In Sunday’s exciting season opener, Jordan Battle would be one of those electrifying plays that got the crowd raving. His talent and leadership on display, he led the Cincinnati Bengals to a thrilling 17-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. Battle’s timely interception off a Joe Flacco pass sealed the game for the Giants. With a few game changing stops, he solidified himself as one of the biggest keys to this team’s defensive attack.
Battle has been a born leader from the time he started playing at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He made the easy switch to safety with the Bengals and was a starter all offseason. You could feel his desire to get better, to win his team the game, as he literally willed his team back into the game.
The turning point came with 4:53 left in the third quarter when Battle intercepted a pass from Flacco. This key play turned the momentum firmly in the Bengals’ direction. It was certainly Battle’s first interception of the season. His ability on the field increased the confidence in all of his teammates. He instilled in his players the urgency in getting the ball back in Joe Burrow’s hands.
“However fast you can get the ball back in Joe Burrow’s hands, we’ll be just fine.” – Jordan Battle
Outside of his interception, Battle proved to be a sure tackler on the backend that drew rave reviews from defensive coordinator Al Golden. He made one of the best open field tackles I have ever seen and helped a mate on run defense. With these plays, he made the Bengals’ secondary look good. It includes a star-studded stable of defensive backs like DJ Turner II and Cam Taylor-Britt.
“We always wanted the pressure on us.” – Jordan Battle
That’s huge for the Bengals’ secondary after they reminded the league what they could do against the Browns, as Battle and Turner both came away with picks. What’s particularly impressive is that their effort went above and beyond what the agreement had required. Beyond that, they increased swagger on and off the field—among fans and players, too. Still learning to develop their chemistry on the field together even as their time as teammates runs out, Battle is confident in their potential.
“Whenever I get the ball in my hands, I know everybody’s like, ‘Uh oh, here we go.’” – Jordan Battle
That win against Cleveland is definitely a big deal with the Bengals’ recent woes in mind. With their electrifying start to the season looks promising, player and fan optimism continues to run high in the jungle for a better fate this season. With Battle’s leadership and playmaking abilities, the Bengals are set to build off this victory as they head into the future.
Leave a Reply