Bengals (3-8) have very slim odds of reaching the playoffs and struggled with Jake Browning and Joe Flacco as starting quarterbacks after Burrow was injured in a Week 2 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Burrow had toe surgery, and there was concern he might miss the rest of the season.

But rehab efforts went smoothly and Burrow is ready to play in late November. As he prepares for the contest against Baltimore, there is a heavy chorus of comments suggesting he sit out the rest of the season to ensure he’s healthy for the 2026 campaign.

“I’m not going to live my life and play this game scared of something happening,” Burrow said. “Like, yeah, something is going to happen, it’s football. Guys are going to get hurt, guys are going to get concussions, you’re going to break bones, tear ligaments. It’s a physical, intense game. That’s part of this. Yeah, I’ve had injuries, there’s not a lot I can do about that.”

The two-time Pro Bowler isn’t the lone signal caller in this matchup who has had injury problems this season.

Baltimore (6-5) has been unable to keep Lamar Jackson in top health. After dealing with knee and ankle injuries, the two-time NFL MVP injured a toe in Sunday’s 23-10 victory over the New York Jets.

“I just got fell on, but I’m good though,” Jackson said Tuesday. “The toe’s good.”

Jackson has been hearing chatter about his drop in production.

Jackson has thrown more interceptions (two) than touchdowns (one) over the past three games, failing to reach 200 passing yards in each contest.

But Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Jackson is doing the job just fine.

“He’s been doing things you take for granted; you protect the football, or you operate the right way, or you get us down the field,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve had some key drives at the end of the game in the second half and in the fourth quarter that have been game winners for us and the offense. So, you may be referring to quote-unquote gaudy stats and things like that, but how about the fourth-quarter stats>”

Jackson could get going Thursday as the Bengals rank last in the NFL in scoring defense (32.7 points per game) and total defense (415.8 yards per game).

Last season, the teams engaged in two shootouts as the Ravens beat host Cincinnati 41-38 in overtime and won 35-34 in Baltimore.

“It’s crazy, we’d be scoring so fast,” Ravens wideout Zay Flowers recalled. “You’d be like, ‘(Dang), we just got off the field,’ then we’d be back on, then they’re on. You’re always warm, you’re always ready to go.”

Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase caught 21 passes for 457 yards and five touchdowns in the two games. He had 264 yards — two shy of his career high — in the one-point loss.

Chase was suspended for Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the New England Patriots for spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey one week earlier. Chase apologized for his actions on Monday.

“At the end of the day, I don’t really have nothing to prove about who I am,” Chase said Tuesday.

The Bengals will be without receiver Tee Higgins (concussion), who was injured against the Patriots, along with defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) and running back Tahj Brooks (concussion).

Baltimore safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) was injured Sunday but returned to practice Tuesday.

–Field Level Media

Drake Maye, Patriots hold Bengals at bay for 9th straight win

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Drake Maye completed 22 of 35 passes for 294 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and the New England Patriots held on for a 26-20 win over the host Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon.

Hunter Henry caught seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown for New England (10-2), which won its ninth game in a row. Andy Borregales made four field goals.

Joe Flacco completed 19 of 37 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Cincinnati (3-9). Chase Brown had 19 carries for 107 yards.

The Bengals pulled within 23-20 with 4:40 remaining in the fourth quarter. Flacco found Mitchell Tinsley for a 17-yard touchdown to make it a one-score game.

The Patriots increased their lead to 26-20 with 1:51 remaining as Borregales made a 52-yard kick.

Flacco tried to lead the Bengals to a late comeback, but the Bengals’ drive ended at the Patriots 26-yard line as his fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Neither team scored a touchdown in the first quarter. The only scoring belonged to Cincinnati, which took a 3-0 lead on a 54-yard field goal by Evan McPherson.

The Bengals relied on a defensive touchdown to increase their lead to 10-0 in the first minute of the second quarter. Safety Geno Stone intercepted a pass from Maye and returned it 32 yards to the end zone.

The Patriots scored on their next possession to pull within 10-7. Maye found Henry wide open down the left sideline for a 28-yard touchdown.

New England’s defense scored a touchdown less than two minutes later. Cornerback Marcus Jones jumped in front of Flacco’s pass and returned the interception 33 yards for the go-ahead score that put the Patriots on top 14-10.

Borregales added a 41-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 17-10 lead late in the half.

McPherson answered with a 63-yard field goal as time expired in the half to make it 17-13. The kick set a Bengals franchise record and marked a career long for McPherson.

The kicking trend continued in the third quarter, as Borregales drilled a 45-yarder to increase New England’s lead to 20-13.

Borregales chipped in a 19-yard kick to put the Patriots on top 23-13 with 5:55 left.

The Patriots lost a key starter on their offensive line due to injury. Left tackle Will Campbell sustained a leg injury and needed to be carted off the field late in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Steelers pound Bengals despite losing Aaron Rodgers to injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kyle Dugger returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown and Mason Rudolph relieved the injured Aaron Rodgers as the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the visiting Cincinnati Bengals 34-12 on Sunday.

The Steelers scored a pair of defensive touchdowns, sealing the game on James Pierre’s 34-yard fumble return with 3:22 left in the fourth quarter, to avenge their 33-31 loss to Cincinnati on Oct. 16.

Rudolph completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown for the Steelers (6-4). Joe Flacco finished 23-of-40 for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Bengals (3-7), who lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Rodgers completed 9 of 15 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown before his left hand was injured late in the first half.

After Rodgers’ exit, Rudolph converted third downs of 11 and 17 yards to set up Chris Boswell’s second field goal and give Pittsburgh a 13-9 lead.

Feeling pressure in the pocket, Flacco threw a pass over the middle for Tee Higgins that Dugger intercepted and returned for a long touchdown to extend the lead to 20-9.

The game featured two confrontations between Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey and Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, including one early in the fourth quarter.

With the Bengals forced to take a timeout and appearing to be in disarray on fourth-and-1 at the Pittsburgh 44, Ramsey grabbed Chase by the facemask and threw a punch, resulting in Ramsey being ejected. The two players remained on the field before Ramsey had to be escorted off.

The Steelers opened the game with an eight-play, 78-yard drive that was capped by an uncontested screen pass from Rodgers to running back Kenneth Gainwell in the left flat for an 11-yard touchdown. Pittsburgh’s other feature back, Jaylen Warren, ripped off a 35-yard run to the Cincinnati 12.

The Bengals answered with a 71-yard drive in nine plays. Flacco found Higgins for a 28-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline, giving Higgins a TD in four straight games and six in his last six games.

–Field Level Media

Report: Bengals DE Shemar Stewart (knee) lands on IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart is going on injured reserve with a knee injury, NFL Network reported on Saturday.

The first-round draft pick (17th overall) missed four games earlier this season with an ankle injury and now must sit out at least four more games.

Stewart, who turned 22 on Wednesday, has recorded six tackles and one quarterback hit in five games (four starts). He has played a total of 177 snaps on defense.

The Bengals (3-6) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4) on Sunday. Stewart’s earliest possible return would be in Week 15 against the visiting Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 14.

–Field Level Media

Bengals open practice window for QB Joe Burrow (toe)

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The Cincinnati Bengals on Monday opened the practice window for quarterback Joe Burrow, who has not played since Week 2 because of a toe injury that required surgery.

Burrow sustained a Grade 3 turf toe injury during a 31-27 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars that gave the Bengals a 2-0 record to start the season. He went on injured reserve and had surgery in September, with the team saying he would return at some point this season.

Since Burrow has been out, Cincinnati has gone 1-6 behind quarterbacks Jake Browning and Joe Flacco, who was acquired from the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 7 for a draft pick swap.

Burrow’s return to practice will be on a limited basis. The move opens a 21-day period where Burrow can practice with the team without counting against the 53-man active roster. He can be activated at any point during the 21 days.

Cincinnati, which is coming off its bye week, has upcoming games at Pittsburgh on Sunday, home against the New England Patriots on Nov. 23 and at Baltimore on Thanksgiving Day.

The toe injury has been another disappointing setback for Burrow, 28, already a two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year following a season-ending knee injury in 2020 and a season-ending wrist injury in 2023.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and currently the league’s all-time leader in completion percentage at 68.5 percent.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Shaka Heyward (50) runs throw an exercise during the second day of preseason training camp in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Report: Bengals LB Shaka Heyward has fractured fibula

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Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Shaka Heyward sustained a hairline fracture to his left fibula in Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets, NFL Network reported Monday.

Heyward, 25, will be sidelined at least four weeks and could be headed to injured reserve, per the report.

Primarily a special teams player, Heyward sustained the injury during the first half of the Bengals’ 39-38 home loss against the previously winless Jets.

Heyward has recorded 10 tackles in eight games this season. Undrafted out of Duke in 2023, he made his NFL debut with the Bengals last season and tallied six tackles and one forced fumble in six games.

Heyward is a cousin of defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and tight end Connor Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

–Field Level Media

Aug 7, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson (55) in the tunnel against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Report: Bengals captain Logan Wilson requests trade

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Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson has requested a trade while seeking more playing time, ESPN reported.

The team captain has started all seven games but has played just 73 percent of the defensive snaps, down sharply after playing at least 97 percent in each of the previous three campaigns.

Wilson, 29, ranks fifth on the team with 41 tackles as his role gradually has been ceded to rookies Demetrius Knight Jr. (50 tackles) and Barrett Carter (40).

Wilson played just 19.7 percent of the defensive snaps in the Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

He has two years remaining on a four-year, $36 million contract extension he signed in 2023.

Drafted by Cincinnati in the third round in 2020, Wilson has recorded 536 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 11 interceptions and six forced fumbles in 75 games (65 starts). He helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl during the 2021 season.

The Bengals (3-4) host the New York Jets (0-7) on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) watch the score board as their team lose to the Detroit Lions 24-37 at Paycor Stadium on October 5, 2025.

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase (illness) questionable vs. Packers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers due to an illness, head coach Zac Taylor announced Friday.

Chase hopes to be in the lineup for the spiraling Bengals (2-3), who will turn to veteran quarterback Joe Flacco on Sunday.

Flacco, 40, and a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft were acquired by Cincinnati from the Cleveland Browns this week in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the same draft.

Chase, 25, leads the team in catches (32), targets (45), receiving yards (374) and receiving touchdowns (three) in five games this season.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Chase led the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdown grabs (17) as well as yards per game (100.5) in 17 games (16 starts) last season.

Chase has 427 catches for 5,799 yards and 49 TDs in 67 regular-season games (66 starts) since being drafted with the fifth overall pick in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Nov 12, 2006; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back (32) Rudi Johnson runs against the San Diego Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium. The Chargers beat the Bengals 49-41. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images © copyright Matthew Emmons

Report: Former Bengals RB Rudi Johnson dies at 45

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Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson has died at age 45, TMZ Sports reported on Tuesday.

Police told the media outlet that Johnson died by suicide in Florida just after midnight on Tuesday.

A fourth-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2001, Johnson played seven seasons with the Bengals before finishing his career with the Detroit Lions in 2008. He set the Bengals’ single-season record with 1,458 rushing yards in 2005.

The 2004 Pro Bowl selection rushed for more than 1,300 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in three straight seasons from 2004-06.

Johnson concluded his career with 5,979 rushing yards and 49 TDs plus 113 catches for 676 yards and two scores in 95 games (63 starts). He ranks fourth on Cincinnati’s all-time rushing list behind Corey Dillon, James Brooks and Joe Mixon.

Johnson was named the 2000 SEC Player of the Year after rushing for 1,567 yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 games in his lone season at Auburn.

–Field Level Media