The Cincinnati Bengals have not had an ideal start to the 2022 season. The defending AFC champions came into their Week 3 battle against the New York Jets at 0-2, and in desperate need of a win.
One player, in particular, wide receiver Tyler Boyd, rose to the occasion at Metlife Stadium.
Normally the third option in the Bengals’ passing game, Boyd was the head honcho on Sunday as he caught four of his five targets for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Boyd’s score was the highlight of the Bengals’ first win of the year. Just before the end of the first quarter, quarterback Joe Burrow found Boyd across the middle, and the former second-round pick lowered his shoulder to bounce off of a Jets defender and hit the burners to score from 56 yards out.
TYLER BOYD TOOK OFF FOR THE 56-YARD TD 💨
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/nJiKMRCb3R
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 25, 2022
Ja’Marr Chase, the Bengals’ No. 1 receiver, had a quiet game overall with just 29 yards on six receptions, although he did score a touchdown.
He mentioned how many different looks the Jets gave in coverage, with him being the focal point of course, which gave Boyd more opportunities to make plays.
After Boyd’s first 100-yard game since Week 4 of 2021, he had a message for defensive coordinators around the NFL after the Bengals big road win.
“This is a game that showed you can’t double Ja’Marr,” Boyd said. It was time for Boyd to have a big performance after just six receptions for 50 yards in the first two weeks.
Hopefully for Boyd, and more importantly the Bengals, this game was a sign of things to come as they now stand just one game back in the AFC North.
