Mason Crosby overcomes struggles, kicks gamewinning FG to lift Packers past Bengals i

When it was over and the ball sailed through the uprights, Crosby turned to the sideline and shrugged. The reaction seemed fitting in that it brought relief more than excitement for Crosby, who’s the first kicker since Billy Cundiff in 2012 to convert a game-winner with 10 seconds or less remaining in regulation or in overtime after missing his previous three attempts.

Crosby, who also missed an extra point, was not alone in his struggles. Bengals kicker Evan McPherson missed his only two attempts: a 57-yarder that hit the right upright with 21 seconds remaining in regulation and a 49-yarder that was wide left with 4:14 left in overtime. McPherson initially thought he had made the second and leaped into the arms of holder Kevin Huber, only to have the officials rule the kick was wide.

The miss not only marked just the second time since 1970 that four potential go-ahead kicks were missed in the fourth quarter or overtime — the other was the Giants-Cardinals game in 1983 when Ali Haji-Sheikh missed one as time expired in regulation and Neil O’Donoghue missed three in OT — but it also prolonged an afternoon that left players, coaches and fans physically and emotionally exhausted.

At least four times the game appeared to be over: first, when Crosby missed from 36 yards with 2:16 to go in regulation, then when McPherson missed from 57 with 26 seconds left, then when Crosby missed from 51 with 3 ticks on the clock. The wild ride continued into overtime where following De’Vondre Campbell’s interception of Joe Burrow on the first snap, Crosby missed from 40 yards, then McPherson missed from 49. That ultimately set the stage for the Packers’ decisive drive.

They took over at their 39 and quickly moved into Bengals territory after Aaron Rodgers round Marcedes Lewis for 20 yards and Randall Cobb for 15 yards more on third-and-16. Cincinnati safety Jessie Bates III was injured on the play, which gave Packers coach Matt LaFleur time to walk to Crosby near the kicking net before deciding whether to attempt the field goal or keep the offense on the field.

“I could see the look in his eyes,” LaFleur said. “There was zero flinch.”
Crosby, who had set a franchise record with his 27th consecutive make earlier in the afternoon, had missed four attempts in a game only once in his career: Oct. 7, 2018 against the Lions. Since then he had been one of the league’s more dependable specialists, converting on 63 of 67 attempts entering Sunday. He may have been understated following the win, but his teammates were not.

Green Bay, which has won four in a row since losing its opener to New Orleans, was down three starting offensive linemen and All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander. At times, the line struggled with the Cincinnati pass rush, but overall, it held up well enough for Rodgers to find Davante Adams 11 times for 206 yards and a touchdown.

The team simply lacked the firepower to keep pace in previous years, and there seemed to be a hope to win rather than an expectation to win. But this team has a resilience that recent others lacked. “They’re not the old Bengals that everybody expects to roll over,” Adams said. “They have a really good offense and guys on defense that can go make plays.”

There is a moxie about the group. They convert fourth downs that lead to touchdowns, and tied the game with a conversion pass with 3:27 to go in regulation. But they also are still learning to avoid mistakes, like a holding call at the end of the third quarter that negated a first down and took them out of field-goal range. Or the miscommunication in the secondary that contributed to several big plays, including Adams’ long gainer.

“I told at least three people outside of the building — my cousins and my wife — I told them I felt like this would be my career high today,” Adams said. “Either I’m clairvoyant or I know what I’m talking about.”

For a time, it appeared he might be upstaged by Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati’s rookie receiver. The former LSU star had six receptions for 159 yards and a touchdown, which covered 70 yards. Burrow, who was 26 of 38 for 281 yards and two scores, with two interceptions, repeatedly looked to him in big moments, and Chase delivered. The pair is as big a reason to be optimistic about the Bengals (3-2) going forward as anything.

The Cowboys took a 17-10 lead into the break and went on to win 44-20.

Giants coach Joe Judge did not provide updates on any of the injured players after the game, though ESPN reported that Barkley was seen on crutches and sporting a walking boot on his left ankle.

The Giants were already playing without left tackle Andrew Thomas and wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton. On their second drive of the game, Barkley was pulling up on his route following an incomplete pass when he accidentally stepped on Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis’ foot. He then limped off the field and was carted into the locker room. The team briefly declared his return questionable before ruling him out for good. The star running back had rushed just twice on the day for nine yards.

It’s another unlucky blow for Barkley. The former No. 2 overall pick spent much of the past year rehabbing a torn ACL suffered last September. He was able to return in time for the season opener and finally looked like himself just a week ago, tallying 126 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in a comeback win over the Saints. After earning Offensive Rookie of the Year Honors in 2018, Barkley was compromised for much of his second season with a high-ankle sprain that sidelined him for three games.

Sunday’s freak injury comes almost one year to the day of Dak Prescott suffering a dislocated and fractured ankle in the same stadium in the same matchup.

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Giants vs. Cowboys, Week 5: Live updates
In-game updates
TWO-TOUCHDOWN LEAD: Trevon Diggs NFL-leading sixth interception led to a 38-yard Greg Zeurlein field goal to give Dallas a 27-13 lead with 2:02 left in the third quarter.

DALLAS STRETCHES LEAD: Dallas stretched its lead to 24-13 with 7:11 remaining in the third quarter on a 4-yard Dak Prescott to Ezekiell Elliott touchdown pass. Dallas went 75 yards in 10 plays, taking 4:03 off the clock, for the score.

GIANTS ADD 3: A 51-yard field goal by Graham Gano with 11:18 left in the third quarter pulled the Giants within 17-13.

ANOTHER INJURY: Giants wide receiver Kenny Golladay has been ruled out with a knee injury.

DALLAS BACK IN THE LEAD: The Cowboys took the lead again on a 24-yard pass to Amari Cooper with :41 left in the half. James Bradberry dropped an interception on the previous plays. Dallas leads, 17-10.

GIANTS TIE THE SCORE: Devontae Booker dove in for a 1-yard score on fourth-and-goal one play after the Daniel Jones injury to tie the game with 2:56 to play in the first half. Mike Glennon took over at quarterback for the Giants.

DANIEL JONES LEAVES GAME: Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was forced to leave the game after taking a hit on a third-and-goal bootleg inside the Dallas 1-yard line with 3:47 left in the half. Jones was carted off.

GIANTS GET ON THE BOARD: A 43-yard pass from Daniel Jones to Kadarius Toney led to a 51-yard Graham Gano field goal as the Giants got their first points. New York now trailed, 10-3, with 10:10 remaining in the half.

BARKLEY LIMPS OFF: Star running back Saquon Barkley limped off the field with a left ankle injury with 6:17 left in the first quarter. After an incomplete pass, Barkley stepped on the foot of Dallas defensive back Jordan Lewis. [Full story]

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Mason Crosby overcomes struggles, kicks gamewinning FG to lift Packers past Bengals i

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