Kupp was on an island facing double coverage most of the game and especially that last drive where he was the ONLY guy Stafford was even looking for. Yet he caught 4 passes and drew 3 flags. It was a bit of an epic performance really.
Higgins had a great game for sure but he was also enjoying the freedom that Chase being double-teamed provided from the opening kick off.
When you are the only guy the QB is looking at it stands to reason you are going to have a lot of receptions. It was a great effort from him for sure but I feel that Donald's two sacks as well as other key pressures despite being double teamed most of the night was the difference in the game as the Bengals had receiver performances from Higgins and Chase that could match Kupp but no answer for Donald. Defensive players just aren't as sexy a pick for MVP.
The forgotten big play in the end will be that drop by Boyd. Would have been a first down and maybe they can get a FG or even kill the game. First drop for him all year too.
Even if he holds on, he was a good 2 and a half yards short of the marker, and he was going to be tackled right away. It would have brought up a 4th and 1 or 4th and 1 and a half short of mid field, and with how the Rams defence was playing, I don't know if the Bengals would have went for it. The Bengals defence to that point in time had held the Rams to nothing in the second half themselves.
It was the type of game where both teams did need contributions from everyone on their roster to be in the game. Ultimately Raheem Morris figured out some schemes in the second half to exploit mismatches against the Bengals offensive line that took over the game.
I thought the hold on Kupp was a bit weak given how much they had let things go before that. That said, the facemask/offensive PI by Higgins on Ramsey was a very blatent missed call on the only TD the Bengals had in that half.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
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The Bills lost to the Jaguars at one point....who finished dead last in the NFL.
The Bengals beat the Chiefs, who beat the Bills a week earlier.
No assurance they would have beat anyone yesterday. Just not how that league works anymore.
There's never 100% assurances, but I just disagree. Just looking at who the Bills are, their strengths, the way Allen seems to step it up in big moments and the weapons he has, I think they would have overwhelmed either of these teams on both sides of the ball... I think that if they can ever avoid or get past the Chiefs they'll get their chance to prove it.
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Even if he holds on, he was a good 2 and a half yards short of the marker, and he was going to be tackled right away. It would have brought up a 4th and 1 or 4th and 1 and a half short of mid field, and with how the Rams defence was playing, I don't know if the Bengals would have went for it. The Bengals defence to that point in time had held the Rams to nothing in the second half themselves.
Boyd was inside the defender and had he caught it would be in stride. At worst it's gonna be fourth and inches and they would have gone considering they went all game and considering the game situation. It was just a killer considering how little traction they got all second half on offense.
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Whoa. Look at how Stafford manipulates the safety (24) with his eyes to get Cupp open on the final drive. The defender is right where the ball needs to go so he pulls him in and then throws a no-look pass:
Hard to see but the blur next to the black arrow is the football:
Last edited by tvp2003; 02-14-2022 at 02:01 PM.
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Lol his head is literally over the ball (i.e. the official line of scrimmage), so he is clearly offside there. And yes this was the 4th and 1 in the first quarter, not the one at the end of the game.
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