They had no fancy explanations for the collapse, no X’s and O’s to show how a defense that started so well could implode so thoroughly.
Perhaps that’s because only a simple reason could account for the Bengals’ 49-41 loss to the San Diego Chargers yesterday in Paul Brown Stadium.
"We had some guys quit," Bengals safety Dexter Jackson said. "You saw the game. A lot of guys quit out there today."
That’s about as damning an indictment as a teammate can make. Though other Bengals didn’t go as far, the evidence doesn’t contradict Jackson.
After forcing punts on San Diego’s first four possessions, Cincinnati allowed touchdowns on seven of the Chargers’ next nine, and one of those possessions was one play to end the first half.