The Cincinnati Bengals put in a solid performance to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 24-10 in their NFL clash to move to 2-0 in the 2014 season.
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The Bengals started the game well on offense as Andy Dalton moved his side in the redzone, but they suffered the same problems as week one as the home side were forced to settle for a field goal from the boot of Mike Nugent.
The Falcons responded with a good drive of their own as Matt Ryan involved running backs Jacquizz Rodgers and Steven Jackson, before Matt Bryant knocked a 46-yard field goal through the posts to even the scores.
However, just before the break, the Bengals took the lead thanks to one big play from Giovani Bernard, as he collected a short pass from Dalton and ran all the way to Atlanta's 20. The back finished the drive with a four-yard run.
Nugent had the chance to extend his side's lead to 10 points just before the break, but he dragged his field goal wide of the post.
After the break, the Bengals extended their lead as the Falcons sent an all-out blitz at Dalton, but he responded with a pass to Mohamed Sanu on a slant route and the receiver broke away from his man to go all the way for a 76-yard touchdown.
Ryan threw an interception on the next series for the Falcons as Leon Hall made the pick. The home side punished the quarterback for the error as Jeremy Hill pounded his way over the goalline for the score.
The Falcons got their first touchdown of the game when Ryan moved his side into the redzone before he hit Julio Jones for a 10-yard score on a back-shoulder fade, but it was too little, too late for Mike Smith's side.
Simon Sinclair
