Bengals slip past Jags on late FG
CINCINNATI — Evan McPherson kicked a 35yard field goal as time ran out to give the Cincinnati Bengals a 24-21 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, spoiling Urban Meyer’s Ohio return.
Joe Burrow passed for 348 yards and two touchdowns to help the Bengals (3-1) overcome a 14-0 halftime deficit. Burrow, the top overall draft pick in 2020 outdueled the 2021 top pick, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Meyer coached Ohio State to the 2014 national championship. He was born in Toledo, grew up in Ashtabula.
Cincinnati had two quick scoring drives to open the second half. James Robinson’s second rushing touchdown put Jacksonville (0-4) up again early in the fourth quarter. Burrow answered with a 31-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Uzomah to tie it again.
Another methodical drive set up the kick by McPherson.
Brady: Pats exit ‘handled perfect’
The breakdown of the breakup between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick is like any fractured relationship. It’s irretrievably broken, and all that remains is the disagreement over who was more responsible for it.
But this much both sides will concede: Brady visited the home of Patriots owner Robert Kraft in spring 2020 to tell him he had decided to end his 20-year career with the Patriots and sign with the Bucs. Belichick wasn’t available to meet in person and instead said good bye by phone.
“All those things are super personal,” Brady said after practice. “We had a great relationship. Everything was handled the right way. We handled everything as gracefully as we could. It was an amazing time, and it was handled perfect.”
Barkley declines to make excuses
Coming off a torn ACL, Saquon Barkley is the first to admit he’s not back to being the running back who was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018.
Through three games, the 24-year-old Barkley has 39 carries for 134 yards and a touchdown. He has caught nine passes for 56 yards.
“I hold myself to a high standard, I know this team holds me to a high standard, a lot of people hold me to a high standard and, like I always say, I set my own expectations,” Barkley said Thursday.