Before half, Nugent hit a second field goal from 39 yards.
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Yates subsequently orchestrated a nine-play, 79-yard drive, with his 22-yard pass to Hopkins putting Houston ahead for the first time. The Ohio-native Hoyer was pulled from the game to be evaluated for a concussion. A backup quarterback with a history of beating them did it again. The Bengals have yet to lose a game this year while the Texans have lost more than they have won. Telling statistics: The quarterbacks led their teams in rushing. The Texans took the lead over the undefeated Bengals, for good. Tight end Tyler Eifert dropped countless balls. The Bengals had to settle for three points on their third possession of the first half when a first-down reverse to Marvin Jones was blown up for an 8-yard loss deep in Texans territory.
The Seahawks and Cardinals blessed us with a four-hour game last night, so let’s hope the Houston Texans (3-5) will be a little more accommodating when they face off against the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals (8-0). Hoyer was replaced by Yates, who threw the go-ahead score to Hopkins on his first series.
With this win, Houston is now tied for first place in the AFC South with Indianapolis Colts at 4-5. The Texans average 297.6 yards through the air over their past five games.
Such a poor performance will rekindle debate about Dalton being 4-8 in prime-time games – with 14 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions – in his career, as well as 0-4 in the playoffs.
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It was clear early on the Bengals’ offense wasn’t in sync and not as prepared for this game as they should have been. It may have gone for a lengthy touchdown had the two connected on the pass. Chalk this one up as a rough night for Eifert. Cincinnati’s final chance slipped away when A.J. Green made a catch for what would have been a first down at the Texan 23-yard line, then was stripped of the ball by Quintin Demps with 40 seconds left. Burfict missed 15 games with a knee injury before being activated November 1…. Smith is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol…. The other players made inactive by the Bengals were: wide receiver Mario Alford; cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris; tight end C.J. Uzomah; defensive lineman Marcus Hardison and defensive tackle Brandon Thompson.
