Head-scratchers by Bengals and Bills coaches in waning seconds highlight NFL’s chaotic Week 5

If only Zac Taylor and Sean McDermott could have traded end-of-game strategies, the reeling Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills might have avoided their big belly flops in the NFL. turbulent week 5.

Taylor called three consecutive runs that were ultimately doomed Cincy (1-4 ) and McDermott turned three consecutive passes that basically went in Buffalo (3-2).

Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson had an electric quarterback duel in Cincinnati, combining for 740 yards passing and nine touchdown throws.

The Ravens were driving for a potential game-winning touchdown in overtime when Jackson fumbled the snap and Cincinnati’s Germaine Pratt recovered all the way back to the Ravens’ 38.

That was already safely within reach of kicker Evan McPherson. He had scored his last three field goal attempts from 50 yards or more and had made his last fourteen attempts in the fourth quarter or in overtime.

So Taylor played it safe and gave up Joe Burrow three times to Chase Brown instead of letting Burrow keep throwing. He had already thrown for 392 yards and five touchdowns in his career, including two each Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Chase led the Bengals with 10 catches for 193 yards, and Higgins had nine grabs for 83 yards and both faced single coverage on the Bengals’ final series.

Even though 50-yarders have become routine in the NFL, a lot can go wrong on a long field goal attempt, and after the Bengals crashed into the Baltimore defensive wall three times for 3 yards, McPherson, known as “Money Mac” for his accuracy, lined up for a 53-yard attempt that sailed wide left after holder Ryan Rehkow mishandled the snap.

Baltimore took it on its own at 43. On the next play, Derrick Henry, who was in a pinch all afternoon with just 41 yards on 14 carries, thundered 51 yards downfield to the Bengals 6 and Justin Tucker chipped in the 24-yarder for the 41-38 victory.

Burrow defended Taylor’s conservative approach.

“I’m not going to question that,” Burrow said. “We’re within field goal range. Yes, you want to get yards to make it easier for him. No matter how good their haste is, in such a situation you always run the risk of being fired.”

That just happens to be one of the reasons why Bills fans were miffed when McDermott called for three passes when they got the ball on their own 3 with 32 seconds left, instead of handing off three and giving the Texans their three time- to take away outs.

Unlike Burrow, Josh Allen had a terrible day, completing just 9 of 30 passes for 131 yards and failing on his last eight throws.

As the broadcast crew noted, the Bills risked their safety by throwing three times out of their end zone and again on fourth down when Sam Martin booted a 56-yard punt just inches from the back of the end zone.

It was returned 13 yards to the Bills’ 46, and Houston had seven seconds and all their timeouts remaining. As Allen and the Bills prepared for overtime on the sideline, CJ Stroud hit a quick 5-yard pass to running back Dare Ogunbowale and called a timeout with 2 seconds left.

Ka’imi Fairbairn trotted out and grabbed the 59-yarder as time expired for a 23-20 win.

McDermott then readily accepted the blame by noting that the Bills should have at least tried to get down first — “And that’s my responsibility,” he said.

Unless they bounce back in a big way, both the Bills and Bengals may look back and lament the missed opportunities and their coach’s conservative decisions that backfired so spectacularly.

___

AP NFL Coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL