The Bengals self-destructed Saturday night and lost 18-16 to the rival Steelers in the first round of the AFC playoffs.
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After 16 unanswered points by the Bengals to take the lead, Burfict made what should have been the play he’d be remembered for when he intercepted Steelers backup quarterback Landry Jones with under two minutes left in the game.
Despite the injury, Roethlisberger returned for the final series and led the Steelers on their improbable winning field goal drive, completing 5 of 8 passes for 40 yards. And the officials lost control of this game by not throwing out players.
The Broncos will try to beat the Steelers with great defense and running the ball on offense.
“I’ve got no words, man”, said receiver A.J. Green, whose touchdown catch put Cincinnati up with 1:50 to play. “They get to a line and they cross it, they should no longer be in the game because they can become a detriment to your team”.
Dalton reaction: Quarterback Andy Dalton said he would have done everything he could to get back for the AFC divisional round if the Bengals had won Saturday, though he still has an upcoming doctor’s visit to check up on his injured right thumb. Burfict was flagged for a personal foul and a subsequent 15-yard personal foul on Bengals cornerback Adam Jones moved the ball well into field-goal range for Chris Boswell’s 35-yard winning kick with 14 seconds remaining.
“Got back and went ahead, and then we destructed on ourselves, offence and defence together”, coach Marvin Lewis said.
Said Toussaint: “When you go out there and you have both guys making big plays, that’s confidence between both of us”.
ESPN reported Sunday that Porter will be fined for coming on the field, but the coach and the Steelers will gladly trade whatever that might cost for the opportunity to advance in the payoffs. They haven’t celebrated a playoff victory in 25 years.
After the Brown hit, Steelers assistant Joey Porter came on the field because he had valid concern for Brown.
As good as the Bengals have been in the regular season over the last five years, they simply have loser intangibles when it comes to postseason play.
There’s no need for these kind of reactions whatsoever and fans of teams need to do a better job of policing their own when it comes to stuff like this as it ruins the game for those that know how to act right.
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The Bengals will never win anything until they purge their locker room of rancid, festering, cancerous tumors like Vontaze Burfict and Pacman Jones.
