My first trip to MetLife Stadium for Sports View America was a rousing success.
By Dr. John Huang
(EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ.) – The lights at MetLife Stadium burned bright on Sunday night, but it was the Cincinnati Bengals who took the final curtain call, beating the hometown New York Giants 17 – 7 in a spirited defensive struggle.
“It is a gritty game, that’s a tough team,” head coach Zac Taylor told media shortly after the horn sounded. “Coming on the road, it’s a difficult environment, primetime… I’m just proud of our team. Our defense kept us in that thing the whole game, and then offensively able to finish it out.”
With the shadow of the Manhattan skyline lurking in the backdrop, the game certainly had a big city feel to it. Imagine the Lexington skyline swapped for a forest of skyscrapers, and the smell of bourbon chicken replaced by street pretzels and hot dogs. You could almost hear the honking taxis and the rumble of subway trains in the distance. In New York, everything moves a little faster, and the noise never stops.
MetLife Stadium: The Football Coliseum of the North
For anyone used to Rupp Arena or Kroger Field, MetLife Stadium is like walking into a skyscraper-sized tractor pull. It’s big, it’s loud, and it’s filled with 82,500 roaring fans who’ve perfected the art of yelling. While technically in New Jersey, the Giants still strut around like kings of Times Square. The stadium’s sheer size and energy feel a world apart from the cozy Friday night lights of the Bluegrass.
The Bengals, fresh off a week of frustrations, arrived in the Big Apple looking more like they’d rather be in a Cracker Barrel than Times Square. Zac Taylor, with his same-old mantra about preparing the same way every game, was desperate for a different result. And fortunately, this time, it paid off.
Burrow Takes Broadway: The Longest Run of His Career
Joe Burrow wasted no time making MetLife his own. On the Bengals’ first possession, facing a daunting third-and-18, Burrow dropped back to pass, scrambled around briefly, and then turned on the jets. He broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run—the longest of his career and the longest by any Bengals’ quarterback in franchise history.
“I saw an opening, saw it was man coverage and was able to squeak through there and find the endzone,” he said.
That early touchdown set the tone, giving Cincinnati the quick start they desperately needed.
Giants vs. Bengals: A Clash of Cultures
This wasn’t just a football game—it was a battle between two worlds. Daniel Jones, New York’s no frills, blue-collar quarterback—apparently fully recovered from ACL surgery—was the embodiment of the city’s hustle. He scrapped and clawed his way through the Bengals’ defense, doing just enough with both his arm and his legs to keep the Giants within striking distance. Jones ran 11 times for 57 yards on the night and found Kentucky’s own Wan’Dale Robinson five times for 50 of his 205 total yards through the air.
While Burrow was delivering highlights, the Bengals’ defense quietly put together its best performance of the season. Giants’ drives sputtered under the relentless pressure, and late in the first quarter, Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill got his hand on a Jones’ pass, deflecting it into linebacker Germaine Pratt’s hands. Pratt grabbed the interception at the Bengals’ three-yard line, thwarting an impending Giants’ touchdown drive and keeping Cincinnati in control.
Defense Delivers in Crunch Time
As the game entered the final quarter, the Bengals found themselves clinging to a 10-7 lead following Evan McPherson’s 37-yard field goal…and the tension in MetLife was palpable. The Giants, pushing for one last chance to steal the game, drove deep into Bengals’ territory. With just over three minutes left and New York facing a critical fourth down from Cincinnati’s 36, the Bengals’ defense came through again.
Cornerback DJ Turner knocked down Jones’ fourth-down pass, effectively slamming the door on the Giants’ comeback hopes. It was a defining moment for a defense that had struggled to close out games in previous weeks.
Chase Brown Seals the Deal
Rookie running back Chase Brown then delivered the final blow. On the ensuing drive, Brown found a gap and burst through the Giants’ defense for a 30-yard touchdown run with just 1:51 left on the clock, sealing the Bengals’ long overdue second win of the season.
Burrow finished the night 19-of-28 for 208 yards, but it was his command of the stage that stood out. Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase led all receivers with seven catches for 77 yards and five catches for 72 yards respectively.
Looking Ahead
Both the Bengals and Giants now sit at 2-4, with plenty of football left to play. Next week, Cincinnati heads to Cleveland for a divisional clash against the Browns. But after this solid performance in the Big City, the Bengals should enter the Battle of Ohio with renewed confidence. Stay tuned for their comeback story.
New York might have its bright lights, but on this Sunday night, it was Cincinnati that stole the show.
Dr. John Huang is a retired orthodontist, military veteran, and award-winning author. He currently covers the Bengals for Sports View America. You can follow him on social media @KYHuangs and check out his debut novel, “Name, Image, and Murder” and all his books at https://www.Amazon.com/stores/Dr.-John-Huang/author/B092RKJBRD
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