Bengals vs Panthers final score: Cincinnati and Carolina tie at 37 after missed OT field goal

37. 56. 37. 87. Final

After the Cincinnati Bengals embarrassed themselves in week five against the New England Patriots, leading to the team’s first loss of the year, they looked to bounce back against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers at home Sunday. After a seesaw, back and forth affair, neither the Panthers or Bengals ended with a loss, resulting in a 37-37 tie in overtime.

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The Carolina Panthers struck first when Cam Newton was able to find Kelvin Benjamin in the end zone and Benjamin somehow held onto the ball to make it 7-0 midway through the first quarter.

The Bengals were able to get the first two scores of the second quarter and take a 14-7 lead after an Andy Dalton touchdown pass to Brandon Tate followed by a 89-yard rushing touchdown by Giovani Bernard.

A 39-yard field goal by Graham Gano made it 10-14 for the Panthers and the Bengals were able to answer with a 44-yard field goal by Mike Nugent to end the half, extending their lead to 17-10. The third quarter was all Carolina after Fozzy Whitaker was able to pound in a four-yard touchdown early in the quarter and Cam Newton got his only rushing touchdown of the day later in the quarter on a 12-yard rush. This made the score 24-17 going into the fourth. Andy Dalton and the Bengals struck first in the fourth on a 34-yard bomb to Mohamed Sanu, tying the game at 24.

The score remained knotted up until Cam Newton was able to get his third touchdown of the game on a 13-yard strike to tight end Greg Olson in the end zone to take a 31-24 lead with just under five minutes to go in the game.

On the ensuing kick-off, Adam Jones took it 97 yards for Cincinnati, who looked like they were almost finished after Newton’s touchdown on the previous play. From the three yard line, Jeremy Hill was able to pound it in, tying up the game at 31 with four and a half minutes to play.

Carolina’s next possession ended early as Cam Newton threw an interception on 3rd down and 13 to go on a pass intended for Kelvin Benjamin. Reggie Nelson got the pick for Cincinnati leading to a 31-yard return. On the Bengals ensuing possession, Carolina’s defense was able to make a huge stand, leading to a 38-yard field goal by Mike Nugent that gave them the 34-31 lead with just 2:11 left on the clock.

After Carolina got the ball back they began pushing it down the field after a Cam Newton 9-yard rush and a 16-yard pass to Grego Olson putting them at mid-field. After a couple more completions and a rush, Newton found Benjamin at the 29-yard line putting them in easy field goal scoring position with no timeouts left. After a middle field completion by Newton to Brenton Bersin and Newton spiked the ball with six seconds on the clock. Graham Gano came in for the 44-yard game tying field goal attempt and sunk it, forcing the game to overtime.

The Bengals won the toss in overtime and elected to receive. They quickly pushed the ball down the field after Andy Dalton hit Sanu for 15 yards to the Carolina 44, followed by a 10-yard Bernard rush to the 32. But, Carolina was able to hold the Bengals on the 24-yard line, leading to a field goal make by Mike Nugent taking the lead to 37-34. Since it was a field goal on the first possession of overtime, Carolina was able to try and retaliate.

The Panthers marched right back down the field led by Cam Newton’s rushing and found themselves with a fourth down and one on the Cincinnati 18-yard line. Ron Rivera made the call to take the field goal and Graham Gano tied it up at 37 with 2 minutes and 24 seconds left in overtime.

Cincinnati got the ball back and was once again able to push the ball down the field after a 24-yard throw through the air from Dalton to James Wright as well as a roughing the passer penalty that was added on. This put the Bengals on the Carolina 18 and led to a 36-yard field goal attempt that was missed by Mike Nugent resulting the game in a tie. Nugent hit three other field goals in the game.

Carolina won the turnover battle, forcing two interceptions on Andy Dalton by Antoine Cason and Roman Harper, but Carolina’s one turnover was the most costly when Cam Newton threw his only pick of the day with three minutes left in regulation.

It was by far Newton’s best performance this season, despite losing the costly fourth quarter interception as he was able to nab 284 passing yards along with his team leading 107 rushing yards as well as three total touchdowns, two coming through the air.

Andy Dalton played well despite two interceptions. He was playing without his top target and one of the top receivers in the league in A.J. Green but was still able to throw for 323 yards and two touchdowns. It was Cincinnati’s rushing game that kept them in it especially due to Bernard’s monster 89-yard touchdown. Jeremy Hill added another rushing touchdown in the fourth.

If definitely was not the defensive game we expected as the two teams put up 74 points and 944 total yards.

Carolina will take their 3-2-1 record to Green Bay in another tough match up for the Panthers next week.

The 3-1-1 Bengals will head to Indianapolis next week in another tough game.

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