The onside kick recovery is near impossible, especially with it being tipped off nowadays, but that doesn’t mean they can’t happen. The Cincinnati Bengals recovered one late in the fourth quarter in Sunday’s matchup with the Chicago Bears. This crucial play allowed Joe Flacco to lead the offense down the field for a game-tying touchdown pass to Andrei Iosivas. After an extra point from Evan McPherson, the Bengals were ahead with under a minute remaining.
However, it was just enough time for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to respond. Under duress, Williams scrambled to extend plays before connecting with tight end Colston Loveland for a 58-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds remaining. This dramatic finish gave the Bears the win and improved their record to 5-3 on the season.
The game featured eight lead changes, with the Bengals mounting a significant comeback in the fourth quarter. Flacco finished the game 31-for-47, throwing for 470 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions (one being the Hail Mary attempt to end the game). Williams, on the other hand, completed 20 of 34 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 53 yards on five carries.
**Bengals Head Coach Unsure if Issues Can Be Fixed**
The Bengals fell to 3-6 on the season after losing star quarterback Joe Burrow to injury in Week 2. This game represented a critical opportunity to stay relevant in the competitive AFC North, especially as the Baltimore Ravens (3-5) have struggled this season.
“I can’t believe it,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor postgame. “The game is right there and we just don’t find a way to get it done. We just gotta make one play. It’s sick to lose like that, but that’s what happened and we gotta own it.”
Taylor expressed frustration with the team’s defense, citing too many mistakes and a lack of turnovers. Currently, the Bengals’ defense ranks statistically as the worst in the NFL. When asked if the defense can be fixed, Taylor said, “We’re gonna find a way. I think it’s impossible for me to say yes or no.”
**Zac Taylor Remains Committed to Staying Positive**
Now in his seventh year as Bengals head coach, Zac Taylor holds a career record of 49-58. After only six wins across his first two seasons, Taylor notably led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2022, where they fell to the Los Angeles Rams. However, the Bengals have narrowly missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, finishing 9-8 both years.
“I’ve faced a lot of adversity here,” Taylor reflected. “The only thing I know how to do is keep trying to lift people up. That doesn’t mean we run from corrections. That doesn’t mean we don’t give criticism. But at the same time, the easy thing to do is question everything, and point fingers, and be negative and be an energy vampire in a lot of ways.”
“I think we got enough guys that just want to lift people up and continue to find solutions,” he added, emphasizing his commitment to maintaining a positive team culture despite ongoing challenges.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/zac-taylor-bears-loss-i-cant-believe-it/
