2011 redux

[BengalChris]

(09-20-2019, 06:27 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Bengals coming off two straight losses (the last one to the Forty-niners) struggling with a losing record early in the first weeks of the season.  

Buffalo Bills are undefeated when they roll into PBS.

Sound familiar?

That was 2011.  Bengals were 1-2, Bills were 3-0 and coming off a huge upset of the Patriots.  No one gave the Bengals much of  chance.  IN fact most experts considered the Bengals one of the worst teams in the league.

Things looked bleak in the first half when Andy threw 2 interceptions with one of them returned for a TD.  They went to the locker room down 17-3.  The hometown fans were surly and talking of a long loosing season ahead.  But then the entire season turned around.

Bengals took the opening kickoff and easily drove 78 yds for a FG.  The run game started clicking (Benson 4 car 43 yds) and Dalton connected with Green on a 40 yarder.  Bengal D forced a three-and-out, then on the next possession the offense drove 78 yards in just 7 plays capped off with a 17 yard Dalton to Gresham td.  The crowd became energized.

Bills got a FG early in the 4th quarter to take a 20-13 led, but a Dalton 3 yard run tied the game with 4 minutes left.  The Bills Fred Jackson came into that game averaging 101.0 rushing yards per games and 6.5 per carry, but on a crucial 2nd and 3 Rey Maualuga burst through and dropped him for a three yards loss.  Fitzpatrick misfired on third down and the Bengals got the ball back on their own 19 with just 1:48 left.

Rookie QB Andy Dalton came into that game 29th in passing yards and 22nd in passer rating.  The only game the Bengals had won so far was thanks to a 14 point comeback against the lowly Browns led by Bruce Gradkowski while Dalton was on the bench.  But Bengal fans were about to see the first example of how Andy Dalton could put together a 4th quarter game-winning drive in a pressure situation.  He hit Simpson for 17 and Leonard for 14.  He converted a big third and three with a run.  and on the final play of the game Nugent hit a 43 yarder to win it.

Dalton finished with 298 passing yards and 2 tds (1 run, 1 pass).  It was the first victory in a 5 game winning streak that led to the Bengals making the playoffs.