Buffalo Bills Fall Flat In Disappointing Loss To Cincinnati Bengals
After the Buffalo Bills saw their season end at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals in January, they got a sense of Deja Vu on Sunday night.
Not in the season-ending sense, but in the sense that the Bills looked sluggish and unprepared in a 24-18 defeat at Paycor Stadium.
The Bills started fast with a touchdown on their opening drive, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with the Bengals, who scored on their first two possessions. After that, Buffalo's offense just stalled out and only put up three points until late in the fourth quarter.
The Bills eventually did break that drought, though, with Josh Allen connecting with Stefon Diggs for a 17-yard score. It was too little, too late, though, as the Bengals ran out the remaining three and a half minutes to pick up their fourth straight victory.
Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd makes a catch during Sunday night's game.
© Kareem Elgazzar, USA TODAY
Allen completed 26 of 38 passes for 258 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was also the team's leading rusher with eight carries for 44 yards and a touchdown, which earned him a taunting penalty as he pointed to a Bengals defender on his way to the end zone. Diggs was the leading receiver with six receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown, while Dalton Kincaid had 10 catches for 81 yards.
While the Bills did a good job of limiting the Bengals on the ground, with Joe Mixon having just 37 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, the air game was a different story. Joe Burrow had his way with the Bills' battered defense, completing 31 of 44 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns. Tee Higgins was the game's leading receiver with eight receptions for 110 yards, with tight ends Drew Sample and Irv Smith Jr. each catching a touchdown.
The Bills now sit at 5-4 on the season, and have already lost more times than they did all of last year. They now look to rebound when they host the Denver Broncos on Monday, Nov. 13.
