The Cincinnati Bengals might have won only four of their first 29 games under head coach Zac Taylor. Ryan Finley is unlikely to ever be a household name at quarterback for the team. They were taking on the 11-2 Pittsburgh Steelers as two-touchdown underdogs without rookie No. 1 pick Joe Burrow on “Monday Night Football.”
None of that matters. This is the NFL. Anything can happen. Ryan Finley and the Bengals proved that in more ways than one against Pittsburgh, taking a 17-0 lead at halftime.
While Pittsburgh would make it a game with consecutive scores in the third quarter, it was Finley who gave the Bengals a two-score lead early in the fourth quarter. It was something to behold.
What in the world of Ryan Finley is going on in Cincinnati? pic.twitter.com/zMU7KS6RW5
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) December 22, 2020
It’s Michael Vick!
It’s Colin Kaepernick!
It’s Lamar Jackson!
Nope, it’s a quarterback in Ryan Finley who had scored exactly two touchdowns in seven career games since the Bengals made him a mid-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
We’re not even sure what to say about a Steelers defense that was supposed to be the best in the NFL heading into Week 15. That was putrid. Letting Ryan Finley scamper 23 yards for a touchdown to give the Bengals a two-score lead with the AFC North division title on the line.
That sound you hear is a whole lot of Welp’s coming from fans in Pittsburgh right about now.
Ryan Finley after the game like: pic.twitter.com/HzEVjpqX0q
— sean (@seanw6816) December 22, 2020
Win or lose, third-string QB Ryan Finley deserves credit for his gutsy performance tonight. #Bengals
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) December 22, 2020
Ryan Finley running untouched 23 yards through the Steelers D for a touchdown are words I never thought I’d type. But here we are.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) December 22, 2020
Ryan Finley putting the team on his back pic.twitter.com/gLW9DVDWNz
— BroBible (@BroBible) December 22, 2020
RYAN FINLEY DUAL-THREAT
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 22, 2020
RYAN FINLEY DUAL-THREAT
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 22, 2020
When Ryan Finley crossed the line of scrimmage on his 23-yard TD run, Finley had 6.5 yards of separation from #51 Avery Williamson & 5.5 yards from #56 Alex Highsmith.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 22, 2020
Finley reached a top speed of 18.47 MPH, while no Steelers defenders reached 15+ MPH.#PITvsCIN | #SeizeTheDEY pic.twitter.com/aaUM0lPbjk
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