First Call: Typical ‘Bengalrific’ loss; Le'Veon Bell injured; Ex-Steeler, rookies help Ravens
What does Monday’s “First Call” teach us?
The Ravens may be just as good as last year. The Browns may be even worse than last year. And the Bengals will always be the Bengals.
OK. Maybe we didn’t need “First Call” to teach us that. But it’s worth reiterating.
Also, Le’Veon Bell is banged up and a former Penguin has his playoff campaign cut short.
Ravin’ about Week 1
How can the Baltimore Ravens be even more exasperating than they were a year ago?
Well, I suppose they could go 15-1 instead of 14-2. But, even if that doesn’t happen, consider this.
A pair of rookies could be making the Ravens even better. And they got some help from a former Steeler as well en route to a 38-6 romp over the Cleveland Browns in the 2020 season opener.
First, there was rookie running back J.K. Dobbins. He’s the guy some people — cough, cough — wanted to see the Steelers draft.
The Ohio State product had two touchdowns in his debut.
No jokes hereâï¸âï¸@Jkdobbins22 first career TDâï¸âï¸ pic.twitter.com/4RBVLNDQ96
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 13, 2020
ANOTHER ONE for @Jkdobbins22 âï¸âï¸ pic.twitter.com/IhTroIvmls
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 13, 2020
Dobbins had 22 yards on seven carries. Fellow draft choice Patrick Queen led the defense with eight tackles. He also had a sack and a forced fumble.
First NFL SACK for the ROOKâï¸âï¸@Patrickqueen_ pic.twitter.com/D20q9j2TC6
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 13, 2020
Former Steelers linebacker L.J. Fort also forced a fumble and recovered another.
At least it was the Browns who got smooshed in the process. That makes it more palatable, right?
Right?
Bengalrific!
The Browns look to rebound against the Cincinnati Bengals next week on Thursday Night Football.
Meanwhile the Bengals look to rebound … from themselves.
Trailing the Los Angeles Chargers 16-13, rookie quarterback Joe Burrow led Cincinnati on a last-minute drive that got down to the L.A. 3-yard line. With 11 seconds left, Burrow appeared to hit A.J. Green for a touchdown. But it was nullified by an offensive pass interference call.
So with seven seconds left, Randy Bullock tried a 31-yard chip-shot field goal to tie the game. But …
… well. It’s the Bengals. How do you think it went?
The Bengals had a 31-yard FG attempt to send today's game to OT...
Here's what happened.
(via @NFLBrasil) pic.twitter.com/PyVOCwOMx5
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 13, 2020
So Bullock missed the kick and got hurt in the process. “Bengaltastic” indeed!
Now — captured with photographic evidence — the exact moment when Burrow realized what his existence as a Bengal would be like for the next five years.
Bengals kicker missed a game-tying FG @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/N3O4IqDkdZ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 13, 2020
The saying is “a picture tells a thousand words.” In this case, though, it’s only one word. And that word is just four letters long.
And I’m pretty sure I can’t print it.
Le’Veon leaves early
Former Steeler Le’Veon Bell pulled a hamstring in the season opener.
He was injured late in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills. Head coach Adam Gase left him in the game in the third quarter. But after five plays, Bell couldn’t continue.
“I saw him grab his hamstring and he wouldn’t come out,” Gase said via ESPN.com. “We come in at halftime. I let him go back in there. I was worried about it, and we were eventually like, ‘I can’t put you in there. We can’t take a chance on getting more hurt than you already are.’”
Bell had just 46 yards from scrimmage on eight touches before leaving. The Jets wound up losing 27-17.
Bubble bursts
A former Penguins Stanley Cup champion is leaving the NHL playoff bubble before the rest of his team.
The New York Islanders announced that Tom Kuhnhackl is injured and has exited the bubble. Fellow Islander forward Casey Cizikas is, too.
The rest of the franchise may not be far behind. On Sunday, the Islanders lost Game 4 of their Eastern Conference playoff series to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1. That gives Tampa a 3-1 series lead.
The Lightning look for the series-clinching victory Tuesday.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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