12-05-2021, 11:43 AM
Before the season started I felt this was one area where were pretty solid. Brandon Wilson has been one of the best KO return men in the league and I felt Phillips would provide a spark at PR. We have not been really bad at returns (PR-17th, KR-19th), but we have not gotten any key game changing plays. Brandon had a big Kick return against the Packers, but it did not lead to point.
It seems that over the last 20 years when the Bengals have playoff seasons they have gotten big plays at crucial moments of big games. The following list is not ALL of the big returns the Bengals have had. These are just really big plays that have effected the outcome of the games in playoff seasons. Only one of them came in a loss, but that '15 game with the Cards was huge and we should have at least forced overtime.
Tab Perry
2005 Steelers (Super Bowl Champions)... Steelers score TD in third quarter to tie game 24-24. Perry returns kick off 94 yards to set up 3 yards TD drive for lead that Bengals never relinquish. Win 38-31
Quan Cosby
2009 Packers (NFC Wildcard)... Bengals trail 14-7 in 2nd quarter when Cosby's 60 yard punt return sets up tying TD drive of just 12 yards. Bengals win by 7.
Bernard Scott
2009 Steelers... 6-2 Bengals play 6-2 Steelers at Heinz Field for first place in the division. Bengals win 18-12 without scoring an offensive TD thanks to Scott's 96 yard kick return td.
Brandon Tate
2011 Rams... Tied 6-6 just a minute away from the 4th quarter Tate's 56 yard punt return sets up the Bengals to score their first TD on just an 18 yard drive. We hold on to win by 3. This was actually a very big win that season. The Bengals were on the road and reeling. After starting the season 6-2 they had gone 1-4 and at 7-6 looked like they were fading out of the playoff discussion.
2013 Bills... 29 yard punt return in overtime sets up Bengals game winning FG after just 8 yard drive.
2014 Broncos (AFCW Champs)... Trailing 27-28 with 7:30 left in 4th quarter Tate's 49 yard punt return sets up game winning FG after just 7 yard drive.
2015 Cardinals (NFCW Champs)... Cards kick FG to take 10 point lead with just 6:30 left in 4th quarter. Tate returns kick off 58 yards to set up short TD drive for Bengals.
Adam Jones
2012 Browns...81yd punt return TD in 7 point win over Browns
2014 Panthers (NFCS Champs)... 97yd Kick off return with less than 5 minutes left with Bengals trailing by 7. Set up game tying TD. Final 37-37
2014 Broncos (AFCW Champs)... Denver takes advantage of long kick return to score a TD just 45 seconds into the second half and pull within one score 14-20. Pac answers with an 80 kick off return. Bengals score a TD in 3 plays to stretch the lead to 13. It was the Bengal's last offensive TD of the game, but they come from behind to win in the 4th quarter in one of the most exciting prime time victories in Bengal history. (See Brandon Tate above)
2015 Seahawks (NFC Wild card)... Bengals trail 24-7 in 4th quarter. Pac sparks a comeback with a 35 yard punt return that set up a 33 yard td drive in just 4 plays. In overtime his 19 yard punt return allowed the Bengals to kick the game winning FG after just a 32 yard drive.
It seems that over the last 20 years when the Bengals have playoff seasons they have gotten big plays at crucial moments of big games. The following list is not ALL of the big returns the Bengals have had. These are just really big plays that have effected the outcome of the games in playoff seasons. Only one of them came in a loss, but that '15 game with the Cards was huge and we should have at least forced overtime.
Tab Perry
2005 Steelers (Super Bowl Champions)... Steelers score TD in third quarter to tie game 24-24. Perry returns kick off 94 yards to set up 3 yards TD drive for lead that Bengals never relinquish. Win 38-31
Quan Cosby
2009 Packers (NFC Wildcard)... Bengals trail 14-7 in 2nd quarter when Cosby's 60 yard punt return sets up tying TD drive of just 12 yards. Bengals win by 7.
Bernard Scott
2009 Steelers... 6-2 Bengals play 6-2 Steelers at Heinz Field for first place in the division. Bengals win 18-12 without scoring an offensive TD thanks to Scott's 96 yard kick return td.
Brandon Tate
2011 Rams... Tied 6-6 just a minute away from the 4th quarter Tate's 56 yard punt return sets up the Bengals to score their first TD on just an 18 yard drive. We hold on to win by 3. This was actually a very big win that season. The Bengals were on the road and reeling. After starting the season 6-2 they had gone 1-4 and at 7-6 looked like they were fading out of the playoff discussion.
2013 Bills... 29 yard punt return in overtime sets up Bengals game winning FG after just 8 yard drive.
2014 Broncos (AFCW Champs)... Trailing 27-28 with 7:30 left in 4th quarter Tate's 49 yard punt return sets up game winning FG after just 7 yard drive.
2015 Cardinals (NFCW Champs)... Cards kick FG to take 10 point lead with just 6:30 left in 4th quarter. Tate returns kick off 58 yards to set up short TD drive for Bengals.
Adam Jones
2012 Browns...81yd punt return TD in 7 point win over Browns
2014 Panthers (NFCS Champs)... 97yd Kick off return with less than 5 minutes left with Bengals trailing by 7. Set up game tying TD. Final 37-37
2014 Broncos (AFCW Champs)... Denver takes advantage of long kick return to score a TD just 45 seconds into the second half and pull within one score 14-20. Pac answers with an 80 kick off return. Bengals score a TD in 3 plays to stretch the lead to 13. It was the Bengal's last offensive TD of the game, but they come from behind to win in the 4th quarter in one of the most exciting prime time victories in Bengal history. (See Brandon Tate above)
2015 Seahawks (NFC Wild card)... Bengals trail 24-7 in 4th quarter. Pac sparks a comeback with a 35 yard punt return that set up a 33 yard td drive in just 4 plays. In overtime his 19 yard punt return allowed the Bengals to kick the game winning FG after just a 32 yard drive.
