Cincinnati Bengals add to their woes with 31-23 loss to Denver Broncos – NFL Recap
The struggling Cincinnati Bengals let a clear win opportunity gone begging as they failed to sustain psychological pressure of star performer Peyton Manning to add another loss, 31-23 - versus the visitors Denver Broncos on Sunday (Nov. 04).
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning rode on the Bengals’ nerves, making most of the advantage with three touchdowns to lead the side easily.
The Bengals seemed to be repeating the game they played versus the Baltimore Ravens to open the season. They could not find answer to stop Manning despite getting into lead at one point.
It will be rather more concerning for coach Marvin Lewis that offence failed the team once again. The quarterback and offence leader Andy Dalton was a poor picture of the day.
Coach before the last game had backed the QB to do better. Although the official did not pinpoint the specific performance the player, he is not pleased the way things have progressed so far.
It is ever more challenging for the coach because the Bengals made it to the playoffs last year and this season has so far proven to be a disastrous one. They are lagging behind their rivals the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers in the American Football
Conference (AFC) North.
Some commentators have criticised Andy Dalton, who in spite of the impressive rookie year, has been found fumbling and tumbling. For example, he in the Broncos game sent an incomplete pass to A.J. Green, which if perfect could have been converted into a
touchdown.
The player himself described the situation:
"It's one of those where you take a shot with A.J. and either he's catching it or nobody's catching it. I had pressure in my face. I threw it and couldn't get enough on it -I was getting hit."
Apparently, the Bengals are yet to click the past season’s form. In the 2011 season, they were almost neck-to-neck with division rivals during the first half and were rather sluggish in the second. This year, it is a different performance picture.
Historically, the Bengals are the only side who have not made the playoffs back-to-back, except once when they had also played the Super Bowl game.
Last year it was down on the luck that they ended up reaching the first game of the playoffs but ruined the opportunity to impressive Houston Texans. The Texans have moved far ahead the Bengals this season, although they come from a different division.
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