In a thrilling game, the Cincinnati Bengals win their first NFL playoff game since 1991. Against the Las Vegas Raiders, Joe Burrow and Co. celebrate a 26:19 victory. It gets dramatic in the final period.

Munich/Cincinnati – The Cincinnati Bengals have won the first Wild Card Round opener in the NFL with 26:19. Against the Las Vegas Raiders, the franchise from Ohio ended a long winning streak in the playoffs.

The Benglas dominated the early stages of the game, ending the first quarter with a 10-3 lead. A touchdown by C.J. Uzomah and a 31-yard field goal by Evan McPherson gave the home side the points. Burrow and Co. could have done even better, but the Bengals could not convert a fumble and the resulting good field position into another touchdown.

In the second quarter, the Raiders got into the game a little better. Nevertheless, the Bengals were still the better team. Just under two minutes before the end of the half, Joe Burrow found his wide receiver Tyler Boyd in the opponent’s end zone. The play caused discussion because the referees had actually blown the whistle too early. The touchdown should not have counted according to the rules.

Many Field Goals, Exciting End

But the Raiders were also able to put points on the scoreboard once again. With his “two-minute drill” and a touchdown pass to Zay Jones, interim head coach Rich Bisaccia’s team cut the deficit to 13:20.

The third quarter was determined by some questionable referee decisions. Only the Bengals could score, in the person of kicker McPherson, who extended the lead of “Cincy” to 23:13. Shortly after the start of the fourth quarter, it was McPherson’s counterpart on the Raiders’ side who made the game exciting again. Daniel Carlson made a 34-yard field goal with 16:23 to go.

After both kickers converted field goals again and the Raiders’ defence was able to stop the Bengals, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr had the chance to level the game with a touchdown drive. And indeed: Successful passes to Jacobs and Waller put Las Vegas in a good position.

However, the Bengals had the better end on their side. With the last pass of the game, Derek Carr threw the first but decisive interception of the game. The Cincinnati Benglas thus win their first playoff game since 1991.