EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Mike Nugent kicked a 47-yard field goal with 54 seconds left, lifting the Cincinnati Bengals to a 23-22 season-opening victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.
Andy Dalton threw for 366 yards and a touchdown to A.J. Green, who caught 12 passes for 180 yards to help the Bengals beat the Jets for the first time in 10 meetings in New Jersey.
Josh Shaw sealed the victory with an interception of Ryan Fitzpatrick in the closing seconds, helping Cincinnati improve to 7-7 in openers under coach Marvin Lewis. The Bengals won despite Dalton being sacked a career-high seven times, including 2 1/2 by Leonard Williams and two by Steve McLendon.
Nick Folk kicked a go-ahead 23-yard field goal with 3:23 remaining, but Dalton marched the Bengals (1-0) downfield for the winning drive. The first missed extra point in Folk’s career and a blocked 22-yard attempt came back to haunt the Jets (0-1).
Dalton finished 23 of 30 with the TD and an interception and Jeremy Hill ran for a touchdown. The Bengals took the lead in the third quarter when Hill bulldozed his way up the middle and for a 12-yard TD run. The drive was aided by Brandon LaFell’s 49-yard catch over Marcus Williams on third-and-18.
The Jets drove to the Bengals 1 on their next possession, but stalled, leaving it to Folk to kick a 20-yard field goal to make it 20-19. After Nugent, a former Jet, was wide right on a 52-yard attempt, the Jets drove down the field and went ahead on Folk’s go-ahead 23-yarder.
Fitzpatrick finished 19 of 35 for 189 yards and touchdown passes to Quincy Enunwa and Eric Decker.
