Packers Vs. Bengals: ‘Just Wasn’t A Good Day’ For Cincinnati

The Green Bay Packers walloped the Cincinnati Bengals in the third game of the NFL preseason on Thursday night, cruising to a rather easy 27-13 victory. The Bengals weren't bad in the second half, but it was clear that the Packers were the better team when the starters were on the field.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers scored a pair of touchdowns on their first three possessions while the defense did its part in holding the Bengals starters to less than 100 yards despite nearly 30 plays with the first team in the game. Our friends at Cincy Jungle took note of this, too, saying it simply wasn't a good day for the Bengals.

It just wasn't a good day for Cincinnati's first-team units on Thursday. Cincinnati's offense ran six plays, gaining five yards and no first downs on their opening two possessions. Alternatively Green Bay scored 14 points on their opening three possessions, abusing Cincinnati's containment with quarterback Aaron Rodgers scrambling six times for 52 yards rushing. Look at this simplistic comparison between the quarterbacks during Thursday's game. Rodgers rushed for more yards than Andy Dalton passed (40), who completed only five of 17 passes.

In truth Cincinnati's first-team offense couldn't overpower Green Bay's complicated 3-4 defense, generating only 87 yards on 29 plays and converting one of seven third down opportunities in the first half. It was such an ineffective effort by the Bengals first-team offense, most of them returned to the field in the third quarter, minus several of Green Bay's key defensive players. Cincinnati failed to generate a first down and punted the football after three plays. Now they're one of eight on third down.