The Cincinnati Bengals took a four-game winning streak into Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans and looked to stay hot while creeping closer to first place in the AFC North.
Instead, they fell behind, 20-7, early in the third quarter and couldn’t quite catch up all the way, as they lost on a last-second field goal by Matt Ammendola, 30-27.
Quarterback Joe Burrow threw two interceptions, and head coach Zac Taylor seemed to hold himself accountable for his own play-calling afterward, per Mike Petraglia.
"I didn't put us in a good rhythm" Zac Taylor on his play calling that hurt Bengals early in loss to Texans and led to poor offense pic.twitter.com/TRMKkDjYns
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 13, 2023
After Burrow threw one of his two touchdown passes to Trenton Irwin with 9:43 left in the first quarter, Cincinnati didn’t score again until Evan McPherson made a field goal with 3:00 remaining in the third quarter.
Burrow had a chance to put his team ahead late in the fourth quarter, but wide receiver Tyler Boyd bobbled a pass from him while in the end zone with 1:39 remaining.
Houston got the ball back shortly afterward, and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud led a game-winning drive for the second straight game.
With a 5-4 record, the Bengals are now in last place in their division, and their schedule isn’t getting easier, as they will visit the 7-3 Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, followed by games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars.
While Boyd and fellow wideout Ja’Marr Chase both played well with over 100 receiving yards apiece, Cincinnati couldn’t get anything going on the ground, as they mustered just 66 rushing yards.
The team now ranks 28th in yards per rushing attempt and last in rushing yards.
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