ANALYSIS: 5 takeaways from Bengals' 31-27 loss to Colts

It was the fourth time in six games this season the Bengals couldn’t pull out a victory in a game decided by five points or less. Here are five takeaways from the game:

1. Colossal collapse

Cincinnati’s defense got a fumble recovery – from new defensive tackle Xavier Williams – on the second play from scrimmage and then forced three-and-out the next two drives. Meanwhile, the offense built a 21-0 lead over the first 15 minutes and four seconds with a trio of rushing touchdowns by three different players.

However, Colts quarterback Philip Rivers played the best quarter of his 17-year career, completing 14-of-21 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns to help the hosts mount their comeback, trailing just 24-21 at halftime. After scoring touchdowns the first three drives, the Bengals managed only two field goals the rest of the way, as the Colts outscored them 31-6 for their second-largest comeback win in franchise history.

Rivers, playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the league, finished with 371 yards passing and three touchdowns with one interception and only one sack.

“I know he’s a little older now, but he’s a Hall of Fame quarterback,” safety Jessie Bates said. “I felt like the whole game he knew exactly what we were in. Every ball that he threw was almost out of bounds and only where the receivers could catch it. Props to Philip Rivers. I think for us as a defense, we gotta take that as a challenge. Our offense takes a 21-0 lead. Twenty-one points should be enough in this league. I think they went on a 31-(6) run on us. I take all that on the defense.”

2. What happened to the offense?

Burrow recorded his fourth 300-yard passing performance this season, bouncing back from a season-low 183 yards passing last week, but on three of the last six drives the Bengals couldn’t move beyond their own 30-yard line.

Randy Bullock made a 55-yard field goal late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 27-21, but the Colts responded with a touchdown drive to go ahead, and Bullock then missed a chance to regain the advantage when he hit the upright on a 48-yard attempt. A Rodrigo Blankenship field goal added to the Colts cushion, and then Julian Blackmon read Burrow’s pass intended for Tyler Boyd at the 19-yard line to seal it.

“I just feel like we didn’t capitalize on offense,” Higgins said after the 21-0 lead wasted away. “They started moving the ball. At the end of the day we just need to capitalize when things aren’t going our way. We have to make those plays on third down.”

Burrow finished with 313 yards passing and no touchdowns, while Tee Higgins made six catches for 125 yards and A.J. Green came to life for 96 yards on eight catches.

3. Green back to his old self

After not performing to his usual standards the first five games, Green got involved early and was making plays that reminded the Bengals of his seven-time Pro Bowl form, before injuries impacted his 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Green entered the game with 119 yards on 14 catches and was coming off a week where his frustrations had gotten to him to the point of being caught on camera verbalizing them to a staff member. On Thursday, he spoke to media about wanting to make up for it to his teammates and finally feeling in a better place mentally, thanks to conversations with his parents and some mentors around the league.

On Sunday, he had some crucial catches. He converted on a third-and-8 in the third quarter when the Bengals were backed up on their own 3-yard line, and he came up with a catch on third-and-10 in the fourth quarter that moved the offense into field goal territory before Bullock’s miss.

Green also made a catch on fourth-and-9 to keep the final drive alive at midfield, two plays before Burrow threw the interception.

“It felt good to feel like my old self again,” Green said. “For me, it’s just keep building on that. Like I said, my body feels great. I feel like the old A.J.”

4. Questionable decisions

The Bengals were missing Joe Mixon in the second half, particularly on a third-and-1 before Bullock’s missed field goal. For some reason, coach Zac Taylor decided to go with Samaje Perine for the first time all season in this crucial situation. Perine was stopped for no gain, and the Bengals decided to try the 48-yard field goal instead of running another play.

“It was just a fullback dive play,” Taylor said. “I thought he was best-suited to take that.”

On two other plays, the Bengals went for it on fourth down and converted. They were 8-of-17 on third downs.

Bates had intercepted Rivers to set up the drive that ended in the missed field goal.

5. Unable to win close games

The Bengals' one win this season was a 33-25 decision against Jacksonville, but in the other 12 games decided by seven points or less in the Taylor era, the result has not gone in their favor.

Players after the game Sunday said they still feel like they are close to turning a corner and insist the mentality of the locker room hasn’t changed.

“I don’t think that’s the case in this locker room,” Bates said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys that come from winning cultures and their only mindset should be making the play. Make the big play we need to get us over this hump to win this game. I think that’s what our mindset is. I don’t think that’s anybody’s mindset is to back down from the moment. I think we’re building to make those plays in that moment.”

The Bengals have not won a road game since 2018. Taylor said that has to change but the team is still “trending in the right direction.”

Burrow, when asked if the team needs wins to prove that is happening, said only said, “We’d like to win games.”