The Bengals took on the Cleveland Browns in the regular season finale. It was an ugly defensive effort on both sides for most of the game, especially with the Bengals resting the majority of their starters. Unsurprisingly, with the second team going up against starters, there were plenty of struggles. However, there were also some standout performances, showing the quality of depth the Bengals have accumulated at certain positions.
The Good:
– S, Trayvon Henderson
Henderson scored one of the team’s two TD’s on Sunday. He was in position to recover a Case Keenum fumble and then walk into the end zone untouched. Henderson has long been a good preseason performer for the Bengals, but depth at the position has prevented him from ever getting an extended run on the roster. He has stuck around, spending the majority of his time on the practice squad. It was good to see a guy like him get rewarded for his work.
– DE, Wyatt Ray
With Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard sitting, Wyatt Ray got an extended run. He was the one that forced the Case Keenum fumble that Trayvon Henderson took back to the house. Ray did well to hunt down Keenum as he rolled out of the pocket. He made contact with Keenum’s arm just in time to knock the ball loose.
– LB’s Clay Johnston and Markus Bailey
Johnston had an outstanding game, consistently showing the ability to track down the ball carrier horizontally. He reads the game well and tackles with good technique. He has quietly been a solid addition for the Bengals since they claimed him off waivers earlier this season.
Bailey also had himself a solid game. His 11 total tackles upped Johnston by 1. Like Johnston, he did well to fill gaps and bring down the ball carrier when presented with the opportunity.
– DT, Mike Daniels
Daniels hasn’t played much this year, instead sitting on the practice squad for most of it. However, last Sunday was a bit of a blast from the past for the veteran DT. He played with great energy and seemed to have some extra jump in his step. He did a good job of bringing pressure prom the middle, sometimes forcing Case Keenum to roll out of the pocket.
– CB, Trae Waynes
Waynes hasn’t played much at all since the Bengals gave him a massive deal in free agency. And when he has played, it hasn’t been very good. When he returned from his latest injury a few weeks ago, it was discovered that Eli Apple had jumped him on the depth chart.
Waynes saw significant playing time on Sunday. Not only was it nice to actually see him on the field, but he turned in his best performance as a Bengal. The competition might not blow you away, but it is, nevertheless, good for him to have a positive to carry with him into the playoffs.
– RB’s Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams
Overall, it was a quiet day for the offence, but both backup RB’s put some good stuff on tape. Williams was running with a purpose, making several nice cutbacks into an open lane to pick up extra yards. He totaled 38 yards on 9 carries, adding 4 more yards in the passing game.
Evans also had some nice carries. He averaged 5 yards per carry, as he went for 35 on 7. Evans contributed a bit more in the receiving game. He made 4 catches for 24 yards. One of those catches was the team’s only offensive TD.
– G, Jackson Carman
Carman played on his more natural left side on Sunday. He didn’t have a perfect game, but there were several examples of him using his size, strength, and athleticism to dominate reps. The rookie is talented and the flashes he has shown in the last few weeks point towards him eventually being a regular on this line.
The Bad:
– OL Hakeem Adeniji and Isaiah Prince
The two started at RG and RT, respectively, and neither one of them had a game to remember. They were pushed around often, especially in pass protection. Now, to be fair, going up against guys like Myles Garrett and Jadaveon Clowney is no easy task. However, at least somewhat of a better display would have been much more encouraging. If I’m the Bengals, I’d at least be thinking about inserting Carman and Fred Johnson into the starting lineup for the playoffs.
– Depth Receivers
Aside from a couple of long catches made by Trent Taylor, it was a pretty uneventful day from the WR unit. They didn’t do the best job of creating separation, forcing themselves into some contested situations.
– QB, Brandon Allen
Allen received little help from his offensive line and wide outs. That said, he didn’t play particularly well, even when the opportunity to make a play was there. Accuracy was spotty and he had his fair share of poor reads.
