In a game that lived up to the hype going in, the Kansas City Chiefs squeaked out a win over the Cincinnati Bengals 26-25 on a game-winning 51-yard FG by Harrison Butker as time expired. It was the 3rd straight season where the Bengals started 0-2. 

A much improved effort by the Bengals after a pathetically embarrassing showing to the New England Patriots at home that saw improvement on the defensive side of the ball, but simple miscues on offense and special teams contributed to the loss. Most notably, a fumble by QB Joe Burrow that was recovered for a touchdown by Chamarri Connor and a missed extra point by K Evan McPherson. 

The “slow start to the season” motto continues once again as the Bengals are now 1-11 under head coach Zac Taylor in weeks 1 & 2, with the lone win coming in 2021 against Minnesota where they needed a dropped ball by Dalvin Cook in OT to set up the game winning FG. Whatever the issues are, the Bengals don’t seem to want to correct those as it’s been the talk of the town, especially given their pathetic performance against the New England Patriots week 1.

The game didn’t end without “controversy”, however, as on 4th and 16, Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony was rightfully flagged for defensive pass interference on a pass attempt to Raushee Rice.  The pass slipped through the hands, but Anthony made the mistake of going after him while the ball was in the air, thus resulting in the pass interference call. The call sparked unnecessary and uncalled for rage by the “Bengals Community” and is still a topic across the local and national sports news. 

For the 3rd consecutive season, the Bengals start the season 0-2 with Washington and Carolina coming up in their next 2 games before their huge AFC North division match-up with the Baltimore Ravens in week 5.  Everyone in the “Bengals Community” would be wise to move on and not overreact to one defensive pass interference call that proved to be the correct call.

The call didn’t cost the Bengals the game. It’s onto Washington now, as they need to get the W.