Boomer Esiason: Cincinnati should've run instead of Joe Burrow's pass to Irv Smith Jr.
CBS analyst Tony Romo suggested that the Cincinnati Bengals should've run the ball with a 1st-and-goal at the San Francisco 3-yard line with 38 seconds left in the first half of Sunday's NFL Week 8 game at Levi's Stadium.
Burrow threw a pass to tight end Irv Smith Jr., who fumbled for a costly turnover. Burrow had just broken his own personal record for consecutive completions.
"I'm with Tony Romo. I don't know why they didn't try to run the ball down there at the end as opposed to throwing it to Irv Smith," CBS analyst and former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason said at halftime.
"That turnover could play a huge role late," Romo added just before the start of the second half.
A touchdown could've given Cincinnati a double-digit lead late in the half.
From The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway and Charlie Goldsmith:
Wow that could be a game-changing play.
Irv Smith fumbles an easy completion inside the 10-yard line. You simply can't do that.— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) October 29, 2023
Irv Smith just lost the trust of Joe Burorw, Zac Taylor and Brian Callahan on one play
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) October 29, 2023
In a game that has featured so many great play calls, the screen to Irv Smith at the goal line is stunning.
On a prove it deal, Smith hasn't given the Bengals enough this year. It might be worth seeing what Tanner Hudson can do.— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) October 29, 2023
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Boomer Esiason questions play call resulting in Irv Smith Jr fumble
