Offenses Sputter, Rams Tied With Bengals At Half

In what was expected to be a meeting between two prolific offenses, the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals have managed just 12 first-half points.

Los Angeles and Cincinnati totaled 141 and 150 yards of offense, respectively, in the first half, as the Rams are the Bengals 6-6 at halftime Monday at Paycor Stadium.

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was in on his second sack of the first half which knocked the Bengals to the fringe of field goal range, but a 53-yard field goal from Evan McPherson as time expired tied the game. McPherson was 2-for-3 in the first half, making a 49-yard attempt and missing a 56-yarder.

Wide receiver Tutu Atwell was inches away from finding the end zone twice in the first half.

In the first quarter, Atwell appeared to take a 24-yard end around to the end zone for the game's first touchdown. However, after review, it was determined his heel came down out of bounds at the 2-yard line as he tried to tip toe his way down the sideline.

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Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked for a loss of nine yards, stalling the drive as kicker Brett Maher knocked through a 30-yard field goal.

Midway through the second quarter, three-straight completions — one each to Puka Nacua, Tyler Higbee and Atwell, respectively — set Los Angeles up at Cincinnati's 12-yard line. 

On third-and-3 from the Bengals' 5-yard line, Stafford's pass across the middle to the back of the end zone was just off of Atwell's fingertips, setting up Maher for his second made field goal of the half — a 23-yarder.

With quarterback Joe Burrow still battling a lingering calf injury, the Bengals' offense was shaky in the first half, as their longest play from scrimmage was a 26-yard completion. Before then, it was only a 12-yard pitch-and-catch.

Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson intercepted Stafford at the Rams' 41-yard line, but Cincinnati's offense was unable to capitalize and punted after a three-and-out.