Instant takeaways: Inexcusable penalties cost the Bengals on a walk-off loss to the Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals showed that they’re good enough to hang with the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. But that’s not the standard for a team that has spent the last two years working on a plan to unseat the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs beat the Bengals, 26-25, on a walk-off field goal on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium as the Bengals fell to 0-2 on the season. The Bengals were in complete control early in the fourth quarter, but then a strip-sack fumble by the Chiefs against quarterback Joe Burrow gave Kansas City the lead.
The Bengals still got a chance to run out the clock with the lead in the fourth quarter, but self-inflicted mistakes let the Chiefs get the ball back. Then, more self-inflicted mistakes on defense handed the Chiefs a win.
Burrow called it one of the most frustrating losses he has had.
"Before we talk about seeing these guys again in the postseason, we’ve got a lot of football to be played a lot of practicing to do," Burrow said. "A lot of improving to go out and do."
On 4th and 16, seventh-round pick Daijahn Anthony committed a penalty on a desperation throw by Patrick Mahomes that put the Chiefs in field goal range. It was Anthony’s second drive-extending penalty of the game.
Anthony only played two defensive snaps last week. He was a much bigger part of the plan vs. Travis Kelce, but he wasn’t ready for the moment.
Earlier in the game, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase cost the Bengals a drive and killed 15 yards.
Chase and Anthony both declined to discuss their penalties after the game.
Even though Burrow threw the ball well and the Bengals’ defense forced three turnovers, the Bengals still didn’t have a winning formula.
They’ve got four months to get it figured out. All roads in the AFC lead back to Arrowhead, and the 2024 Bengals haven’t proven yet that they’re contenders. They still have too many weaknesses. And for the third straight season, they're 0-2 through the first two games of the season.
"We’ve been here before, unfortunately," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. "We know what this feels like. We know it’s a long season. We know we can get ourselves out of here, stick together and get our emotions in check."
Defensive tackle remains a problem for the Bengals
Stopping the Chiefs’ offense is supposed to be about stopping the best quarterback in the world. But on a day where the Bengals’ passing defense held up against Patrick Mahomes, the Bengals got gashed on the ground.
For most of the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid’s play calling showed that he had more confidence in the Chiefs’ running game than the Chiefs’ passing game.Bengals defensive tackle BJ Hill missed most of the game with a hamstring injury, and rookie defensive tackles Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson haven’t played yet due to injuries. Defensive end Cam Sample, one of the team’s best run stoppers is out for the year.The Bengals’ run defense is counting on players who didn’t look like they were going to make the 53-man roster. The path forward is Jenkins and Jackson picking the entire unit up when they return from their injuries, which is expected in the near future. But it’s a big ask for two rookies to save the Bengals’ defense.
The Bengals waste a good day from Burrow, a great day from Zac Taylor
The Bengals tried a little bit of everything. Taylor called a smorgasbord of short passes, deep passes, runs and screens. Burrow lined up under center much more often than usual, the tight ends were more involved than they’ve ever been during Burrow’s career and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase lined up everywhere from the slot to the backfield.
It felt like a game plan that Taylor had been working on since Burrow’s last trip to Arrowhead Stadium, when the Bengals lost the 2022 AFC title game.
Using Chase in the slot on one goal line play opened up the door for Burrow to zip a back shoulder throw to wide receiver Andrei Iosivas in the second quarter that gave the Bengals a 10-3 lead. Using a sixth offensive lineman gave the Bengals a stronger short yardage run game.
After the Chiefs took the lead in the third quarter with a touchdown drive, Burrow clapped back with a 47-yard deep ball to rookie Jermaine Burton. Later in that drive, Burrow powered through a crushing hit on a quarterback sneak for a first down, which set up a go-ahead touchdown for the Bengals.
The drive ended with Burrow sitting patiently in the pocket like a quarterback who had all the time in the world. A touchdown throw on fourth and goal put the Bengals up 22-17.
The Bengals then got the ball back following an interception by Cam Taylor-Britt, but Burrow’s fumble changed the entire game.
"I played fast and decisive today," Burrow said. "But obviously, I’ve got to hold onto the ball. That was disappointing. I gifted them six points. That was frustrating."
The Bengals miss an opportunity to make a statement
The Bengals outplayed the Chiefs on Sunday. Even though Tee Higgins was out with a hamstring injury and the Bengals were decimated at defensive tackle, they looked like the better team.
Taylor had one of the best game plans he has ever come up with. The Bengals' defense executed one third down stop after another, and the unit also forced three momentum-changing takeaways.
The Bengals were a penalty short of completing the upset, but a team that has big expectations doesn't deal in moral victories.
"There are a lot of positives on film, but we’ve got to complete the job and finish" Bengals safety Vonn Bell said. "It’s frustrating. Especially in this high environment. It felt like a playoff environment. You’ve got to finish and find a way."