Carr Can’t Overcome Offensive Penalties
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
Talk about a playoff drought. When the Cincinnati Bengals hosted the first wild card game Saturday afternoon against the Las Vegas Raiders, it was their first postseason appearance since 2015. The last time they won a playoff game was 31 years ago. Quarterback Joe Burrow wasn’t even born. Things have not have been that dire for the Raiders who made the playoffs in 2016 but have not won a playoff game since 2002 when they beat the (who else) New York Jets. Cinci won their division while Las Vegas need a win or tie to get to the postseason. In a game that turned out to be an instant classic, the Raiders beat the Los Angeles Chargers in overtime punching their postseason ticket.
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
The Raiders drew first blood when Derek Carr moved them 68 yards in 10 plays resulting in a 47-yards D Carlson field goal. Burrow and the Bengals did not waste any time the first time they got the ball. Burrow completed 5 passes for 65 yards, the last pass a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end C.J. Uzomah. The Bengals defense would make their presence known on the next Vegas possession.
Carr drops back to pass and is hit by Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and recovered defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi. With the ball deep in the Raiders territory, Cincinnati could only manage a Evan McPherson 31-yard field goal giving them a 10-3 first quarter lead.
Las Vegas’ special team put them in a hole as kick returner Peyton Barber stepped out of bounds at his own 2-yard line instead of letting the ball go out of bounds which would have had Carr start at their own 25. The Raiders punted 3-plays later and the Bengals added 3 more points (13-3) after another McPherson field goal of 30 yards.
A solid kickoff return (35 yards) by the Raiders Tyron Johnson started the offense on their 39-yard line. Carr got them down to the Cincinnati 10-yard line but once again Las Vegas had to settle for another Carlson field goal (28 yards) shrinking the lead to 13-6.
The Bengals were faced with their first 4th and 1 from the Raiders 31 yards line. Burrow hands off to wide receiver Ja’ Marr Chase who rumbles for 15 yards. 2 plays later, Burrow finds wide receiver Tyler Boyd in the back of the end zone just as Carr is about to step out of bounds extending the lead to 20-6. Apparently a whistle was blown prior to the pass and catch which would have nullified the touchdown. According to the rules, a down is supposed to be replayed if a whistle is blown inadvertently during a play. The refs did not see it that way and the touchdown stood.
Carr finally got them into the end zone as the second quarter was coming to a end. Going 80 yards in 11 plays, Carr finds wide receiver Zay Jones for the 14 yard touchdown pass getting them with 7 (20-13).
McPherson began the third quarter putting 3-more points on the board (43-yard field goal) that extended the lead to 23-13. The Bengals scoring for the fifth straight time they had the ball as the Raiders were unable to score.
Heading into the last quarter, the Bengals offense became conservative. The Raiders offense moved the ball at will but penalties hurt them as they were trying to get into the end zone for the second time. Down one score (26-19) after Carlson connects on a 28 yard field. Las Vegas forced Cincinnati to punt getting the ball back with less than 2-minutes to go looking to send the game into overtime.
Carr moved them down to the Bengals 9 yard line with the help of a 15 yard roughing the passer penalty by defensive end Khalid Kareem and had 4 chances to extend the game. The Bengals defense did not break with Carr’s last attempt intercepted by linebacker Germaine Pratt. The Cincinnati 31 year playoff drought came to an end holding on to the 26-19 win.
Joe Burrow, who season was cut short last year due to a knee injury, finished his day throwing for 244 yards completing 24 of 34 passes and 2 touchdowns. Carr did all he could throwing for 310 yards on 29 off 54 passes, 1 td and 1 interception.
Said Burrow after the game, “I’m happy for the city. I think the city can finally exhale. I get that. We haven’t felt that pressure, I’ll be quite honest — me maybe more so than the players, because I’m out more in the off season and talk to people who have been here a long time. But I don’t think the players ever felt that. I’m just really, really happy for the city of Cincinnati, and hope they get a chance to enjoy this. And now, we’ll just exhale and enjoy the ride, because we’re not done yet.”
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