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Cincinnati Bengals 27, Miami Dolphins 15
On this day, after this game, there really is mostly one story that we all seem to be talking about. Obviously, that would be the concussion injury to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Anyone watching would have to concur that it was a scary moment. It happened after he was sacked late in the first half, as the Dolphins were trying to get into scoring position to close the margin with the Bengals. Tagovailoa was slammed onto the turf, and then immediately brought his hands to his head. The replay of this was agonizing, and the way that his fingers were bent was evidently indicating of head trauma. Then Tagovailoa lay there for a long time. Players from both side of the field came out, crowding around the injured player. Tagovailoa was carted off, and to their credit, the Bengals fans in attendance showed class by chanting "Tua! Tua" as he was carted off the field.
That part of it was rather touching. I have seen some fans (I am embarrassed to say that Giants fans were among them) who actually cheered when a player on the home team was injured. This has happened a few times that I can remember. It happened to Terry Bradshaw in Pittsburgh, and as I understand it, he still to this day refuses to return to Pittsburgh as a result of this. It happened to Kyle Boller in Baltimore. Philly fans infamously booed not an injured player, but Santa Claus. And it happened to Phil Simms at the Meadowlands, when Giants fans booed him.
So at least Cincy fans handled it with real class.
That said, somebody missed something here. The guy was knocked onto his back and hit the back of his head last weekend. He did get up, but then he collapsed back onto the ground - albeit briefly - moments after that. He was taken out of that game, at least briefly. But his injury was apparently labeled as a back injury, although it sure seems like it was not that, but a head injury. Why he would have been cleared so quickly to play in this game - and it was a big game, so they wanted him to play - is anyone's guess at the moment. My guess is that somebody will get fired for it.
It was very scary to watch. I do not remember seeing anything quite like that. I've seen extreme injuries, and still cringe even thinking about the Joe Theisman injury. But this was different. Admittedly, I am a medical moron, but I began fearing that he might never fully recover.
However, he evidently was doing well. He had full range of movement in his extremities, which is very good news. He was conscious shortly after the hit, an was cleared from the hospital and has returned back to be with his family. He even traveled on the plane with the team back to Florida, evidently. So again, that is very good news. And I, like everyone else, wish Tue the very best.
Understandably, there is no timeline for when he will return to the field. Not sure at this point if he even should, and I am not trying to be cruel or anything in saying that. Quite the opposite.
In any case, as far as the game went, the Bengals won a close one. They were able to expand their lead in the fourth quarter, first with a field goal to make it 20-15, and then with a touchdown to make it a two-possession game, with time running out. And time ran out on Miami.
The Dolphins suffered their first loss and drop to 3-1, while the Bengals have now won two straight and improve to 2-2 on the year.
My pick: Accurate
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