Optimism ran high this offseason in Cincinnati with the arrival of No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow.
Burrow nearly led the Bengals to a victory over the Chargers in his NFL debut, too. Cincinnati trailed by three points with 3:08 remaining but had the ball at its 13. Burrow, the close-to-home hero, led his team to the LA 3-yard line for at least a game-tying score.
Then back-to-back unfortunate events doomed it.
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Burrow appeared to throw a go-ahead touchdown pass to A.J. Green with seven seconds left, but Green was called for offensive pass interference.
The call was questionable at best.
This is OPI? pic.twitter.com/I8kxPezW7N
— Jason Marcum (@marcum89) September 13, 2020
That pushed the ball back 10 yards, but kicker Randy Bullock still had a chance to send the game into overtime with a 31-yard field goal attempt.
Bullock, however, missed wide right.
Some unreal endings today. First in Detroit and now in Cincinnati. Randy Bullock missed a 31-yard game-tying FG and the #Chargers hold on to win 16-13. pic.twitter.com/EVif8xocNH
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) September 13, 2020
Bullock appeared to suffer an injury on the play, too.
Burrow finished 23 of 36 for 193 yards and an interception in his debut. He also rushed for 46 yards and a TD.
The Bengals resume action Thursday against the Browns, who lost 38-6 to the Ravens in Week 1.
