Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) – Houston Texans (5-4): 27-30
He did it again. CJ Stroud led his troops to a deserved victory on a final drive to win with only a few seconds left in the game. There was 1mn33 left to play when Houston got the ball back. The score is 27 everywhere. This is more than enough for Stroud, who alerts Dalton Schultz and Noah Brown from long distance to put Ammendola in position. The 38 yard kick is good. Victory at the end of the suspense and an exciting match!
Like last week against the Buccaneers, the young quarterback delivered a solid game and showed his qualities.
Despite three turnovers and a close score, the Texans dominated the match head and shoulders, facing an AFC contender, away from home what’s more. From the second quarter Houston took the lead, and could have increased the score without the two fumbles which prevented the Bengals from conceding points. The attack was efficient (on the ground with Singletary and in the air with Brown), the defense was able to sack Joe Burrow 4 times at the best moments (on 3rd attempts), and without a few youthful mistakes the Tigers would never have had their luck.
For Cincinnati the defeat is bitter and painful. The attack was unable to take advantage of its good start to the game, Joe Burrow threw two questionable interceptions in the fourth quarter, but above all the defense – supposed to be the strength of the formation – conceded 544 yards (188 on the ground and 356 in the airs). The rally at the end of the match gave hope, but ultimately it was too little, too late.
Only turnovers stop the Texans
From the first series, the tigers display their ambitions. Joe Burrow (QB, 27/40, 367 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) works on his tight ends, including Tanner Hudson (TE, 33 yards), for small gains, before lighting the fuse on Trenton Irwin (WR , 54 yards, 1 TD) to open the scoring. However, this will be the only offensive burst of the half for Cincinnati, who will have to watch Houston walk all over them and only be stopped by ball losses. Because in response, CJ Stroud (QB, 23/39, 364 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) relies on Devin Singletary (RB, 150 yards, 1 TD) and Dalton Schultz (TE, 71 yards) to move up the field , but loses the leather when finishing and the ball is covered by the defense.
However, Houston’s attack is far from failing. On the next series Stroud makes Tank Dell (WR, 56 yards, 1 TD) shine and the Texans catch up on a small pass under the cover. And they don’t stop there. The offensive squad continuously swallows up the yards and approaches the opposing red zone. Fortunately for the Tiger defense, a new fumble on a sack stopped the visitors’ enthusiasm. But as the Bengals attack has been sluggish since its first drive, all opportunities are given to Houston. This time it’s Noah Brown (WR, 172 yards) who shines while Stroud cuts the coverage, and the Texans return to the locker room with a lead of 3 points, 7 to 10.
A duel at the end of the clock
The break doesn’t change Houston’s momentum. The Texans are able to cross the entire field in a few actions, and increase their lead thanks to a field goal then a touchdown from Singletary. For Cincinnati the match remains mathematically within reach, but the Texan attack produces four times more than its Tiger counterpart, and the Ohio defense is happily cut down on all sides. A timid reaction arrives thanks to a field goal, then more frankly when Ja’Marr Chase (WR, 124 yards, 1 TD) crosses the defense for a 64-yard touchdown thanks to which the Bengals get back on track. But the hardest part remains to be done.
Because the last period opens with a new touchdown from Houston. In six actions the Texans cross the playing area, and Stroud is at the conclusion on a small breakaway right in the center. And the defense does its part when Burrow misses his target in depth and is intercepted approaching the red zone. But this is only the beginning. Since on the next drive, while Cincinnati plays its last trump card, Burrow is intercepted again. Game set and match we think. Except that Stroud also had the ball stolen in his part of the field, which gave a final breath of hope to the Bengals. Joe Mixon (RB, 46 yards, 1 TD) crosses the line, and Cincy is only 3 points with three minutes to play… And that’s when Tyler Boyd (WR, 117 yards) comes out with a unexpected reception of 64 yards to put his attack a few short lengths from the equalizer, or even the victory. The tigers are too close to win, but come back to level with a kick, and give up the lead with 90 seconds of play on the clock. CJ Stroud and his teammates then play their vista to get the winning kick.
It was not without complications, but Houston delivered a complete match against a contender, and came out with his head held high from a confrontation that was not given on paper.
CJ STROUD. Dude is balling.
📺: #HOUvsCIN on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kECSNGbyLL pic.twitter.com/HxzauRVvAW— NFL (@NFL) November 12, 2023
