All Bengals

Postgame Observations: Jake Browning Leads Late Touchdown Drive, Bengals Tie Falcons 13-13

The Bengals tied the Falcons in Atlanta on Friday night.

James Rapien

Postgame Observations: Jake Browning Leads Late Touchdown Drive, Bengals Tie Falcons 13-13
Postgame Observations: Jake Browning Leads Late Touchdown Drive, Bengals Tie Falcons 13-13 /
In this story:

CINCINNATI — The Bengals rallied, but had to settle for a 13-13 tie with the Falcons on Friday night in Atlanta.

Jake Browning led Cincinnati on their first touchdown drive of the preseason and the Bengals nearly escaped Atlanta with the win. 

Browning had an up and down night, but he completed 5-straight passes after an ugly fourth quarter interception, calmly guiding the Bengals downfield for the game-winning score. 

Rookie running back Chase Brown scored from 3-yards out to give Cincinnati the lead with 50 seconds remaining. 

Logan Whiteside led the Falcons downfield for the game-tying field goal with just two seconds remaining. 

The Bengals are 0-1-1 this preseason. Check out our postgame observations below.

First-Team Defense Makes Stand

The Falcons started the game by going on a 15-play drive that took nearly 10 minutes off the clock. Atlanta had 1st-and-goal from the 4-yard line. Back-to-back false start penalties gave Cincinnati an opportunity to get off the field.

Dax Hill tackled Bijan Robinson in the open field on second down and then Mike Hilton came up big in his hometown, batting a pass into the air, which allowed Joseph Ossai to snag the interception.

Cincinnati's first-string defense was going to play one series, regardless of the outcome. They made plays deep into the drive and they were able to get some in-game conditioning with the start of the regular season just three weeks away.

"That's what Mike Hilton does. He comes up big when it matters," Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin said on the broadcast. "We got good work there and didn't give up anything at the end."

Quarterback Battle 

Trevor Siemian started the game at quarterback, completing his first four passes for 41 yards. 

He found Chris Evans for a 10-yard slant and also connected with Trenton Irwin for a 14-yard gain.

The Bengals' first drive stalled out just outside the red zone when Zac Taylor opted to go for it on 4th-and-2. Siemian tried to hit Irwin with a back shoulder throw in the end zone, but the timing was off and the Bengals turned the ball over on downs.

After starting 4-for-4, Siemian only completed three more passes, finishing the half 7-of-14 for 62 yards.

That is the inconsistency that we've seen throughout training camp from both backup quarterbacks. 

Browning got his chance in the second half. He was inconsistent, but delivered with the game on the line. He completed all five of his passes on the final drive for 47 yards. He also ran for 33 yards on the drive. 

Browning finished 16-of-22 for 140 yards and one interception. 

The turnover was on third down late in the fourth quarter. He tried to force it to Irwin, but there was no chance the ball was going to get caught. Watch the play below. 

Browning's response to the ugly interception could give him a slight edge over Siemian in the battle to be Joe Burrows backup.

Rookie Receivers Show Potential 

Andrei Iosivas continues to show flashes of what his future could look like in a Bengals uniform. The rookie wide-out caught a 16-yard pass from Browning at the end of the third quarter. He battled through a defensive pass interference penalty to make the catch. 

He also caught an 18-yard pass from Browning on their touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to give Cincinnati a first down at the Falcons' four-yard line. 

Iosivas finished with five receptions for 44 yards. 

Charlie Jones also got going in the second half. He caught 3-straight passes from Browning late in the third quarter. One was nullified by a holding penalty, but Jones showed his ability to get open and made it easy on his quarterback. 

He finished with four receptions (six targets) for 36 yards.

Shedrick Jackson also had a nice night, finishing with four receptions for 42 yards. 

Jonah Starts

Jonah Williams got the start at right tackle. It was his first in-game reps at that position since his college days at Alabama. He fared well during Cincinnati's opening drive. Williams was on the field for 10 plays and everything we've seen in practice throughout camp translated to the game.

The 25-year-old looks poised to have a great season, which is great news for the Bengals offense.

No Murphy

First round pick Myles Murphy is out tonight due to an illness. Like Hilton, the rookie is from Atlanta. Unfortunate that he couldn't suit up.

Murphy has shown flashes in practice, but he needs snaps to continue to develop and grow.

Young D-Lineman Flash

Cam Sample, Jeff Gunter and Raymond Johnson III showed their potential in the first half. All three guys made plays.

Johnson and Gunter had a half sack each in the red zone. The Bengals defense tipped four passes in the first half.

They gave up a touchdown in the third quarter, but Lou Anarumo's crew did a good job overall, holding Atlanta to just 10 points. 

Money Mac

Evan McPherson made a 50-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to tie the game 3-3. He also made a 31-yard attempt. He's a perfect 6-for-6 this preseason. 

Up Next

The Bengals head to Washington DC to play the Commanders on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 6:05 p.m. ET. It's Cincinnati's third and final preseason game. 

Catch NFL football on fuboTV throughout the 2023 season! Start your free trial here.

For more on the Bengals, watch the video below and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Make sure you bookmark All Bengals for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

You May Also Like:

Tee Higgins Downplays Missing Team Reps During Bengals Training Camp 'Just Precaution'

Bengals Film Breakdown: Analyzing the Three Most-Likely Options For Swing Tackle Spot

Tee Higgins Highlights Special Bond With Tyler Boyd, Ja'Marr Chase: 'Blood Couldn't Make Us Any Closer'

Watch: Bengals Clips and Highlights From a Rain-Filled Monday Session

Where Experts Rank Joe Burrow’s Skillset Among NFL's Best Quarterbacks

Lou Anarumo on Myles Murphy's Preseason Debut: 'Chalk it up to' First NFL Experience

Watch: Fights Spark During Bengals, Packers Joint Practice

Look: Bengals Release Full Uniform Schedule For 2023 Season

Watch: Joe Burrow Attends Bengals Practice For First Time Since Calf Injury

Former Bengals Star T.J. Houshmandzadeh Offers Update on Joe Burrow: He's 'Good to Go'

Look: Chad Johnson Attends Bengals Training Camp Practice, Chats With Receivers

DJ Reader Shares Hilarious Story About Joe Burrow From Super Bowl LVI

Sam Hubbard on Bengals Training Camp Plan: Zac Taylor 'Trusts us' Veterans

ESPN Names Cam Taylor-Britt Among 2023 Breakout Candidates

Mike Hilton Responds to Odell Beckham Jr.'s Super Bowl Comments: 'We'll See Him Week 2'

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on All Bengals all the time!

Subscribe to the All Bengals YouTube channel

Follow AllBengals on Twitter: @AllBengals

Like Our Facebook Page

Subscribe and follow the ONLY Daily Bengals Podcast

Follow on TikTok

Published
James Rapien
JAMES RAPIEN

James Rapien is the publisher of Bengals On SI. He's also the host of the Locked on Bengals podcast and Cincinnati Bengals Talk on YouTube. The Cincinnati native also wrote a book about the history of the Cincinnati Bengals called Enter The Jungle. Prior to joining Bengals On SI, Rapien worked at 700 WLW and ESPN 1530 in Cincinnati

Home/Gameday