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The New York Jets’ Sunday began with a horrific loss as legendary center Nick Mangold died after a long battle with kidney disease.
But his old team honored him in the biggest way with a miraculous comeback victory for its first win of the season in a 39-38 thriller over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Justin Fields and the Jets’ offense scored 23 points in the fourth quarter to stun Joe Flacco and the Bengals as they moved to 1-7 on the season. Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s momentum had stalled after a big win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are now 3-5 on the season.
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Justin Fields of the New York Jets carries the ball for a two-point conversion against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter of the game at Paycor Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The fourth quarter began with a Bengals lead of 31-16 as Flacco continued to break away from the Steelers tackle and continued to put the Bengals in position to score touchdowns. But Fields, who came into this game with tons of control for his game this season, kept moving the ball and staying in the game.
Then in the quarter, running back Breece Hall, who had 133 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns, burst for 35 yards to set himself up in the red zone. A few plays later he got into the end zone and instead of going for the extra point, the Jets went for two points with Fields breaking the plain.
With the game tied 31-24 in favor of Cincinnati, the Bengals’ running game responded with Chase Brown and Samaje Perine leading the way on the ensuing drive, which ended with the former scoring his second touchdown of the game.
JETS LEGEND NICK MANGOLD DIES AT 41 AFTER KIDNEY DISEASE COMPLICATIONS
But once again the Jets came back as Hall’s second touchdown of the quarter was a 27-yard run where he eluded multiple tacklers, stayed in bounds and found the paint. The Jets trailed by two for the second straight drive, and this was the decisive one when Isaiah Davis caught the pass and just broke the goal line on the pass to make it 36-32.
Breece Hall of the New York Jets scores a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter of the game at Paycor Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Still, the Jets’ defense had to come up with a stop because Flacco continued to dissect them to that point. Mission accomplished when Will McDonald IV secured the Jets’ first sack of the game on third-and-10, forcing a punt.
The Jets took advantage and went nine plays, with Hall throwing a touchdown to tight end Mason Taylor to take the lead after the extra point.
As the Jets celebrated, they knew the Bengals had all three of their timeouts and enough time on the clock to get within field goal range for Evan McPherson to attempt a potential game-winner. But Flacco was unable to find Andre Iosivas twice on third-and-fourth-and-9 to turn the ball over on downs and give the Jets their first scoring drive of the year.
Justin Fields of the New York Jets passes the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of the game at Paycor Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Looking at the box score, Fields went 21-of-32 for 244 yards with a touchdown pass and 31 rushing yards. His touchdown pass was to Tyler Johnson, who had three catches for 64 yards near the end of the first half.
For Flacco, he went 21-for-34 for 223 yards with two touchdowns with Ja’Marr Chase once again shining with 12 receptions for 91 yards. Tee Higgins had just one catch for Cincinnati, but it was a 41-yard touchdown for the Bengals.
