The AFC game of the week will pit the Buffalo Bills against the Cincinnati Bengals, two teams vying for a postseason spot. Is there a chance for either team to win the Super Bowl?
Week 9 could provide the pyrotechnics fans have been waiting for after a season that has seen some horrific offensive performances on Sunday Night Football. Nor will the stakes increase much.
This Sunday’s matchup between the Buffalo Bills (5-3) and Cincinnati Bengals (4-3) has huge postseason ramifications. If Cincinnati wins, their chances of making the playoffs may rise to 66.6 percent or fall to 44.4 percent, according to Sumer Sports. It is simple to see why in a close AFC North.
On the other side, a victory by Buffalo would almost guarantee them a postseason berth; a 6-3 record would give them an 80.5 percent chance to play football in mid-January. The Bills would be forced back into the clogged-up ranks of AFC playoff outsiders if they lost.
Quarterback Joe Burrow had a calf injury that hindered the Bengals throughout the first three weeks of the season. But the team’s 31-17 win against the San Francisco 49ers last week should reassure supporters that Burrow is fit and back to his best.
That may put Buffalo in danger. Snowy circumstances allowed Cincinnati to escape with a 27-10 victory in the Divisional Round of the previous season. Without defensive studs Tre’Davious White, DaQuan Jones, and linebacker Matt Milano, they will now face an almost same offensive.
This week, general manager Brandon Beane added more muscle by signing guard Linval Joseph and making a trade for defensive back Rasul Douglas. How quickly they can assist the defense may determine how Sunday unfolds.
If there were no snow or injuries that would prevent the Bengals from winning, Sunday night’s game would very well end in a shootout. Quarterback Josh Allen has to continue his winning run after a resounding victory on Thursday Night Football in Week 8. Should any MVP-caliber passer fail to meet expectations, it will be a major setback for their club.
On Sunday night, expect each team’s best players to go all out.
WHAT: Cincinnati Bengals (4-3) at. Buffalo Bills (5-3)
WHERE: Cincinnati, Ohio’s Paycor Stadium (65,515)
WHEN: Nov. 5, 2023, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. (ET)
NBC on television
AM/FM: WGR 550
ODDS: Moneyline +115, Bills +2.5 (-118), Total: 50.5 (o -110/u -110)
FIRST TRIMBER
Bengals’ First Drive: The kickoff was received by Cincinnati.
Reversing course Joe Mixon opened things up with an eight-yard fast flat route. The following play, he grabbed a 15-yard screen throw.
Burrow was forced out of the structure and found receiver Tee Higgins for a big gain. He then found tight end Irv Smith Jr., setting up a goal-to-go scenario for the Bengals.
He went back to Smith for a touchdown on the next play.
With 9:18 left in the first quarter, the Bills are down 7-0.
First Drive for Bills: Tight end Allen threw his first pass to Dalton Kincaid.
Receiver Stefon Diggs exploited a broken tackle to catapult himself into a huge play after the grab, after moving the chains on third down.
Making a play out of his own framework, Allen connected receiver Khalil Shakir for 22 yards before finding Kincaid once more for 13.
Allen managed to get into the end zone, but he was flagged for a taunting penalty.
There were 6:03 left in the first quarter when the Bills knotted the score at 7-7.
Bengals’ Second Drive: Tim Settle, the defensive end, was called for roughing-the-passer after cornerback Dane Jackson made a terrific interception on a pass to wide Ja’Marr Chase.
Burrow made a flawless ball to receiver Tyler Boyd on a third-and-10 play, which resulted in a first down. Not long later, he struck Higgins, but not before he went out of bounds and reached for the pylon.
To take the lead again, Mixon made his way into the end zone.
There are 35 seconds left in the first quarter and the Bills are down 14–7.
Bills Second Drive: James Cook, the running back, hopped around the line of scrimmage and gained a few yards to get the drive going.
At the conclusion of the first quarter, the Bills are down 14–7.
DUAL QUARTER
Buffalo’s drive was soon sent into motion by a defensive pass interference call. After the subsequent series of downs, however, the drive was stopped. Buffalo made the punt choice.
Bengals’ Third Drive: The drive was started by Higgins, who caught a pass on a curl route. After Mixon gave the Bengals another set of downs, Chase lost two yards.
Even though Cincinnati had just reached a fourth-and-two close to midfield, they punted the ball back to the Bills.
Bills Third Drive: Allen attempted an unsuccessful one-out on first down.
On his next ball, intended for receiver Gabe Davis, he was intercepted.
Bengals’ Fourth Drive: Burrow was taken for a ride by defensive tackle Linval Joseph on an attempted sneak. Burrow gained a first down, but lineman Alex Cappa’s holding stopped the gain.
The drive was over in a hurry, and there was a 55-yard field goal attempt that was unsuccessful due to a false start. Bengals made the punt decision.
Bills’ Fourth Drive: On third-and-two, Allen was sackable after two Cook runs. Cincinnati would get the ball in Buffalo territory after the Bills punted from their own end zone.
Bengals’ Fifth Drive: Burrow made an incomplete ball on the drive’s first play. It seems that he is recovering from a finger injury.
Chase missed a vertical shot that went in. Boyd’s reception on third-and-10 simplified the fourth-down call. Chase was struck to move the chains with a yard to gain.
narrow end Just outside the red zone, Drew Sample scambled into the end zone for a score.
With 1:37 left in the first half, the Bills trail 21-7.
Bills Fifth Drive: Straight out of the gate, Allen struck Shakir for an explosive play. Despite making three straight receptions, Kincaid was hobbling a little, so keep an eye on him in the second half.
An deliberate grounding call would be the consequence of a misunderstanding. To be honest, that was a dubious call. They had no choice except to punt, but the half ended before the snap.
At the half, the Bills are down 21–7.
SEMI-FINAL
SECOND QUARTER
Bills Sixth Drive: Buffalo was awarded the kickoff in the second half.
Diggs was targeted twice to begin the drive, making him a priority to open the half.
Kincaid continued his outstanding day by diving for a first down. Tyler Bass attempted to score after Allen just missed Davis.
With 10:21 left in the third quarter, the Bills are down 21-10.
Sixth Drive for the Bengals: Mixon opened the drive with a three-yard sprint and an equally fruitful reception. Then Burrow hurried to get a first down.
After the reception, Higgins produced a beautiful play that moved them to Cincinnati’s 43-yard line. There was nothing further the Bengals could go.
Bills Seventh Drive: Following a three-and-out, Buffalo quickly got the ball back to the Bengals.
Bengals’ seventh drive: Burrow connected with Higgins once again for a first down on the right side of the field.
They would decide to go for it on fourth down the next series of downs, but Buffalo’s defense held firm.
Allen started the eighth drive for the Bills with a run that moved the chains.
The following play, Kincaid caught a 12-yard pass. A run for a first down was the third quarter’s last play.
By the conclusion of the third quarter, the Bills are down 21-10.
QUARTERS TOGETHER
Not even a long flea-flicker could fool the Cincinnati defense. After being flipped by a defender, Kincaid became a little too enthusiastic and fumbled a few plays later. The Bengals bounced back.
Tight end on the Bengals’ eighth drive Tanner Hudson made a huge grab on third down to move the chains.
After that, Chase gained 32 yards with a honey-hole shot.
With 10:19 left in the game, the Bengals have chosen to utilize their last timeout in an aggressive manner. Burrow hit Higgins right away to create a goal-to-go scenario.
Buffalo would remain in the game as they couldn’t go to the end zone.
With 8:08 left in the fourth quarter, the Bills are down 24–10.
Bills’ ninth drive was started by Kincaid, who made his tenth grab of the contest. Allen then scored a first down with an elusive move.
This would be his fourth scramble for a new set of downs. The Bills’ second time out would be squandered by a mishandled challenge.
Allen struck Diggs for a game-changing touchdown on third-and-1. Diggs successfully converted a two-point play with both feet in bounds.
With 3:32 left in the fourth quarter, the Bills are down 24–18.
Ninth possession for the Bengals: Boyd opened the drive with a big 32-yard catch.
At 2:37 to go, Buffalo called their last timeout.
To ensure the Bengals won, Mixon bucked a tackle and scampered past the imaginary yellow line.
The Bills dropped to 5-4 after losing 24–18 against the Bengals.
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