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Bengals Lose Preseason Opener to Chiefs

Preseason kicks in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, MO – August 10, 2019

The Zac Taylor era in Cincy hit the filed in Arrowhead on Saturday Night. The starters for each team got one series each and both scored with the Bengals moving the mall meticulously down the field ad the Chiefs scoring quickly.

The Bengals got the ball first and scored. Andy Dalton was nine for seven for eighty yards on his only drive of the game. He aired the ball out 26 yards to Auden Tate to put the Bengals on the one-yard line, where rookie running back Trayveon Williams pounded the ball in to the end zone. After Bullock’s extra point, the Bengals were up 7-0 with 7:45 left in the first quarter.

The Chiefs got the ball and immediately gave it to Travis Kelce for a 36-yard gain. They moved the ball down the field relatively quick compared to the Bengals, and didn’t even face a third down before running back Carlos Hyde drove the ball into the end zone with 3:58 left in the quarter. Harrison Butker nailed the extra point and the Chiefs had quickly tied the game. Mahomes was a perfect four for four on the drive with 66 yards.

Jeff Driskel came out for the second drive, but the possession ended in a punt.

Chad Henne and Kyle Shurmur split signal calling duties for the Chiefs next possession and moved the offense almost as efficiently as Mahomes normally does. The highlight of the drive was a shorts pass to Mecole Hardman that went for 17 yards and the score. With the extra point, the Chiefs had taken the lead, 14-7 with 11:45 remaining in the second quarter.

The Chiefs added a field goal with :50 to go before halftime. Darius Phillips broke up a pass in the end zone to force the field goal, then returned the ensuing kickoff to the Bengals’ 43 yard line with :42 left in the first half. Unfortunately, sacks derailed any last chance to score and Jeff Driskelthrew up a Hail Mary that was intercepted. The Chiefs led 17-7 at halftime.

The Chiefs received the second half kickoff and went three-and-out. But Phillips muffed the punt so the Chiefs got new life at the Bengals’ 19-yard line. After a holding penalty, the Chiefs’ new quarterback, Chase Litton, threw a short pass to Darwin Thompson, who took the ball for a 29-yard score. Butker got the extra point, and the Chiefs increased their lead to 24-7 with 12:39 left in the third quarter.

After drawing eight flags for 85 yards in the first half, the Bengals were on the receiving end of penalty yardage for a change. On the next drive, the offense couldn’t move the ball very far without help, though, and rookie kicker Tristan Vizcaino nailed a 47-yard field goal with 10:21. The Bengals were down by 14 points, with a score of 24-10.

Another muffed punt gave the Chiefs a second opportunity to start inside Bengals’ territory. Littonfired off two 14-yard passes, the second one in the end zone to Deon Yelder. With the extra point, the Chiefs were up 31-10 with 1:03 left in the third quarter.

Ryan Finley lead the offense for his second drive, and went seven for his first seven throws. He connected with fellow rookie Jordan Ellis for a 10-yard score with 11:22 left in the game. Vizcaino made the kick, and the score was now 31-17.

Between his first two drives, Finley completed 12 of 13 pass attempts with 100 yards and a touchdown, earning a passer rating of 124.4.

The Chiefs had one more shot to put points on the scoreboard as running back Josh Caldwellbroke out for a 47-yard run to get the Chiefs on the four-yard line. On the next play, Caldwell took it the distance and widened the gap by six more points. With the extra point, 38-17 would be the final score.

The Bengals’ next game will be in Landover, Maryland against the Redskins on Thursday, August 15th at 7:30 PM.

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