The Cincinnati Bengals recorded their first playoff victory in 31 years on Saturday, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders, 26-19. It came down to the very last play, as Raiders quarterback Derek Carr faced a fourth-and-goal from the Bengals’ 9-yard line. When Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt stepped in the passing lane to intercept Vegas’ last gasp, Paul Brown Stadium went absolutely bonkers.
It marked quite the milestone for head coach Zac Taylor as well. He went a combined 6-25-1 over his first two seasons in Cincy, but went 10-7 in 2021 and the Bengals won the NFC North for the first time since 2015. Taylor knew how much this win meant to the city, so he showed up at a local Cincinnati bar and presented a game ball to the fans.
According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, coach Taylor appointed a few players to deliver game balls around town. One of those players was tight end C.J. Uzomah, who caught six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders.
Saturday was quite a moment for the Bengals, but they aren’t done just yet. Unless the Pittsburgh Steelers upset the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Cincy is headed to Music City next week for a date with the No. 1 seed Tennessee Titans. If the Steelers win, the Bengals will play against the Bills in Buffalo next week.
