The Bengals went into their primetime week 13 matchup against the Jaguars still alive in the playoff hunt, but getting pretty close to must win territory. They fell behind early, but offensive adjustments kept them in for the duration, and the team made plays at the end that allowed them to pull through. There were certainly a lot of things to work on, especially on the defensive side, but getting a win as a double digit underdog has definitely helped boost the morale in Who Dey Nation.
The Good:
WR, Ja’Marr Chase
Chase was the go to target for the Bengals, which is something we have long been used to. Browning peppered him with short targets early on, before pushing things down the field a bit more as the game progressed. Chase’s biggest highlight was a 76 yard catch and run down the left sideline, which he was able to take all the way for a TD. On the day, he totaled 11 receptions for 149 yards and a TD.
QB, Jake Browning
Browning started off slowly, but settled in as the game went on. He made the throws that he needed to make, and did enough to just get the Bengals over the line with a 3 point win in OT. His statline was especially impressive, as Browning completed 32 of 37 passes for 354 yards and a TD. He also added 22 yards and a TD on the ground.
RB, Joe Mixon
Mixon was solid in week 13, with some important runs, especially later in the game. As well, his 2 TD effort helped the Bengals keep things close, before eventually winning in OT. Mixon totaled 117 yards from scrimmage, in addition to the 2 rushing TD’s.
RB, Chase Brown
Brown was a legit part of the game plan for the first time this season, and did not disappoint. He displayed good vision, burst, and speed, and was able to pick up a couple of chunk gains. Brown totaled 61 yards on 9 carries.
Skill Position Players Collectively
The guys talked about earlier got individual shout outs, but the skill position guys as a whole did quite well to make things easier on Browning. The receivers created a ton of separation. Though Chase was a target hog, guys like Higgins, Boyd, Hudson, Irwin, Sample, and even Wilcox stepped up when called upon. Though individually, their contributions were more modest, the group effort was great.
The Offensive Line
The offensive line finally put together a complete performance. For the most part, they were able to keep Browning clean and allow him to go through his progressions. As well, it was a great day run blocking. Mixon ran well, and rookie Chase Brown really played great. Though the two of them each deserve a lot of credit, the great blocking made it possible in the first place for them to have good games.
HC, Zac Taylor
Taylor’s play calling has had some issues in recent weeks, but in week 13, he called a great game. He was able to open up the receivers, and put Browning in a good spot to complete passes and get in a rhythm. The decision early to essentially throw no passes beyond a few yards down the field was not great. But luckily, the script changed, and a lot of downfield passes were then called.
K, Evan McPherson
McPherson did miss a 57 yard field goal. However, he does deserve some benefit of the doubt. He had it down the middle, but doinked it off the crossbar. We all know the kind of leg strength he has. Having one fall short like this is rare for McPherson. I don’t see anything worth worrying about. The young kicker was able to redeem himself anyways, hitting from 54, and then 48 to walk the game off in OT.
S, Jordan Battle
Battle’s strong rookie season continues. He was solid in coverage for a unit that had some struggles in this area. But his tackling, as usual, is what really stood out. Battle was able to make some key tackles, and there is rarely any thought about guys slipping away when he is the one attempting to make the tackle.
DT, DJ Reader
Reader is a high end run stopper, and he did well in this area again in week 13. However, he also had a great game rushing the passes. He disrupted the pocket often, making things tough on the opposing QB.
CB, Mike Hilton
Hilton was the team’s best CB in this one. He played well in coverage, and he had a few tackles that exemplified just how good he is in that area. His play against the run and against receivers in the open field has been exceptional.
The Bad:
CB, DJ Turner
Turner has generally been solid in his rookie season so far, and did have a nice tackle of two in this one. However, he also had some lapses in coverage that led to big plays. He has been a bit up and down late, and will need to level out his play with Cam Taylor-Britt set to miss a minimum of 3 more games.
S, Daxton Hill
Hill had an outstanding preseason, and was impressive early in the season. However, of late, we have often seen a player with athletic potential, but still has a lot to improve on mentally. He has found himself out of position a lot in recent weeks, and this has unsurprisingly contributed to the seemingly constant issues that they’ve had defending against big plays.
Tyler Boyd Interception
Boyd had a solid game. But the interception he threw on the failed trick play just can’t happen. The play wasn’t there, but he still decided to force a throw laterally across the field, which ended up going right to Jaguars DE Josh Allen. This mental lapse happened deep in Cincinnati territory and led to a Jaguars TD. Luckily, unlike the turnover against Pittsburgh the week before, this one did not swing momentum against the Bengals. But it just can’t happen no matter how you look at it.
Chunk Yardage Given up on Defence
Whether on the ground or through the air, the defence regularly gave up chunk yardage. This has been a regular occurrence for several weeks now, and it will be hard for the Bengals to have much success if it continues this way. Both lapses in coverage and missed tackles have been happening far too often. The DB’s, LB’s, and d-linemen are all collectively responsible. As a whole, the unit needs to improve.
Modified Homescreen Image Via: Van Ha