Turnovers, missed tackles and other mistakes doom Bengals in season-opening loss to Patriots

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals missed too many tackles and turned the ball over too many times to beat the New England Patriots in their season opener.

The Bengals weren't expecting it. Quarterback Joe Burrow was healthy to start the season for the first time since his rookie year in 2020.

Coach Zac Taylor and the team believed they did everything right to win an opener for the first time in three years.

The Bengals lost 16-10 on Sunday in a game they probably would have won without the turnovers, one of which was a fumble in front of the goal line by tight end Tanner Hudson that would have been a touchdown had he held on to Burrow's pass long enough to cross the line.

“It’s a momentum killer when the offense doesn’t put the ball in the end zone and they turn around and have the ball — that’s a gut punch to the team," Taylor said.

“Certainly, our defense has risen up in that situation a million times and got a stop and stopped the bleeding. Today, unfortunately, it didn’t go that way.”

Burrow's surgically repaired wrist doesn't seem to be hindering how the ball comes out of his hand. He was 21 of 29 for 164 yards. Not spectacular, but he distributed the ball to eight different receivers. Linebacker Logan Wilson had three quarterback hurries and led the team with 13 tackles. Evan McPherson was as accurate as ever, kicking a 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati needs to start faster, produce more explosive plays and not turn the ball over. Defenders need to wrap up and make more tackles on first contact. Burrow could use some cleaner pockets.

“That’s the biggest frustration, looking at the turnover battle and looking at the missed tackles. It’s as simple as that,” Taylor said. "There was execution in enough areas that was certainly good enough for us to win, but when they get two extra possessions, and they rush for 170 yards, it’s going to be tough.”

Cincinnati had just 224 yards of offense.

“(We had) a lack of execution and really no production on offense,” center Ted Karras said. “The third quarter we got it going. But again, that’s probably too little too late. Ten points is not going to beat anyone."

New running back Zack Moss scored the only Bengals touchdown on a 5-yard run in the third quarter. He finished with nine carries for 44 yards. He also caught two passes for 17 yards.

“I wish I could have made a lot more plays,” Moss said. “I dropped two passes today, so I've got to get better there, and I will be better there. Tough loss. We all played a part in it.”

Ja'Marr Chase did not practice in the preseason as he awaits a contract extension that will make him one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL. Burrow said he didn't know if Chase would play Sunday until the quarterback arrived at the stadium. The situation generated a lot of unnecessary “will he or won't he?” drama in the days leading up to the game. Chase caught six passes for 62 yards. The longest went for 28 yards.

“We’re pros," Chase said. “We have to forget about it and move on to the next week.”

No. 2 WR Tee Higgins missed the opener because of a hamstring injury. His status is week to week.

4 for 11 — Bengals on third down (36.4%).

The Bengals need to solve their problems fast. They'll be underdogs when they face the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs at Kansas City on Sunday. The Chiefs opened with a 27-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) stands on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (31) scores on a 5-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) runs from New England Patriots linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley (8) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) is tackled by New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers (5) after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger, right, breaks up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley had at least a first down, maybe even a touchdown, in his grasp that would have sealed the Eagles' win in their home opener.

Barkley instead bobbled a reception and couldn't hold on to Jalen Hurts' short pass. It was one giant drop on third down at Atlanta's 10-yard line with 1:46 left in the game that stopped the clock late and forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal.

Barkley's botch was the opening the Atlanta Falcons needed to pull off the stunner with the kind of flawless drive the Eagles couldn't duplicate. Kirk Cousins capped the winning drive with a touchdown pass to Drake London and Atlanta stunned Philadelphia 22-21 in its home opener on Monday night.

“I dropped the ball,” Barkley said plainly. “Let my team down today. Shouldn’t have put the defense in that position. If I make the catch, game’s over."

Barkley and Hurts, who had put the Eagles ahead 18-15 on a 1-yard tush-push touchdown in the fourth, had a brief postgame conversation in the locker room.

The message was simple: Hurts still had Barkley's back.

“He's going to trust me every time in that situation,” Barkley said.

After Barkley's drop, Jake Elliott kicked a 28-yard field goal rather than the Eagles going for the score on fourth down.

“We wanted to go up six points. It didn't work,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “I wanted them to be down and touchdown and see if they could drive the field. And they did.”

With a three-year deal for $26 million guaranteed, Barkley is the highest-paid running back in franchise history. The 27-year-old former New York Giant did have a knack for dropping the ball when he played for the NFC East rival.

“I trust him every day of the week to make a play,” Hurts said. “Just like everybody else. We'll be better for it.”

Maybe next time, the Eagles will simply trust Barkley enough to just rush for the first down.

Even after London torched cornerback Darius Slay and scored, the Eagles still had 34 seconds to at least drive into field goal territory for Elliott. Hurts instead had his pass picked off by Jessie Bates III that ended all hope of Philadelphia's own amazing comeback.

“The intent of that play was to go down the field,” Sirianni said. “He took a chance and the guy made a good play.”

Much like Barkley, Slay took the heat for the loss after he let London beat him for the winning TD.

“That’s on me Philly!! I owe yall one. DAMN!!!!!” Slay wrote on social media.

A year after a 10-1 start, the Eagles are already 1-1 with games against undefeated teams New Orleans and Tampa Bay on deck.

Barkley ran for 95 yards in his home debut at week after a week after he rushed for 109 yards and scored three touchdowns against Green Bay. Eagles fans booed when the opening drive of the game ended without Barkley touching the ball. Led by Hollywood star Bradley Cooper, Eagles fans went wild when he had consecutive 9-yard runs to open the second drive.

Barkley's steady success wouldn't stick.

The defense couldn't smother the long play against Cousins and the defense for all 60 minutes.

Under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Eagles established an early knack for allowing long drives that end with three points instead of seven. Atlanta's Younghoe Koo kicked field goals of 39, 22 and 34 yards, the last one enough for a 9-7 lead in the third quarter. In their opener, the Eagles held the Packers to just three field goals when they drove inside the 20.

Cousins, signed to a four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason, came alive in the second half. Cousins connected with Darnell Mooney on a 41-yard TD pass that gave Atlanta a 15-10 lead. Cousins later hit Mooney for 21 and 26 yards on consecutive plays during the decisive drive.

“We can be beat, especially if we don't take advantage of our opportunities,” Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham said.

With No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown out with a hamstring injury, DeVonta Smith led the Eagles with seven catches for 76 yards and a score. Sirianni said he wasn't sure how long Brown would be out.

“Of course, he's definitely missed,” Hurts said. “It doesn't change the trust I have in everybody else to step up. We just didn't meet the moment. It wasn't for us tonight."

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Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons (31) stops Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Former Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce sits on the NFL ESPN Monday Night Football before an NFL football game between the Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator react to a two-point conversion by Eagles running back Saquon Barkley during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) falls with the ball near Atlanta Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips III, bottom, and Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Smith-Williams during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) catches a pass in front of Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III (3) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball under pressure from Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell (24) and Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III during the second half of an NFL football game on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)