RECAP: Bengals Exploit Cardinals in Week 5 Showdown
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ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals are now 1-4 after five weeks of football, their latest defeat coming in Week 5's 34-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at State Farm Stadium.
It was initially a back-and-forth game as the Cardinals once held the lead in the second quarter. Heading into the final period of play, Arizona trailed by just four points.
Yet the Bengals found their rhythm and quickly put their foot on the gas, establishing a double digit lead over the Cardinals and never looking back for a win in the desert.
Here's how the action panned out:
First Quarter
The Bengals won the toss and deferred until the second half, allowing Josh Dobbs and co. to take the field first, though Arizona wasn't able to do anything with their first opportunity.
Dobbs missed two open receivers and the Cardinals were forced to punt after just three plays.
Joe Burrow and the struggling Bengals offense took their first turn, though it appeared they found a new sense of urgency before Week 5.
Cincinnati pieced together multiple first downs before finding themselves in scoring position, which ultimately ended on a third-and-goal touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase for the first score of the day.
Yes, he did hit the griddy.
That's a @Real10jayy__ TUDDY #CINatAZ | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/ewnrYsGO3F
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 8, 2023
CIN 7, AZ 0
Looking to respond, the Cardinals again were pushed to a three-and-out after Dobbs missed Marquise Brown deep downfield and Rondale Moore was swarmed on a third-down screen pass.
After the ensuing punt was returned to the AZ 48, the Bengals again marched down the field and found themselves near the goal line before a 15-yard sack by Kevin Strong forced Cincinnati to settle for a 40-yard Evan McPherson to extend the lead to double digits with just under two minutes to play in the quarter
CIN 10, AZ 0
On their third drive, the Cardinals gained their first first-down of the game with a 13-yard pass to Trey McBride.
Arizona will begin the second quarter on a third-and-short.
Second Quarter
Brown was found on a crossing route for a 18-yard gain to push Arizona into enemy territory for the first time, and that was later the same connection that pushed the Cardinals into the end zone for the first time today after Dobbs hit him on a 25-yard dot down the right sideline.
Hollywood, Arizona
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #CINvsAZ on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/J95zcqbjSc
CIN 10, AZ 7
Hoping to respond, the Bengals went three-and-out for the first time thanks to a Dante Stills sack, the first of his career.
Looking to either tie or take the lead, the Cardinals pushed into the red zone on a 35-yard James Conner scamper. Two plays later, Dobbs connected with Zach Ertz for a four-yard score to take the lead.
Zach Ertz find his way back into the end zone! @ZERTZ_86
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #CINvsAZ on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/MmfAmXYzDy
AZ 14, CIN 10
*Update* James Conner left with a knee injury and is questionable to return
For a second straight drive, the Bengals went three-and-out on offense and seemingly reverted back to their old offensive form.
After forcing a Cardinals punt, Cincinnati again regained momentum and found themselves in scoring position with under three minutes to play in the half.
Entering inside the five-yard line, the Bengals were stopped on first, second and third down by the Cardinals defense on rushing attempts from Joe Mixon. Opting to go for it on fourth down, the Bengals were again stumped on the ground as Arizona's defense held strong near the goal line.
Taking over with 1:30 left, Dobbs had a pass zip through Zach Pascal's hands which landed in the palms of Cam Taylor-Britt, who returned the interception back for six.
That was Dobbs' first interception of the year.
Cam Taylor-Britt pick-six for the lead! @CamTaylorBritt_
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #CINvsAZ on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/8ou9t4bP1L
CIN 17, AZ 14
Neither team would squeeze anything out of the remaining time in the half. The Bengals will receive the ball to begin the second half.
Third Quarter
The second half began with quite the bang, as Burrow found Chase 63 yards downfield to extend their lead back to double digits.
JA'MARR GOT ANOTHER
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #CINvsAZ on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/0G3jJUcLtJ
CIN 24, AZ 14
The Cardinals would respond with their longest drive of the day, going on a lengthy 11-play, 75-yard drive that ultimately ended with an 11-yard rush by Arizona running back Emari Demercado.
Matt Prater missed the extra point.
First NFL TD for Emari Demercado 👏 @Money_E3
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #CINvsAZ on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/VeumQ4XnlH
CIN 24, AZ 20
With the Bengals looking to match Arizona's score, Burrow was intercepted by K'Von Wallace.
K'Von Wallace gives his offense the ball back @KVonWallace
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #CINvsAZ on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/2LLBDLOTch
On the ensuing play, Rondale Moore took a jet sweep for a 40-yard gain to push the Cardinals deep into Cincinnati territory.
Faced with a fourth-and-one, Arizona kept their offense on the field and dialed up a Josh Dobbs QB-keeper, which was sniffed by the Bengals immediately and were held short.
Burrow rushed for a first down to extend Cincinnati's drive as time expired.
Fourth Quarter
The Bengals had two goals on the first drive of the fourth quarter: Chew clock, and extend the lead.
They were able to do both.
Cincinnati constructed a masterful 15-play, 83-yard drive that ended in a third touchdown for Chase after Burrow zipped it through tight coverage.
3 tuddies! @Real10jayy__
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #CINvsAZ on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/bJxMYOHeze
CIN 31, AZ 20
On the first play of the following drive, Dobbs was strip-sacked by Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals recovered.
Cincinnati was able to add a field goal to extend their lead to 14 points with 6:33 remaining.
CIN 34, AZ 20
Dobbs was sacked on the first play of the ensuing drive, the third time of the day he was brought down. Two plays later, he threw his second interception of the game.
Time ran out - the clock hit zero - and the Cardinals saw the end of another game that didn't fall in their favor.