ben baby
ben baby
ESPN Staff Writer
Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to joining ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently covering college sports for the Dallas Morning News. He provides daily Bengals coverage on ESPN.com, while also appearing on SportsCenter, ESPN’s NFL program and ESPN Radio. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He is an adjunct professor of journalism at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
Jeff Legwald
Jeff Legwald
ESPN Senior Writer
Jeff Legwold is a senior writer covering the Denver Broncos and NFL for ESPN. Jeff joined ESPN in 2013 after covering the Broncos for more than 20 years. He also helps cover the NFL Draft, including the annual top 100 prospects. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selectors Committee since 1999. I have attended every Scouting Combine since 1987.
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a 30-24 overtime win over the Denver Broncos on Saturday at Peyco Stadium, as the Broncos were denied a postseason-clinching victory for the second straight week. .
Receiver Tee Higgins caught his third touchdown pass of the game in overtime, keeping the Bengals in the playoffs heading into the final weekend of the season. The Broncos are still in prime position to clinch the AFC’s seventh and final playoff spot, as they only need a win against the Chiefs next week to qualify. But it was rejected on Saturday.
Here’s the most important thing to know for both teams from Saturday night.
The stripes continue. And the Bengals are still alive.
In a playoff-like atmosphere, Cincinnati defeated the Broncos to win their fourth straight game and stay in postseason contention entering Week 18.
The win gives the Bengals a win against the Steelers next week, requiring the Colts and Dolphins to each lose at least one of their final two games. It also requires the Broncos to lose to the Chiefs next week.
On Saturday night, Cincinnati did its part in a back-and-forth game. Higgins caught a 3-yard touchdown pass to end a romp in which he caught 11 passes for 131 yards and three TDs.
And the Bengals remain in playoff contention entering Week 18 after a game they won’t soon forget.
Pivotal play: Kicker Cade York had a chance to win the game in regulation and absolve his team of the day’s blunders. However, a 33-yard attempt that would have won the game in overtime hit the left upright. Instead, the Bengals needed a late score to win.
Prediction for next week: Devin Cochran will start at right tackle. Rookie Amarius Mims tried to play Saturday despite breaking his hand six days earlier. Mims started but did not make it past the midpoint of the second quarter. His right hand was fully in the club, just as it had been in practice all week. That could make it difficult for him to start next week against the Steelers.
QB Breakdown: Joe Burrow played reasonably well against a very good Denver front who was sacked seven times. Burrow, who threw for just 157 yards against the Broncos in 2021, had an even bigger performance in his second career game against Denver. He completed 39-of-49 passes for 412 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also recorded a crucial 19-yard scramble on third-and-14 that ended with a touchdown. Burrow had to deal with a very good secondary and pass rush, but he was able to rise to the occasion. — Ben Baby
Next game: Pittsburgh Steelers (TBC, Sunday, January 5th)
The Broncos once again missed out on the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season with a disappointing loss to the Bengals in overtime.
Saturday’s loss ended a rough patch for the Broncos, who are still hungry for a long-awaited playoff berth after losing consecutive games to the Chargers and Bengals over Christmas.
The Broncos are now running out of breathing room and are 9-5 after a Dec. 15 win over the Indianapolis Colts, but depending on how the rest of the weekend goes, they could clinch the final AFC postseason berth. may need help. slot. Coach Sean Payton wrote “10th win accomplished” at the top of his practice sheet last week, noting that the 10th win clinched a playoff berth, but the Broncos aren’t there yet.
Most surprising performance: Perhaps not all that surprising considering he’s playing opposite All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II, but on Saturday night Riley Moss faced There must have been a moment when you were a little tired of all the action going on. When Moss returned to action after missing three games with a sprained right MCL, the Bengals immediately targeted the receiver he was covering. Moss had 10 tackles by midway through the third quarter, his most since the season opener, and finished with 14 tackles overall.
A worrying trend: The Broncos have struggled in recent weeks to play complementary football, especially in situations where the defense could breathe. After opening the game with a field goal drive, the Broncos’ other possessions in the first half were a punt, a punt, and a punt to end the first half, including a devastating one after the Denver defense weathered a 17-play Bengals drive without a loss. It also included a three-and-out. point. The Bengals scored their first touchdown after a three-and-out against a Broncos defense that still had the wind blowing.
QB Breakdown: Bo Nix has discovered in recent weeks how thoroughly opposing defenses can adapt to QBs during the season. He found it increasingly difficult to reach the throws down the middle of the field that he was effectively achieving to begin the season. He didn’t have success beyond 16 yards on Saturday until his 51-yard touchdown throw to Marvin Mims Jr. with 8 minutes, 48 seconds left in the game. Knicks also threw an interception to Bengals linebacker Jermaine Pratt with 2:30 left, his sixth interception in the last four games. He then responded with a 25-yard game-tying touchdown pass to Mims with eight seconds left in regulation, forcing overtime. This gave the Knicks three touchdown passes in their third game of the season. — Jeff Legwald
Next game: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (TBC, Sunday, January 5th)
