TIME TO WAKE UP
Falcons end September 1-3 after loss to Bengals
ATLANTA — Watching from the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick couldn’t stop smiling as he saw receivers Tyler Boyd and A.J. Green shred the Atlanta Falcons’ secondary on the game-winning drive Sunday.
“They went crazy,” Kirkpatrick said. “Watching them do what they do puts big smiles on everybody’s faces. This is what it’s about.”
Andy Dalton threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Green with seven seconds remaining, lifting the Bengals to a 37-36 win that extended their strong start to the season.
Dalton completed four passes to Boyd, including two on fourth downs, as he moved the Bengals 75 yards on 16 plays in about four minutes. Green, making his first return to the Peach State for an NFL game since starring at the University of Georgia from 2008 to 2010, made a diving catch in the right side of the end zone to cap the drive. He finished the game with four catches for 78 yards.
Bengals running back Joe Mixon, who missed a second straight game while recovering from knee surgery, ran down the sideline to celebrate with Green in the end zone.
“Every time we were in the huddle, we were encouraging each other and saying we’ve got to find a way,” Cincinnati tight end C.J. Uzomah said. “We made it happen.”
Giovani Bernard ran for 69 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati (3-1), which is atop the NFC North division standings.
Kirkpatrick said the Bengals are “fighting for each other, standing up for each other, believing in each other. In previous years, we haven’t had that.”
Pardon the Falcons if they couldn’t crack “big smiles” during Cincinnati’s comeback and after falling to 1-3, leaving them alone in the NFC South cellar.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan continued his resurgence by throwing three touchdown passes, including two to rookie Calvin Ridley.
But as was the case in last week’s 43-37 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints, when he threw five touchdown passes in a game for the first time in his 11-year NFL career, Ryan had too little support from a defense missing three injured starters. Takk McKinley’s three sacks were a bright spot for the beleaguered bunch.
The Falcons topped 30 points for the third straight week. Ryan, the 2016 NFL MVP, has thrown eight touchdown passes in the past two games and has 10 through four games after throwing only 20 in 2017. Ridley, a former University of Alabama standout, showed his three-touchdown game against the Saints was no fluke.
None of that has translated to the desired results for Atlanta, which had the luxury of playing three straight home games after opening the season at Philadelphia, the reigning Super Bowl champion.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said his team lacks the instinct needed “to close the door” with a lead.
“We’re going to develop that instinct,” he said. “We do not have it as we need it right now.”
The Bengals have enjoyed a strong start despite playing three of their first four games on the road. They play six of their next eight at home.
Atlanta kicker Matt Bryant, who made three field goals, including a 55-yarder in the second quarter, was good from 32 yards to give the Falcons a 36-31 lead with 4:15 remaining. That was too much time for Dalton, who finished the game 29-of-41 passing for 336 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Kirkpatrick talked this past week about winning bragging rights with fellow former Crimson Tide star Julio Jones, who had nine catches for 173 yards. Kirkpatrick also was impressed with Ridley, who had four catches for 54 yards, with his scoring receptions covering 11 and 30 yards and giving him six touchdowns this season.
“That Ridley kid, the boy is about to take the NFL by storm,” Kirkpatrick said. “That boy, if not this year, if not next year, he’s definitely going to be top 10 in the league.”
Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert had four catches for 38 yards, including a 15-yard scoring catch in the first quarter, before suffering a gruesome lower right leg injury early in the third quarter.
Cincinnati’s third-leading receiver this season entering the game, Eifert caught a 2-yard pass and was tackled by De’Vondre Campbell and Jack Crawford. Eifert brought his hands up to his helmet as he was on his back in obvious pain. After having his leg stabilized by the medical staff, Eifert received encouragement from teammates before he was carted off the field.
Bengals halfback Mark Walton did not return and was being treated for a possible concussion after a penalty-drawing helmet-to-helmet hit by Brian Poole near the end of the third quarter. Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett sustained an ankle injury late in the fourth and did not return.
Atlanta starting running back Devonta Freeman missed his third straight game with a sore right knee.