The Cincinnati Bengals showed fight at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, but the same theme that has defined their season resurfaced again … too many missed chances, too many injuries, and not enough closing power in the final minutes. Cincinnati fell 26-20 to the AFC-leading New England Patriots, extending its slump to eight losses in its last nine games.
It didn’t start poorly.
The Bengals jumped out to a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter behind a strong defensive stand, a short touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Mitchell Tinsley, and a booming 63-yard field goal from Evan McPherson, the longest in franchise history and the first 60-plus yarder ever made by a Bengals kicker. Cincinnati looked sharp, confident, and prepared to pull off an upset.
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But New England flipped the script with two second-quarter touchdowns. Drake Maye hit Hunter Henry for a 28-yard score, and on the next Cincinnati possession, corner Marcus Jones jumped a Flacco out route and returned it 33 yards for a pick-six, the second of his career, both against the Bengals.
Suddenly, Cincinnati’s 10-0 lead evaporated into a 14-10 deficit.
The Bengals hung in thanks to a strong day from Chase Brown, who racked up 107 yards on 19 carries in his most impressive game of the season. Geno Stone added a spark with his own 33-yard interception return for a touchdown, keeping the Bengals within striking distance as the fourth quarter ticked down.
But after Andy Borregales drilled a 52-yard field goal to give New England a 26-20 lead with under two minutes to play, Cincinnati needed one more drive.
Flacco moved the Bengals to the New England 26, but his fourth-down throw intended for Mike Gesicki fell incomplete with 18 seconds remaining. The Bengals’ comeback bid ended there.
The team continues to operate short-handed. Ja’Marr Chase was unavailable due to a one-game suspension for last week’s incident with Jalen Ramsey, Tee Higgins exited late with a concussion, and multiple defenders were sidelined as the game progressed.
There is one piece of optimism: Joe Burrow practiced this week and is expected to return for Thursday night’s divisional matchup in Baltimore. At 3-8, Cincinnati’s postseason hopes are all but mathematically gone — but with Burrow nearing a return, the final stretch at least offers a chance to reset the trajectory of a frustrating season.
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