CINCINNATI — The preseason is mercifully over for the Bengals.
For the second straight year, the Bengals finished the preseason without a win, dropping a 20-14 contest to the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night before an announced crowd of 63,113 at Paycor Stadium.
The Bengals finished the preseason 0-3 and are 2-9-1 in the preseason since the start of 2021. The offense failed to produce a point Thursday until the fourth quarter, with only Jordan Battle’s pick-6 of Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson to show for scoring.
The Bengals went winless for the fourth time in franchise history, going 0-4 in 1983, 0-4 in 1999 and 0-2-1 last year.
For the second time this preseason, Logan Woodside found Jermaine Burton for a late fourth quarter touchdown, this time for 21 yards. Burton finished with four catches on five targets for 56 yards and the one touchdown.
.@loganwoodside with the DOT to @NASAMAINE3
📺: #CINvsIND on Prime Video pic.twitter.com/X5agHx34F1
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 23, 2024
Woodside was 16-of-21 for 98 yards and a touchdown. Colts third-string QB Jason Bean scored on a 1-yard TD early in the fourth quarter to make it 17-7 Colts.
As was the case with Caleb Williams and the Bears last Saturday in Chicago, the Colts first team offense came out and started the game behind quarterback Anthony Richardson.
The difference Thursday night and marched down against the Bengals defense comprised of second and third-team players. Lou Anarumo came out calling a five-man front, in part, to get a better look at a number of interior linemen battling for roster spots.
Richardson completed 7-of-8 for 65 yards, including a 9-yard crossing route to Adonai Mitchell who went in nearly untouched for a 7-0 lead.
Richardson, who threw high for his only incompletion on the first drive, was not nearly as successful. He misfired on his first throw before throwing a pass on a short curl route by Kylen Granson right into the stomach of Jordan Battle. The Bengals second-year safety, already with his roster spot locked in, trotted 14 yards into the end zone untouched for a game-tying touchdown.
.@JordanMBattle with the pick-six 😏
📺: #CINvsIND on Prime Video pic.twitter.com/ivXKQDFWzp
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 23, 2024
The drive was set up by a 35-yard Ryan Rehkow punt that pinned the Colts at their 9.
Rehkow again had a very up-and-down first half in his fight to beat out incumbent Brad Robbins. He punted a 57-yarder on his first of the night, but it landed five yards deep in the end zone for an obvious touchback. That was a net 37.
After his 35-yarder, he got off a 55-yarder, which was aided by a fair catch. But on his fourth punt, with little rush, he misfired for just 29 yards.
The Bengals second-team defense showed some moxie following Indianapolis’ first drive. The Colts drove to the Cincinnati 9 and had first and goal with 27 seconds left. The Bengals collapsed the pocket on fourth down on Sam Ehlinger, who threw the ball away.
As good as the defense was, the second and third-team offense was poor for a second time in five days.
Other takeaways from Thursday:
Charlie Jones was happy to get back on the field and make an immediate impact with a 48-yard kick return pic.twitter.com/gGM7eUUdsf
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) August 23, 2024
Chuck with some light work for his first game back. pic.twitter.com/j1mVbezSKG
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 23, 2024
