CINCINNATI — Turns out Joe Burrow hasn’t forgotten about his tight ends after all.
Burrow completed 31-of-44 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns while his defense generated a pair of key turnovers to lead the Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) past the visiting Buffalo Bills (5-4), 24-18, Sunday night.
Josh Allen completed 26-of-38 passes for 258 yards and a late touchdown to Stefon Diggs that cut the Cincinnati lead to six with 3:32 left in the game. Joe Mixon ran for a touchdown and converted a first down that allowed the Bengals to run out the clock.
It was Cincinnati’s first win on Sunday night since 2004. The Bengals have won four straight since a 1-3 start while Buffalo lost for the second time in three games.
Bengals tight ends Irv Smith Jr., Tanner Hudson and Drew Sample combined for 10 catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns while Tee Higgins finished with eight catches and 110 yards.
The game marked the first time Bills safety Damar Hamlin returned to Paycor Stadium since collapsing from cardiac arrest during play on the field on Jan. 2, 2023 in Week 17 last season. The Bills safety, who has been active in just one game this season, took part in warmups before the game and greeted several Bengals players but was inactive for the contest.
The Bengals won the toss and showed why they were looking forward to immediately getting their offense on the field. Joe Burrow was 6-for-6 for 65 yards and 7-yard leaping touchdown grab by Irv Smith Jr. in the back corner of the end zone for his first touchdown as a Bengal.
Smith was the subject of much criticism from fans last week when he fumbled at the San Francisco 5 just prior to halftime. Smith atoned on the opening drive, accounting for the final 18 yards on two receptions, including the score.
The Bills immediately responded with an 85-yard drive in only seven plays, highlighted by a receiver screen that allowed Stefon Diggs to gain 34 yards after DJ Turner shed his blocker but failed to bring Diggs down with an arm tackle. The drive was capped off when Allen pump-faked safety Nick Scott and ran into the corner of the end zone for a 2-yard TD run.
The Bengals came right back with another touchdown drive, as Burrow led a 69-yard drive in 11 plays, capped off by a Joe Mixon two-yard run off left tackle, with Orlando Brown Jr. and Cordell Volson opening a big hole on the run.
The Bengals held the Bills and forced the game’s first punt on the next series. On Buffalo’s next possession, Cam Taylor-Britt picked off Josh Allen at the Buffalo 32. But the Bengals self-destructed and Burrow injured his right index finger on a drive that ended with three consecutive penalties, including a false start from Orlando Brown Jr. that wiped out a 55-yard Evan McPherson field goal.
The Bengals managed to force a punt and drive 45 yards on a short field, capped off by Drew Sample’s second career touchdown, a pass from Joe Burrow in the wide open flat. Sample ran to the four yard line and past the defender into the end zone for a 21-7 Cincinnati lead.
Spike that ball, @drewcal‼️#BUFatCIN | 📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/RAVx8A7GEO
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 6, 2023
Three Bengals tight ends accounted for seven catches on eight targets, 74 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
The Bills were marching on the ensuing drive into Cincinnati territory and were in position to attempt a 54-yard field goal. But a pass intended for Gabe Davis fell incomplete on third down was ruled intentional grounding, pushing the Bills out of field goal range.
The Bills opened the second half with an impressive drive down to the Cincinnati 16. But a pass in the end zone for Gabe Davis fell incomplete, forcing the Bills to settle for a 34-yard Tyler Bass field goal, cutting the margin to 21-10.
The Cincinnati defense came up with another big turnover as Buffalo was driving inside the red zone. Josh Allen completed a pass over the middle to Dalton Kincaid to the Bengals 11. But Nick Scott upended Kincaid, Germaine Pratt punched the ball loose as he was upside down and Dax Hill recovered at the Cincinnati 13.
The Bengals chewed up the next five minutes, concluding with a 20-yard McPherson field goal for a 24-10 lead.
