The Cincinnati Bengals fell to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday despite three missed field goals and an extra point by Mason Crosby.
The Bengals kicker — Evan McPherson — had his own issue from the spot, as he missed both of his field goal attempts. McPherson had a chance to win the game in overtime with a 49-yard field goal, but that kick curved left at the last moment.
The Bengals’ special teams unit’s angle of the play was off, or they just weren’t watching, as Cincinnati’s blockers thought the field goal went in. The celebration was on for a kick that was, unfortunately for those at Paul Brown Stadium, no good.
Not so fast, my friends. We play on.
Packers take down Bengals in overtime
On their final possession of overtime, the Packers gave Crosby one last chance at redemption with a 49-yard attempt. It was a bold move by Matt LaFleur, as another miss would’ve surely been not just on the kicker, but the head coach as well for continuously playing for it safe. Except in this case, playing it safe is far from the actual definition of the phrase.
That kick, ladies and gentlemen, is worth celebrating.
But it’s not all bad for the Bungles. If Joe Burrow and Co. have proven anything, it’s that they’re one decent kicker away from being a true competitor. The Packers are a Super Bowl contender in the NFC, and the Bengals took them to the brink.
A quarterback really can change the entire culture of a football team. Zac Taylor has his, and the winning ought to come with him.
