Bengals Won't Join AFC's Elite Until Cincinnati Learns to Win in Prime Time

The Cincinnati Bengals struggle on the big stage. That has been a prevailing narrative about this team since Andy Dalton became the Bengals' starting quarterback in 2011. And though it may seem like a tired narrative, a cliched one or even a lazy one, unfortunately for the Bengals, it is true.

Coming into Sunday night's game against the New England Patriots, the Bengals were the last undefeated team in the NFL, with a 3-0 record after their Week 4 bye. And the Patriots, at 2-2, were viewed as reeling, with quarterback Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots offense struggling through the first quarter of the season.

However, the Bengals also came into Sunday night's game with a poor track record in big games and in prime time. In the Dalton era, the Bengals now fall to 2-5 in prime time. Add in the three postseason losses, and the Bengals are 2-8 in either prime time or big-time contests. It's hard to ignore the fact that this is becoming a problem. 

It's also hard to say that the Bengals, with just one loss, are truly among the AFC's top-tier teams. Their record is sharp, yes, and their first three wins were decisive. This is undoubtedly a talented team on offense, defense and special teams, and the coaching staff has molded something impressive from the roster. 

Date	Opponent	Result
1/7/2012	@ HOU	L, 31-10
9/10/2012	@ BAL	L, 44-13
10/21/2012	vs. PIT	L, 24-17
12/13/2012	@ PHI	W, 34-13
1/5/2013	@ HOU	L, 27-10
9/16/2013	vs. PIT	W, 20-10
10/31/2013	@ MIA	L, 22-20 (OT)
12/15/2013	@ PIT	L, 30-20
1/5/2014	vs. SD	L, 27-10
10/4/2014	@ NE	L, 43-17

But it takes more than just winning the workaday games when half of the other teams in the league are also playing. The Bengals need to win when in the spotlight, on national television, with no other games competing for football fans' attention. That is the true court of public opinion in the NFL whether the Bengals like it or not.

Cincinnati came out flat immediately in the 43-17 loss Sunday night, with the defense allowing a touchdown drive on the Patriots' first possession. At the time, it was only the fifth touchdown the Bengals defense had given up all year. But it wouldn't be the last of the night. 

The Patriots scored again on their second drive, widening their lead to 14 after Mike Nugent missed a 52-yard field-goal attempt at the end of the Bengals' first drive. The Bengals did later get a first-half field goal—but then so did New England yet again. 

And it got worse at the end of the half. After the Patriots kicked off from their second field-goal success, Bengals returner Brandon Tate was stopped at the Bengals' nine-yard line. A.J. Green then fumbled the ball, recovered by the Patriots at the six-yard line. Yet another Stephen Gostkowski field goal widened the Patriots' lead to 20-3 at halftime. 

The issues continued into the second half. The offense found little rhythm, though an Adam Jones punt return to the Patriots' 37-yard line led to a Mohamed Sanu touchdown reception on the following play. Later in the half, Dalton was able to take advantage of a hamstring injury suffered by Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis and hit Green for a 17-yard score.

Dalton finished the night completing 15 of 24 passes for 204 yards, two touchdowns and took one sack, his first of the season. Running back Giovani Bernard rushed 13 times for 62 yards.

Though the run game averaged 4.4 yards per carry, running the ball was sacrificed to throwing in order to try and catch up. The Bengals thus rushed a combined 18 times in the game. And the offense went zero of seven in third-down conversions on the night.

Making matters worse were two backbreaking second-half fumbles, the first by Tate coughing up the football in a kick return, which was recovered for a touchdown by the Patriots' Kyle Arrington. The second, the final nail in the Bengals' coffin, was committed by Dane Sanzenbacher and lead to a field goal, the Patriots' final score of the night. 

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

But even worse than the offense struggling to stay on the same page was the defense's performance. Heading into Sunday night, the Bengals had the top scoring defense in the league, allowing an average of 11 points per game, and 16 points on average when on the road. The Patriots had surpassed that by halftime and nearly quadrupled the average once the game was finished.

By the half, the Patriots amassed 256 yards of offense—153 in passing by Brady and 110 in rushing on 22 carries. They were three of eight on third downs and had scored touchdowns on two of three red-zone appearances. By the game's end, the Patriots had converted six of 16 third downs and scored touchdowns on three of six trips to the red zone.

Ultimately, the Patriots put up 505 yards of offense, with Brady completing 25 of 35 pass attempts for 292 yards and two touchdowns. The only bright spot for the Bengals defense against him was their lone sack. But the pressure was hard to find beyond it, with Brady and the Patriots offense reading and picking up the Bengals' seemingly endless parade of ineffectual blitzes.

New England's run game also found success against the Bengals, with Stevan Ridley rushing 27 times for 113 yards and a score and Shane Vereen running nine times for 90 yards. In total, the Patriots rushed 46 times, earning them 220 yards—or 4.8 yards per rush.

This was not the performance of a Super Bowl favorite. Being a 3-0 team, one playing as well as the Bengals have been, raises expectations. Traveling to Foxborough on a Sunday night to take on the Patriots should be something the Bengals can handle and should be a game they do win if they are among the conference's best.

Because, for better or for worse, these are the types of games that are scrutinized, not home blowouts of the Tennessee Titans. The Bengals have a reputation of playing well in the afternoon and not so much in the higher-stakes contests, and they have to shake that reputation in order to be taken seriously. It might not be fair, but it is a situation they have put themselves in.

After this loss, the Bengals look disturbingly similar to how they have the previous three seasons: more than capable of reaching the playoffs and winning the AFC North, and more than capable of throwing it all away in their first postseason contest, regardless of opponent. 

Yet again, the Bengals don't look big-game ready. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was right: They were "on to Cincinnati." We're all on to them. Until the Bengals can turn heads in a positive way in prime time, it's hard to believe they can truly hang with the AFC's big boys.