In this week’s review, takeaways from the Cincinnati Bengals’ overtime win. The Cincinnati Bearcats’ are set to move into the Power Five. Plus, FC Cincinnati’s search of their first win at TQL Stadium ends.

Four takeaways from Cincinnati Bengals season-opening win

The Cincinnati Bengals season is off to a suspenseful yet winning start. After beating the Minnesota Vikings in overtime 27-24 at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium yesterday. The Bengals had what was once a 21-7 lead chipped away throughout the second half. With an last-second field goal from Minnesota’s Greg Joseph sending it to overtime at 24 all. Then the Bengals winning through a last-second overtime field goal. Putting an offseason thought that the Bengals might have a tie finish. In this expanded 17 game season to the test in Week 1.

The first takeaway was a good opening day for two Bengals rookies. Wide Receiver Ja’Marr Chase and kicker Evan McPherson. After dropping all the passes to him in the preseason. Chase got his first career reception and touchdown in Sunday’s game. Joining Tee Higgins and Joe Mixon as Bengals with opening week touchdowns. Chase led the Bengals with five receptions for 101 yards. Being the only player to surpass 100 receiving yards; Mixon had a game-leading 127 rushing yards. While McPherson nailed the game-winning 33 yd field goal. Prompting teammates to hoist him up after the game.

McPherson’s field goal was just one of a few clutch plays for the Bengals in OT. McPherson was put in position to kick the game-winner through C.J. Uzomah. Who snagged a 32 yd reception on 4th and inches to put the Bengals in field goal range. Cincinnati’s Germaine Pratt also recovered an overtime fumble by Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. Giving the Bengals the ball for their decisive drive.

Third, Cincinnati was able to capitalize on numerous Minnesota Vikings penalties. Vikings fans weren’t the only ones befuddled by Minnesota’s penalties. Normally the Bengals would be the ones stumbling over themselves penalty-wise. The Vikings had four penalties giving up 25 yards in their opening drive. By halftime it was ten penalties giving up 91 yards; while the Bengals had just one first half penalty for five yds.

Fourth, the Bengals defense had a mixed debut. They struggled to keep Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins from throwing to the corners. Giving him and the Vikings opportunities for long gains and touchdowns. As Vikings receiver Adam Thielen scored two touchdowns. Though the Bengals defense still found ways to mash up Minnesota. B.J. Hill sacked Cousins twice and Larry Ogunjobi sacked him once. Plus, Germaine Pratt’s previously mentioned fumble recovery.

Pratt’s eight tackles trailed Bengals game-leader Jessie Bates III by one. Meanwhile, the Bengals offensive line left the Vikings room to rough up quarterback Joe Burrow. In his first regular season game after his rookie season-ending injury. Burrow was sacked five times, one of those sacks was at the hands of a former Bengal. That former Bengal is Nick Vigil, he led the game with eight solo tackles.

The Bengals will face another familiar name this coming Sunday. When they travel to take on former Bengals QB Andy Dalton and the Chicago Bears. The Bears lost their opening game in prime time Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. This coming Sunday’s game is set to kick off at 1 PM Eastern on FOX.

The rest of the week that was

Switching from professional to college football, then No.7 Cincinnati Football beat Murray State Football 42-7 last Saturday. Now No.8 Cincinnati scored 35 at home in the second half. After a scoreless first quarter and a seven-all tie going into halftime. Prompting a sigh of relief from Cincinnati Bearcats fans. That came a day after Cincinnati was voted in as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Joining with three other expansion member schools; Brigham Young, Houston and Central Florida. The Bearcats will join the conference by 2024 at the latest.

Back on the football beat, the 2-0 Bearcats will have their first road game of the season this Saturday. Taking on Indiana Football at Noon Eastern on ESPN. Indiana is in a rare situation where their football team is garnering more national acclaim than their basketball teams. Indiana was ranked No.17 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25. They dropped out of the poll after a season-opening loss to Iowa Football.

FC Cincinnati get first win at TQL Stadium

FC Cincinnati got their first win at their home TQL Stadium last Saturday. Beating Toronto FC 2-0 in FCC’s tenth match at TQL Stadium. With Brenner scoring in the 39th minute and Haris Medunjanin scoring in the 58th minute. Snapping a 12 match losing streak (seven ties and five losses) in the process. While also marking a break from recent trends of FCC leads slipping away late.

FCC will try to keep their winning ways going with two matches this week. They travel to face Atlanta United Wednesday at 7 PM Eastern. The orange and blue will try to get their second win at TQL Stadium this Saturday. Taking on New York City FC at 7:30 PM Eastern. Both matches can be seen in Cincinnati on WSTR-TV 64.

Cincinnati Reds’ two out of three week

The Cincinnati Reds’ late season struggles continued last week. The Reds began the week losing two out of three on the road to the Chicago Cubs. Then after winning the first game against the St. Louis Cardinals last Friday. Cincinnati lost the final two games of their series in St. Louis. The Reds go into this week losing their last six series in a row. While the Cardinals are now a game behind the Reds in the National League wild card race. The Reds and San Diego Padres are now tied for the last wild card spot.

Beyond winning, last Friday’s game featured another highlight for the Reds. First baseman Joey Votto marked his 38th birthday through hitting his 30th homer of the season; the 325th of his career. Surpassing Frank Robinson to reach second on the Reds’ all-time home run hitters list. Johnny Bench leads the franchise with 389 career homers. Speaking of Bench, he’s reportedly recovering from a bout with COVID-19.

This week, the Reds will face one of the worst and one of the best teams in baseball. Cincinnati starts off the week facing the cellar-dwelling Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh. Tuesday and Wednesday’s games are set to start at 6:35 PM Eastern. Thursday’s finale is set to start at 12:35 PM Eastern. The Reds return home later this week to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Los Angeles goes into Monday 2.5 games behind the leading San Francisco Giants in the National League West. The Dodgers hold a wide lead over the Reds and Padres for the first wild card spot. LA will go into the series without former Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer. He’s on administrative leave for the rest of the season; after being accused of sexual assault. First pitches are set for Friday at 7:10 PM, Saturday at 2:10 PM and Sunday at 1:10 PM Eastern.

A big week for local women’s sports

There were two major Cincinnati women’s sports stories last week. In tennis, Cincinnati native Catherine McNally advanced to the U.S. Open women’s doubles final. She and teammate Cori “Coco” Gauff lost Sunday’s final 3-6, 6-3 and 3-6. To this year’s Western and Southern Open women’s double champions Samantha Stosur and Zhang Shuai.

In golf news, the LPGA is set to return to Cincinnati next year. Through the Kroger Queen City Championship Sept 8-11,2022. Announced last week, the event will take place at the Kenwood Country Club. Which hosted the 1963 U.S. Women’s Open, featuring tennis and golf legend Althea Gibson. She became the first Black golfer to play in that tournament that year.

Kings Island hosted the LPGA Championship from 1978-1989. Earlier this summer, the region hosted the Prasco Charity Championship. An event in the LPGA’s developmental Symetra Tour; won by England’s Meghan MacLaren.