ATLANTA (AP) — Watching from the Cincinnati sideline
Jessie Bates Jersey , Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick couldn't stop smiling as he watched Bengals receivers Tyler Boyd and A.J. Green shred the Atlanta
Falcons‘ secondary on the game-winning drive."They went crazy," Kirkpatrick
said. "Watching them do what they do puts big smiles on everybody's faces. This
is what it's about."Andy Dalton threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Green with 7
seconds remaining, lifting Cincinnati to a 37-36 win over the Falcons on Sunday
in a game that extends the first-place Bengals' strong start. Dalton completed
four passes to Boyd, including two on fourth downs, as he moved the Bengals 75
yards on 16 plays in about four minutes.Green, the former University of Georgia
star making his first return to the state of Georgia, made a diving catch in the
right side of the end zone to cap the drive. He had four catches for 78
yards.Running back Joe Mixon, who missed his second straight game for Cincinnati
while recovering from knee surgery, ran down the sideline to celebrate with
Green in the end zone."Every time we were in the huddle we were encouraging each
other and saying we've got to find a way," said tight end C.J. Uzomah. "We made
it happen."Giovani Bernard ran for 69 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati
(3-1).Kirkpatrick said the Bengals are "fighting for each other, standing up for
each other, believing in each other. In previous years, we haven't had
that."Matt Ryan continued his resurgence by throwing three scoring passes,
including two to rookie Calvin Ridley, for the Falcons.As was the case last
week
John Ross Jersey , when he had his first career game with five touchdown passes in a 43-37 overtime loss to New Orleans, Ryan had too little support from
a defense missing three injured starters, despite three sacks from Takk McKinley
.The Falcons (1-3) topped 30 points for the third straight week. Ryan, the 2016
NFL MVP, has thrown eight touchdown passes in his past two weeks and has 10
through four games after throwing only 20 in 2017.Falcons coach Dan Quinn said
his team lacks the instinct needed "to close the door" with a lead. "We're going
to develop that instinct," he said. "We do not have it as we need it right
now."The Bengals, protecting at least a share of the AFC North lead, have
enjoyed a strong start despite playing three of their first four games on the
road. They play six of their next eight at home.Atlanta's Matt Bryant, who
kicked three field goals, including a 55-yard field goal in the second quarter,
was good from 32 yards to give the Falcons a 36-31 lead with 4:15 remaining.That
was too much time for Dalton, who completed 29 of 41 passes for 336 yards and
three touchdowns and one interception.Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert had four
catches for 38 yards, including a 15-yard scoring catch in the first quarter,
before suffering a gruesome lower right leg injury early in the third
quarter.Eifert, the team's third-leading receiver entering the game
Ryan Finley Cincinnati Bengals Jersey , caught a 2-yard pass and was tackled by De'Vondre Campbell and Jack Crawford. Eifert brought his hands up to his helmet
as he was on his back in obvious pain. His leg stabilized by the medical staff,
Eifert received encouragement from teammates before he was carted off the
field.INJURY REPORTBengals halfback Mark Walton did not return and was being
treated for a possible concussion after a helmet-to-helmet penalty hit by Brian
Poole near the end of the third. Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett had an
ankle injury late in the fourth and did not return.RISING STARKirkpatrick talked
during the week about winning bragging rights with fellow former Alabama star
Julio Jones, who had nine catches for 173 yards. Kirkpatrick was impressed with
Ridley, another former Alabama player who had four catches for 54 yards. Ridley
had scoring catches of 11 and 30 yards, giving him five in his past two games
and six for the season."That Ridley kid, the boy is about to take the NFL by
storm," Kirkpatrick said. "That boy if not this year, if not next year, he's
definitely going to be top 10 in the league."PRESIDENTIAL VISITFormer President
Jimmy Carter was given a No. 39 Falcons jersey, as the 39th U.S. president. In a
pregame ceremony, Carter was presented a birthday cake by team owner Arthur
Blank one day before Carter's 94th birthday.Carter also rang the pregame train
horn and yelled "Rise Up" to Falcons fans.MENDINGEach team was without its top
running back. Devonta Freeman missed his third straight game for Atlanta with a
sore right knee. Mixon was held out for the second straight week for the Bengals
after having debris removed from his right knee.LONG TIMEThe Bengals lead the
series 9-5 following their first win in Atlanta since a 16-10 victory on Nov.
15, 1987, at old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.UP NEXTBengals: host Miami
Dolphins next Sunday.Falcons: Visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in first
road game since opening season at Philadelphia. We’ll get a longer look at the
starters in the Bengals’ second preseason game. Here’s what you should be
watching for." AnalysisBengals vs. Redskins: 5 things to watch for
New,35commentsWe’ll get a longer look at the starters in the Bengals’ second
preseason game. Here’s what you should be watching for. EDTThe more things
change, the more they stay the same.That certainly seemed to hold true for the
Cincinnati Bengals’ defense Saturday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. Last
season. Cincinnati’s defense finished dead last in the NFL in yards per games
(413.6) and 30th in points per game (28.4).To kickoff the preseason
Ryan Finley Jersey 2019 , the Bengals surrendered 400 yards and 38 points, including a seven-play 83-yard touchdown drive to the Chiefs’ first-team
offense. So when you start looking at the biggest storylines going into Thursday
night’s game at the Washington Redskins, you have to begin with the defense. And
while the linebacker position continues to earn the most scrutiny, another area
on the defense is where we focus our attention first.Strong SafetyShawn Williams
has always been something of a liability in coverage. In the past, he had made
up for that with his ability to stop the run. Today’s game is changing, and both
safeties need to be equally adept against both the run and the pass.On Saturday
night, Williams looked completely lost. Nowhere was that more apparent than on
the deep pass to Travis Kelce that resulted in a 36-yard gain as the Chiefs
drove to a score on their opening possession. Williams was in position to make a
play on the ball, but had no idea where it was. Our own Matt Minich broke down
the play in his weekly film review.Normally, Clayton Fejedelem would be subbing
in for Williams as the backup strong safety, but the fourth-year special teams
ace won’t play this week due to an ankle injury he suffered in Kansas City. This
may force the defense to rely more on Brandon Wilson in this game. Wilson has
mainly played free safety behind Jessie Bates III during training camp and
played most of his snaps there against the Chiefs. Fejedelem and Wilson share
similarities as athletes, and Wilson can increase his hold on a roster spot by
showing versatility by playing more in the box along with patrolling deep
zones.LinebackerEnough has been said about the presumed starters among this
group – Nick Vigil, Preston Brown and Jordan Evans. But at least two other
players from the rest of this group are going to have to step up if the Bengals
hope for a reversal of last season’s dismal performance.Germaine Pratt, Malik
Jefferson, Hardy Nickerson and Deshaun Davis remain the quartet with the best
chance of finding their names on the final roster, but someone needs to step up
in a hurry.Of those four
Color Rush Ryan Finley Jersey , Pratt has the best chance to overtake Evans when the defense goes to a heavy base featuring three linebackers. His game against
Kansas City featured its ups and downs, but hopefully the game starts slowing
down for the rookie.Unfortunately for Jefferson, the game never slowed down for
him in his first year last season. This year has started much the same way and
Jefferson is rapidly running out of chances.Nickerson improved his case by
causing the defense’s only turnover last week with his first career
interception, preseason or regular season. It’s clear that this new coaching
staff appreciates Nickerson’s mental aptitude at the position, but bad athletes
don’t just become good ones. This is where Davis can showcase he’s an upgrade,
but he’s playing from behind. These four will continue having plenty of eyes on
them until one really starts to stand out. Offensive LineWhat the final
permutation of this group is going to look like on opening day is anyone’s
guess. John Jerry played the lion’s share of snaps at left guard, but his
lackluster performance lead to Michael Jordan earning a chance to run with the
1s this week at practice. The 21-year old rookie may very well be given the
chance to run away with the competition this week.Even the center position is up
in the air. Billy Price, last year’s first-round selection, was the presumptive
starter coming in to the season. The new regime under Zac Taylor has its own
ideas. Trey Hopkins, who looked good filling in when Price was injured last
year, got plenty of work there Saturday night, and continued to look like he
belongs. Will Hopkins be the first center we see on the field after practicing
next to Jordan with the 1s earlier this week?Running BackWith no Joe Mixon,
Giovani Bernard or Rodney Anderson, the trio of Trayveon Williams, Jordan Ellis
and Quinton Flowers rushed for a combined 11 carries against the Chiefs. A safe
bet would be that the Bengals exceed that many rushes against Washington.
Fortunately
Cheap Ryan Finley Jersey , they’ll have more bodies to do so.Mixon and Bernard are both expected to play after being sidelined due to leg injuries for most of last
week. Williams was the next man up and got the start but unfortunately left the
game due to bruised ribs, but that won’t keep him out of this contest. The only
back not expected to play is Anderson, whom Taylor expects to play next week
against the New York Giants. While he remains out, Ellis and Flowers have the
most to gain against Washington, as they’re likely competing for a practice
squad spot assuming no further injuries arise at the position. Expect Ellis to
see the field before Flowers, like he did last week.QuarterbackIt’s all about
the reserves. Jeff Driskel was given the first chance to roll with the second
string in Week 1 and turned in a subpar performance, albeit behind a disastrous
offensive line. Ryan Finley followed him and has now taken the lead in the
seemingly annual race to become Andy Dalton’s backup.Driskel’s best chance of
making the team involved Finley struggling to the point where keeping three
quarterbacks would be necessary. If the rookie finishes the preseason strong,
Driskel’s value diminishes almost entirely, which is why the team started
experimenting him at wide receiver once more recently.Expect Finley to get the
first reps after Dalton leaves the field, and expect Driskel to play with a
little more urgency after him.
