Bengals 32, Eagles 14: Key plays and hot takes

Share

Reviewing the standout plays and tweets from the Eagles' Week 13 32-14 loss to the Bengals:

1. First quarter: Nelson Agholor 
We'll start with a positive one.

For Nelson Agholor, it was much more than a 2-yard reception. 

Agholor had the ball in his hands, lost the handle after being hit but corralled it out of the air to make the catch.

It was the first target for the much-maligned receiver since he was deactivated for last week's game against Green Bay to get his head together.

In the fourth quarter, Agholor converted a pair of fourth downs  He finished with four catches for 23 yards. 

OK, now the mess. 

2. First quarter: Bomb to ... Cody Core?
Core, a rookie sixth-round pick, beat Nolan Carroll for a 50-yard bomb. It led to Cincy's first touchdown, and the Bengals led 10-0 after one.

3. Second quarter: Run on 3rd-and-9?
Carson Wentz from the shotgun handed off to Wendall Smallwood, who lost a yard. 

4. Second quarter: False start. False start. False start.
Zach Ertz and Allen Barbre are called for false starts on consecutive plays. They had three false starts and it wasn't even halftime yet (Isaac Seumalo was caught in the first quarter)

5. Second quarter: Roughing the passer?
I get it. The league has to protect the quarterback. Can't hit his head. Can't hit his knees. But come on. A stumbling/crawling Brandon Graham grazed Andy Daulton and was called for roughing. 

6. Second quarter: Just a bit outside
Wentz on third down flat out missed an open Dorial Green-Beckham. Beckham ran a nice route to get the defender turned around and was all alone, but Wentz's throw sailed out of bounds.

7. Second quarter: Tyler Eifert 13-yard TD
This is here because it capped a drive that was just too easy. The Eagles' defenders looked like they were just there to fill up space. 

After the kickoff, Wentz took a knee on the final play of the first half.

8. Third quarter: LaFell 44-yard catch 
The Birds' secondary keeps getting carved up, although this was a perfect strike from Andy Dalton to Brandon LaFell. Five plays later, LaFell caught an 8-yard TD. 

And Mike Nugent hit the extra point. Nugent had missed four of his last five PATs.

9. Third quarter: Paul Turner 41-yard catch
The first career reception for the training camp all-star, who finished with six catches for 80 yards.

10. Third quarter: Wentz popped and picked 
Wentz is sandwiched by Domata Peko and Carlos Dunlap, who smacked Wentz's right arm and caused the wobbly pass, which was intercepted by Vontaze Burfict. Then Peko hit Jason Peters late, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty. 

Wentz already had a pair of interceptions dropped. 

11. Third quarter: Proof of life
After the Bengals tacked on a field go to make it 29-0, Kenjon Barner returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards. 

That set up 13-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz.

12. Fourth quarter: Another pick for Wentz
Just a poor decision and poorer pass, as Wentz overthrows Ertz and, after the ball is bobbled a dozen times, is intercepted by safety Shawn Williams. Ertz was covered and running down the middle of the field as the Bengals' two safeties converged.

13. Fourth quarter: They're the Bengals
After the Eagles cut the deficit to 29-14, the Bengals recovered the onside kick but then gave the ball back by throwing a pass to offensive lineman Jake Fisher, who was stripped by Nigel Bradham, and Mychal Kendricks recovered.

14. Fourth quarter: But the Eagles are worse
Nice play by Burfict, who snagged the pass at the line of scrimmage for the Wentz's third interception.

Wentz finished 36 for 60 for 308 yards and a passer rating of 58.2.

Contact Us