Bengals edge Steelers; UK falls in OT + Bourbon picks

Bengals edge Steelers; UK falls in OT + Bourbon picks

This Week in the Bluegrass — Scores & Bourbon Plans (October 20, 2025)

Published on October 20, 2025

Stripes and blue share the same tailgates—and the same bourbon shelves. Cincinnati snapped its skid in a late-game thriller, while Kentucky took Texas to overtime and came up just short. The antidote for tight finishes? A full slate of fall events from Keeneland to carved-pumpkin night trails. Here’s your quick, fan-forward recap and a two-week plan that pairs football with local flavor.

Cincinnati Bengals

Final: Bengals 33, Steelers 31 — (Cincinnati)

  • Joe Flacco: 31/47, 342 yards, 3 TD.
  • Ja’Marr Chase: 16 receptions, 161 yards, 1 TD — chain-moving machine all night.
  • Evan McPherson: 4 FGs, including the 36-yard game-winner with :07 left.

Outlook / next game: Momentum finally in hand—now stack it. Cincinnati hosts the New York Jets on at Paycor. Expect a balanced script: early quick game to Chase/Higgins, then dose in Chase Brown to keep the rush honest.

Kentucky Wildcats Football

Final: Texas 16, Kentucky 13 (OT) — (Lexington)

  • Mason Shipley ended it with a 45-yard OT field goal.
  • Kentucky out-gained Texas 395–179 total yards but couldn’t cash in enough drives.
  • Cutter Boley: 31 completions for 258 yards, plus 45 rushing yards and a TD — poised in a slugfest.

Outlook / next game: Clean up red-zone and situational calls, and the wins follow. The Wildcats host Tennessee on at Kroger Field.

Bourbon & Culture: Next 7–14 Days

  1. Keeneland Fall Meet — Closing Week
    Keeneland, Lexington — October 22–25, 2025 (no racing Mon–Tue)
    Ticketed race days; buy ahead recommended.

  2. Jack O’Lantern Spectacular
    Iroquois Park, Louisville — Nightly, October 20–November 2, 2025
    Timed entry; popular evenings sell out.

  3. HallZOOween & Jack O’Lantern Glow
    Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati — Weekends through October 26, 2025
    Family-friendly; separate Glow nights are ticketed.

  4. Halloween & Thriller Parade
    Downtown Main Street, Lexington — Sunday, October 26, 2025 (6:30–9:00 p.m.)
    Free; arrive early for the Thriller reenactment.

  5. Finished Line Series: Bourbon Tasting
    Paddock Bourbon Club (South Broadway), Lexington — Friday, October 24, 2025 (6:30–8:30 p.m.)
    Ticketed tasting focused on finished bourbons.

Gear up for game day

Rep the stripes and the blue while you plan your pours:

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