The Joe Flacco-led Cincinnati Bengals were slow out of the gates and ultimately unable to pull off the upset against the Green Bay Packers in Week 6, losing 27-18.
After a rough first half for Flacco’s offense, though, things evened out and, if nothing else, provided a little hope for the rest of the season. That included multiple second-half touchdowns and a two-point conversion, too.
Here’s a quick look at some notes and takeaways from the game.
Quick thoughts
Key stat
18: Number of points for the Bengals in the second half. Sounds silly, but Flacco getting comfortable in a basic offense just days after signing produced the best play of the season since Joe Burrow went down.
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Game balls
CB DJ Turner: The budding breakout cornerback had five passes defended on the day, which felt like a hint he’s starting to take over the No. 1 conversation for the team.
QB Joe Flacco: How about the veteran joining a team with just a few days before kickoff and notably getting more comfortable after one half of football to put together the best Burrow-less offense of the season?
Top takeaway
Hope: The AFC is a mess. If Flacco’s second half is a sign of things to come, the Bengals still have a chance to be competitive for most of the season.
What’s Next?
The Bengals have a short turnaround to a Thursday night primetime game, where they’ll host the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Instant analysis after Bengals come up short vs. Packers in Week 6
Reporting by Chris Roling, Bengals Wire / Bengals Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
