Packers at Bengals final score: Late Green Bay turnover leads to Cincy game-winning TD
By Sydney Hunte
The Cincinnati Bengals would get the last laugh after a sloppy first half performance. Following four turnovers in the first and second quarter, the Bengals forced one late–a Terrance Newman fumble return with 4:01 left after an important reversed call against the Green Bay Packers would be enough for Cincy to pick up a 34-30 win.
Green Bay held a 30-14 lead with 5:36 left in the 3rd. But Andy Dalton found A.J. Green for a 20-yard score to make it 30-21 less than two minutes later. On the Packers’ ensuing drive early in the 4th, Aaron Rodgers would throw his second pick–grabbed by Leon Hall–and the Bengals added another touchdown on the ensuing possession to draw within 30-27 with 11:04 left.
Cincinnati got a big break on Green Bay’s next drive, and that break would lead to the game-winning score. On 3rd and 12 at the 41, Rodgers found Randall Cobb for 12 yards for what appeared to be a first down at the Bengals 29. Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis would then challenge the spot and was successful; the ball would be backed up to the 30 to force a 4th and short. On the next play, Johnathan Franklin was stripped trying to hurdle the pile to get to the marker; Newman recovered and ran it back 58 yards for the eventual winning touchdown.
The Packers were hurt by a sub-par performance by Rodgers, who nearly went for 500 yards last week. He was held to just 244 yards on 26 of 43 passing. In the end, turnovers were the difference for Green Bay, and two critical ones cost them the game.
Green Bay (1-2) goes into the bye down two running backs–Eddie Lacy (concussion) and James Starks (knee). Clay Matthews (hamstring) and Jermichael Finley (concussion) are also banged up going into the off week. Cincinnati (2-1) visits the Browns next Sunday.