Urban Meyer’s return to Ohio was spoiled by Joe Burrow, who kept his old college coach winless on the NFL sidelines.
The Bengals overcame a 14-0 halftime deficit to upset Meyer and the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-21 on Thursday night. Burrow produced four second-half scoring drives while passing for 348 yards and two touchdowns.
As time expired, Evan McPherson kicked a 35-yard field goal to seal the victory, after a 10-play, 73-yard drive that took up the final 5 1/2 minutes.
Burrow, the top overall draft pick in 2020 after transferring from Ohio State, outlasted the top pick in 2021, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who looked at halftime as if he may guide his first NFL win and give his coach a happy homecoming. Meyer grew up in northeastern Ohio, played safety at the University of Cincinnati, and coached at Ohio State, where he won the 2014 national championship.
In the first half, the Bengals (3-1) were shut out and couldn’t get running back Joe Mixon loose. Cincinnati punted on its next three possessions after McPherson missed a 43-yard field goal attempt.
In the first half, Cincinnati coach Zac Taylor observed, “we didn’t play terrific football, they basically defeated us in all three phases.” “However, we had the entire second half to play, so there was no need to panic.” Nobody had done so. Everyone was cool, composed, and serene. They knew we’d have the ball early in the half, when we’re normally fairly effective.”
To start the second half, Cincinnati had two swift scoring drives. Early in the fourth quarter, Jacksonville took the lead for the second time thanks to James Robinson’s second rushing touchdown. Burrow tied it up again with a 31-yard touchdown pass to tight end C.J. Uzomah.
