The Cincinnati Bengals were on the verge of scoring their first touchdown of the season midway through the second quarter against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
The Patriots had other plans and came up with a wild goal-line play to take away the score.
With 5:18 left in the second quarter, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looked to tight end Tanner Hudson over the middle on third-and-11 from the New England 25-yard line. Hudson swatted the pass and raced through the Patriots secondary for what looked like a sure score.
But as he reached the goal line, Patriots safety Kyle Dugger made a touchdown-saving play. Dugger knocked the ball out of Hudson’s hands just short of the goal line. Cornerback Marcus Jones scooped it up and returned it 17 yards to the Cincinnati 18-yard line.
The Patriots converted the turnover for a field goal to take a 10-0 lead.
Here’s another look at the play. Hudson left the ball open inside the 5-yard line and Dugger took full advantage with the punch-out to prevent the score.
The play summed up a stunning first half in Cincinnati. With Burrow healthy again and Ja’Marr Chase in the lineup amid a contract dispute, the Bengals are expected to return to championship contention this season after an injury-plagued 2023.
The Patriots, meanwhile, are in full rebuilding mode and projected as one of the worst teams in the league. The first half of Sunday’s game told a different story, thanks in part to New England’s intoxicating defense.
