Cincinati Bengals Looses to Dallas Cowboys by 16-7

OHIO (GaeaTimes.com) — Twenty-Two years after the magical season of 1988, the Cincinati Bengals kicked off their season in Fawcett Stadium with expectations of similar success. But the Dallas Cowboys smashed the Bengals with a 16-7 defeat, showing that the defending AFC North Champions are nowhere near their earlier form needed to reach January, let alone February.

Perhaps most disconcerting was the reappearance of the mental-lapse penalties that proved so infuriating last season. On the Cowboys’ first possession, the Bengals got a chance of recovery during a Dallas midfield fumble in the Cincinati zone. But it was neglected as defensive end Jonathan Fanene lined up in the neutral zone. Dallas was then able to kick short field goal. The Bengals’ starting defense gave the Cowboys plenty on the game-opening 14-play, 63-yard drive. Dallas overcame a holding call with a 21-yard completion from Tony Romo to Roy Williams against cornerback Leon Hall on third-and-12. Two plays later, a 10-yard completion moved the ball to the Cincinnati 5-yard line.

Dallas capped the one-sided victory when Brandon Sharpe picked off Jordan Palmer’s fourth-quarter pass and dived untouched into the end zone for a 6-yard score. Bengals rookie Jordan Shipley ran back a punt 63 yards in the final minutes, and Jordan Palmer hit rookie tight end Darius Hill for a 1-yard TD with 51 seconds remaining.

Several players of Bengal’s were injured during the match. Veteran safety Chris Crocker suffered an injured left ankle while covering a punt. Running back Brian Leonard, who made several clutch plays a year ago, went out with a left foot injury late in the first half. He was unable to put weight on the foot as he was helped off the field. The preliminary diagnosis after an X-ray was a mid-foot sprain, but he’ll be re-evaluated in Cincinnati.

The Dallas Cowboys ended a three-game Hall of Fame game losing streak Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. But the fact that the defense scored of the Cowboys’ only touchdown, in a 16-7 victory over the Bengals is a little concerning. It’s only one preseason game and the Cowboys have four remaining, with the next one scheduled for Thursday against Oakland. But the offense side is struggling to keep up.

Hope both the teams soon return to their best forms before the next games!