The Bengals-Payments rematch coming subsequent week nearly didn’t occur.
Each groups squeaked previous undermanned opponents on Sunday, beating backup quarterbacks to advance to the AFC divisional spherical.
First, the Payments blew a 17-0 lead in opposition to Miami and needed to rally for a 34-31 victory. Then, the Bengals had been 1 yard from trailing the Ravens within the fourth quarter earlier than Sam Hubbard returned a fumble 98 yards for the decisive rating, and Cincinnati barely held on for a 24-17 victory.
This time, the Bengals will go to Buffalo. They met in Cincinnati on Jan. 2, when the sport was stopped after Payments security Damar Hamlin collapsed within the first quarter and wanted to be resuscitated on the sector. Hamlin is house following a exceptional restoration.
The Payments (14-3) struggled in opposition to No. 7 seed Miami, a 13 1/2-point underdog. The Dolphins, who had been right down to rookie third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson, took a 24-20 lead within the third quarter when Josh Allen was strip-sacked and Zach Sieler scored on a 5-yard return.
However Thompson, a seventh-round decide beginning his third recreation as a result of Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater are injured, threw an interception on third-and-19 from his 8 that led to a brief discipline and a go-ahead rating for the Payments.
“It was a nasty resolution on my half,” stated Thompson, who was 18 of 45 for 220 yards with one TD and two interceptions. “Simply received to know the state of affairs we’re in there. … I simply received to grasp the state of affairs there and simply take yards and play discipline place there and never pressure one thing. That one hurts. However simply received to study from it.”
Allen and the Payments had been sloppy and out of rhythm regardless of racking up 423 yards. Allen threw two picks that led to 11 factors earlier than his fumble led to a different landing.
“On the finish of the day, all that issues is winning the sport,” Allen stated. “If it’s by one or by 100, these are one-week seasons now. The whole lot you bought. It’s win or go house.”
The Payments need to play a lot better to beat the Bengals. Identical goes for Cincinnati.
The Bengals (13-4) fell behind Baltimore 10-9 after main 9-0. They had been lucky it wasn’t 14-9 at halftime as a result of the Ravens had a primary down on the 3 and settled for a discipline aim.
With the rating tied at 17 within the fourth quarter, the Ravens drove to the Bengals 1. However Tyler Huntley, filling in for the injured Lamar Jackson, misplaced the ball when he held it out and leaped on the aim line.
The Ravens had gamers behind Huntley within the backfield able to push him into the tip zone, however the third-year professional determined to attempt to soar in.
“We simply didn’t execute it proper,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh stated. “Tyler went excessive. It was designed for him to go low.”
The Bengals couldn’t generate something on offense the remainder of the sport, punting 3 times and totaling 19 yards, permitting the Ravens to remain in it.
Huntley had Baltimore driving on the Cincinnati 17 within the remaining minute earlier than a holding penalty, and incompletions arrange a fourth-and-20 from the 27. Huntley’s desperation cross into the tip zone bounced off Ravens wideout James Proche’s fingers.
“Our protection actually carried us within the fourth quarter,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor stated.
The Bengals will want Joe Burrow and the offense to get again on observe after placing up simply 234 whole yards to have a shot in opposition to the Payments.
The Bengals have gained 9 in a row whereas the Payments have an eight-game profitable streak. One streak will finish subsequent Sunday.
Whereas the Dolphins and Ravens couldn’t pull off upsets, Daniel Jones and the New York Giants had the fitting stuff in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings.
The 9-win Giants knocked off the 13-win Vikings 31-24 behind an excellent efficiency from Jones, who threw for 301 yards and two TDs in his playoff debut. The Giants transfer on to face the No. 1 seed Philadelphia Eagles.
After Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers routed Seattle to kick off wild-card weekend, the subsequent 4 video games had been determined by one rating. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday evening to find out which group faces the Niners subsequent.
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