In this week’s review, the Cincinnati Bengals take fans back to the 1990’s. Last second footwork helps Cincinnati Football escape a road challenge. Plus, this college basketball season has it’s first major upset.

The Cincinnati Bengals drop to 0-10 for the first time since 1993

For only the second time in franchise history, the Cincinnati Bengals are 0-10. Through their 17-10 Sunday road loss to the Oakland Raiders. Cincinnati is in the midst of their longest losing streak in franchise history. Sunday’s loss is now part of a 12 game losing streak. The Bengals last regular season win was in Week 15 of the 2018 season. Cincinnati is also the first NFL team to be officially eliminated from playoff contention. The fastest any team has been eliminated from playoff contention since 2002.

Cincinnati got on the board first in a drive that featured many highlights. Cincinnati got the ball through a fumble recovered by Nick Vigil. The drive survived through a Tyler Eifert reception on fourth down. Moments later Joe Mixon scored his first rushing touchdown of the season. In fact, it was the first rushing touchdown by a Bengal other than Andy Dalton this season. In a touching moment, Mixon gave the ball to his mom after scoring. A bay area native, Mixon reserved 75 tickets for friends and family.

The Bengals went into the second quarter with a 7-0 lead. Oakland ultimately went on to score 14 unanswered points. Auden Tate put Cincinnati into field goal range less than a minute before halftime. Randy Bullock ultimately missed a 53 yard field goal to wrap up the drive. Effectively sending the Bengals into the locker room down 14-7. Unfortunately, Tate was carted off the field later in the second half. Suffering an apparent neck injury after making a catch.

Randy Bullock made a field goal in the third quarter, making it 10-14. Oakland later made it a seven point game again with a field goal. It would remain that way through the end of the game. Cincinnati ultimately lost through blundering some potential scoring opportunities. Including an opportunity in their final drive through an interception.

Cincinnati Football survives another close road game

Saturday was a showcase in what makes special teams important in football. The Cincinnati Bearcats beat USF Football 20-17 through a last second Sam Crosa field goal. Cincinnati was able to take advantage of a rough night for USF’s kicking unit. USF’s Spencer Shrader missed four field goals in this game. Including one that set up the Bearcats game-winning drive.

Cincinnati won despite being shutout in the first half. Trailing 10-0 before a third quarter Gerrid Doaks touchdown snapped the shutout. This, a Michael Warren II touchdown in the fourth and Sam Crosa made the difference for Cincinnati. Saturday was the second consecutive time the Bearcats won on the road by three. Nevertheless, the Bearcats remain undefeated in conference play.

The local college basketball roundup

Kentucky Basketball’s loss to Evansville was last week’s biggest college basketball story. With Evansville shocking the top ranked team in the country in Lexington. There were no shocks for greater Cincinnati area teams. Cincinnati Basketball beat Drake handily in their home opener last Monday. They also beat Alabama A&M rather handily last Thursday.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s season-opening loss looks even more like a quality loss in hindsight. After their opponent Ohio State battered Villanova last Wednesday in Columbus. Xavier had a few close calls against Missouri and Missouri State. Free throws helped Northern Kentucky win 68-69 over Coastal Carolina last Tuesday. Northern Kentucky had a more comfortable 12 point win Sunday against Coppin State.