FINAL: Falcons Tie Bengals 13-13 After Koo Comes Up Clutch
The Atlanta Falcons (1-0) will give their starters a dress rehearsal tonight as they take on the Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Tonight, the Falcons are set with Desmond Ridder at quarterback in his first game since Week 18 of last season. Ridder started the final four games of the 2022 season, going 2-2 and winning his last two games.
Ridder will have some fresh faces in the backfield, including this year's No. 8 overall pick Bijan Robinson. The former Texas Longhorn has high expectations for the 2023 season, with many tabbing him as the potential Offensive Rookie of the Year. Tonight, we should get a sneak peak as to what that may look like for a few drives.
Other starters like Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Tyler Allgeier and the offensive line should also see a bit of action, but it remains to be seen how much time these players will get. It would be surprising to see them play longer than the first half.
WHAT: Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at Atlanta Falcons (1-0)
WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (75,000)
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, 7:30 p.m. ET
TELEVISION: WAGA-TV Fox 5 / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: WZGC-FM 92.9 The Game
TICKETS: SI Tickets
BETTING: SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Bengals +6.5
TOTAL: 38.5
MONEYLINE: Bengals +220, Falcons -111
Stick around with Falcon Report throughout the evening as we provide drive-by-drive coverage and highlights during tonight's game.
First Quarter
(0-0) 15:00: The Falcons' offense started the drive behind the sticks with two holding penalties, one from the kickoff and the next on the first play from scrimmage.
(0-0) 14:00: Following a 15-yard completion to Mack Hollins, Ridder found tight end Kyle Pitts for a first down on a nine-yard completion.
(0-0) 13:20: Bijan Robinson's first NFL carry is taken for a 12-yard gain and another first down.
(0-0) 9:20: Ridder found London on third and 12 for a 22-yard completion, which is under review after a coach's challenge from the Bengals. After review, the catch was confirmed.
(0-0) 7:10: Ridder scrambles for seven yards on third and four, continuing the Falcons' drive, which is now inside the Bengals' five-yard-line.
(0-0) 5:10: A pass from Ridder was tipped into the air off the hand of Scotty Miller and caught by Bengals' edge rusher Joseph Ossai.
Change of Possession
(0-0) 3:10: Trevor Siemian found Drew Sample for a 13-yard gain and a first down.
(0-0) 1:50: Two successive defensive holding penalties on the Falcons' extended the Bengals' drive.
(0-0) 0:30: A Jessie Bates tackle on third and six kept the Bengals short of the sticks.
Second Quarter
(0-0) 15:00: On fourth and two, the Falcons were able to come up with a stop on a pass from Siemian intended for Trenton Irwin.
Change of Possession
(0-0) 11:15: Taylor Heinicke scrambled four yards, bringing up a third and one. After a false start penalty on the Falcons, Heinicke couldn't find Josh Ali for a first down.
Change of Possession
(0-0) 10:24: The Falcons' defense finds a third down stop as Clifford Chattman keeps running back Chase Brown short of the stick.
Change of Possession
(0-0) 9:24: Heinicke finds Ali for a first down on a 21-yard reception after a sack.
(0-0) 8:21: A Heinicke pass is almost intercepted on second down. Heinicke then bounces back with a 15-yard pass to Xavier Malone.
(0-0) 5:07: Heinicke finds Ali for a five-yard gain, setting the Falcons up for a third and eight from the Bengals' nine-yard-line.
(3-0) 4:43: Heinicke was sacked on third down, setting up a 36-yard field goal.
Falcons 3, Bengals 0
Change of Possession
(3-0) 2:25: The Falcons defensive line pressured Siemian into a throwaway on third and eight, forcing a punt.
Change of Possession
(3-0) 1:13: Heinicke's pass intended for Miller fell incomplete on second and five. Then after being pressured, Heinicke scrambled 10 yards for a first-down.
(3-0) 0:29: After a false start penalty, the Falcons were backed into a third and 15, where a pass to Carlos Washington Jr., wasn't enough to pick up the first-down as he gained just 10 yards.
(3-0) 0:29: On fourth and five, Heinicke's pass to John FitzPatrick fell incomplete.
Change of Possession
(3-0) 0:11: Siemian finds Charlie Jones for a first-down, taking the Bengals to the Falcons' 42-yard-line. Siemian then finds another receiver for another first-down to the Atlanta 32.
(3-3) 0:04: Evan McPherson connects on a 50-yard field goal.
Falcons 3, Bengals 3
Third Quarter
(6-3) 8:52: Evan McPherson nails a 31-yard field goal
Bengals 6, Falcons 3
Change of Possession
(6-3) 5:21: Heinicke finds J.J. Arcega-Whitside on a 27-yard completion.
(10-6) 5:14: Washington punches the ball into the endzone on a one-yard touchdown run.
Falcons 10, Bengals 6
Change of Possession
Four Quarter
(10-6) 14:00: Justin Ellis sacked Jake Browning on second down.
Change of Possession
(10-6) 10:09: A Heinicke pass intended for Penny Hart fell incomplete on fourth down.
Change of Possession
(10-6) 9:13: Browning's pass was incomplete on third and nine as the Falcons forced a punt.
Change of Possession
(10-6) 7:13: The Falcons punted after a three-and-out.
Change of Possession
(10-6) 5:36: DeMarcco Hellams picks off Jake Browning on third-down.
Change of Possession
(10-6) 3:16: After the Falcons picked up six yards on two runs, Logan Woodside was sacked on third-down.
Change of Possession
(10-6) 1:56: Browning scrambles for 19 yards and a first-down.
(10-6) 0:56: Brown rushes for two yards down to the Atlanta 3-yard-line.
(13-10) 0:56: Brown rushes three yards for a touchdown.
Bengals 13, Falcons 10
Change of Possession
(13-10) 0:24: Woodside finds Malone for 19 yards, then FitzPatrick for 25 yards.
(13-10) 0:11: Woodside spikes the ball on third and six. A deep ball to Malone fell incomplete as the Falcons will have Younghoe Koo attempt a 45-yard field goal.
(13-13) 0:02: Koo drills the game-tying 45-yard field goal for the Falcons.
FINAL: Falcons 13, Bengals 13
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