Jones’ play was especially impressive given that he missed practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday and Friday with an abdomen injury. But with the Bengals forced to play without cornerbacks Brandon Ghee (concussion) and Dre Kirkpatrick (hamstring), Jones gutted it out and gave the defense a much needed lift.
“He was sore last week with the abdomen, but he knew it was a big football game, a big opportunity for him and for our football team,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. “He had to play big. I thought he did a good job. He answered the bell.”
Miles claimed
Former Bengals safety Jeromy Miles was claimed by the Baltimore Ravens on Monday, ending his four-year tenure in Cincinnati.
The Bengals actually waived Miles, who is dealing with a injury, twice last week. The first time came a few hours before the Sept. 16 game against Pittsburgh, but when no one claimed the special teams stalwart Cincinnati was able to re-sign him two days later.
With Miles still dealing with a hamstring injury, the Bengals waived him again Saturday.
Miles was second on the team last year with 13 special teams tackles after leading the Bengals in that category in 2011 with 14.
Stats struck
The quirky nature in which the Bengals scored the game-winning touchdown Sunday – on a 58-yard fumble return by Terence Newman – kept a couple of players from adding to their stats.
Newman does not get credit for a fumble recovery because he grabbed the ball after it was lost by teammate Reggie Nelson instead of an opposing player. Nelson originally recovered the Johnathan Frankin fumble forced by Michael Johnson, but Newman coughed it up after running for 6 yards, at which point Newman grabbed it and finished the play.
Also, quarterback Andy Dalton does not get credit for the sixth fourth-quarter comeback of his career because the game-winning points were scored on defense.
Dalton had four fourth-quarter comebacks his rookie year (vs. Buffalo, at Jacksonville, at Tennessee, vs. Cleveland) and one last year (at San Diego). He also has two career game-winning drives, both of which came last year when he led the team to tiebreaking points (at Washington and at Pittsburgh).
Quick hitters
The Bengals had touchdown drives of 80 and 95 yards Sunday, giving them six this year of 80 yards or longer. That puts them on pace for 32 such drives this year, which would far eclipse the total of 19 they had in the last two seasons combined. … Green Bay’s Datone Jones blocked a Mike Nugent extra point Sunday, breaking Nugent’s streak of 67 in a row since 2011. … Sunday marked the first time the Bengals have committed four turnovers in a game and still won since a 27-10 triumph against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 10, 2006. … Monday was Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis’ 55th birthday.
About the Author