Cincinnati Bengals

'He banks it in!' Nugent's doink pushes Bengals to best start in 27 years

Published Oct. 11, 2015 4:58 p.m. ET

Connor Kiesel

The bounces are going the Cincinnati Bengals way so far in the 2015 season.

That was taken to a very literal place Sunday.

With time dwindling in overtime, Mike Nugent tried a 42-yard field goal to push the Bengals past the defending NFC champion Seahawks -- and had the left goalpost on his side.

If you're looking for a scientific explanation, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson provided some insight.

Today's @Bengals winning OT field goal was likely enabled by a 1/3-in deflection to the right, caused by Earth’s Rotation.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 11, 2015

The @Bengals stadium isn’t oriented exactly North-South. And the field goal was 42-yds. Yielding a 1/3-in deflection, not 1/2
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) October 11, 2015

The win sends the Bengals to their first 5-0 start since 1988, the last time they reached the Super Bowl. They try to reach 6-0 next Sunday in Buffalo against the Bills.