Bengals’ starters rev up for regular season
HYATTSVILLE, Md. — The Cincinnati Bengals’ first string couldn’t draw up a much better afternoon to prove they are ready for the season opener on Sept. 10 against the Baltimore Ravens.
For the first time this preseason, the starters posted points and the first string defense got off the field. They both did so in impressive fashion in an eventual 23-17 Washington win.
The starters played the entire first half, but they really showed all they needed on the opening drive. Andy Dalton drove 87 yards in 15 plays using a variety of weapons Bengals fans have waited to see.
“We can be electrifying,” said rookie running back Joe Mixon, who had eight carries for 31 yards. “We’ve got a lot of home run threats around our offense. It’s always exciting seeing our offense moving like that executing plays.”
A.J. Green had four catches for 43 yards, Jeremy Hill ran for 15 yards and the Bengals regulars’ first exhibition touchdown before his day was cut short with an ankle injury. Giovani Bernard ran for 25 yards on four carries in his first game since tearing the ACL in his left knee last season.
Meanwhile, all talk about the first team failing to score this preseason came to a quick halt.
“What we talked about this whole time was being able to score once we got down there,” said Dalton, who finished 8 of 13 for 70 yards in one half of play. “One thing we talked about during the week, we got all these guys, we need to spread the ball around and get different guys the ball. We did that on that drive. Different guys made plays. That’s what you got to have.”
Not only did the defense force three three-and-outs to start the game, linebacker Vontaze Burfict showed why everyone in the organization is excited to see him this year. He stepped in front of a Kirk Cousins pass for a pick-six, even jumping into the first row of the stands and waving to the crowd for a little showmanship.
Toss in an impressive half of edge rushing from end Chris Smith and rookie linebacker Carl Lawson, and even another flash from Michael Johnson as an interior rusher and the momentum was put in motion for the opener.
Smith, Lawson and Jordan Willis each sacked Cousins.
“Good job today on third down, which was key,” Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis said. “We haven’t played as well on third down defensively this preseason yet and so we made some good strides.”
It was the opposite for Cousins and the Redskins’ starters, who ended their preseason with nine three-andouts on 15 possessions. Washington went three-and-out four times on Sunday as Cousins was 10 of 19 for 109 yards and an interception, which he called “entirely” his fault.
After generating 1 yard in the first quarter, the starters eventually put together a touchdown drive, but there’s reason for the Redskins to be worried about slow starts continuing in the regular season.
“I’m a little concerned,” coach Jay Gruden said. “We just got to figure out something new, maybe eat a different pregame meal or something.”