Protecting Leads; Top Rookies on Display

TAMPA, Fla. _ A day after watching the Vikings pull off the greatest comeback in NFL history, the Bengals head into Sunday’s game at Raymond James Stadium with perfect records when they score first (7-0) and lead after the first (6-0) and third (5-0) quarters.

Head coach Zac Taylor’s decision to take the ball instead of deferring when they won the coin toss helped a turn an 0-2 start into 2-2 when they opened wins against the Jets and Miami scoring touchdowns on the first series. In the two tosses they’ve won since, Taylor again read his team instead of convention, took the ball and first-drive touchdowns to fuel wins over Atlanta and Kansas City at Paycor Stadium.

After Friday’s practice Taylor said the decision to take the ball isn’t written in stone and he talks it over with offensive coordinator Brian Callahan weekly. Whether Bucs quarterback Tom Brady’s penchant for turning magic into points at the end of halves and at the beginning of third quarters is going to be a factor for this one remains to be seen. But when the call was made Saturday night, quarterback Joe Burrow probably knew what the decision was before most of his teammates.

“Joe tends to know things before,” Taylor said. “Daily I pop in with the quarterbacks to give them a heads up on things that are evolving. Like play style and what it calls for this week. They’re usually privy to a little more information than the rest of the team.”

But Taylor gets it. His team his entire team and that includes one of the league’s best second-half defenses likes it out in front.

“It’s a mentality thing for our guys. They’ve embraced it,” Taylor said. “When we get a lead, we get pretty good control and our defense plays really when we’ve got the lead. The defense has obviously played well in the second half. This is a team that has a lot of confidence that when we get rolling we can maintain that momentum and carry it to a win. That how it’s been for us.”

The three things they’ve done well in this five-game…