The Bengals were tasked with going on the road and beating a tough 49ers team in week 8. Exiting the bye, they had time to make some adjustments and fix things that hadn’t previously been working. As well, it gave Joe Burrow and the rest of the team some time to get healthy for the 2nd half of the season. The Bengals shot themselves in the foot a few times in this game, but the steps forward were clear, and the playmakers on both sides of the ball continued to come up clutch in key situations.
The Good:
QB, Joe Burrow
Burrow is back. It is official. The calf injury that had been hindering this offence for most of the year was clearly no longer an issue, as Burrow was able to navigate the pocket, scramble outside, and rush up the field without any physical limitations. There was one play in particular where he was able to escape what looked like a sure sack, something he has done several times throughout his career. Rushing for 43 yards was a great sign, but the accuracy was even greater. Essentially all of his passes were right where they needed to be. The 49ers took away deep shots, for the most part, but Burrow saw the field well, completing 28 of 32 passes for 238 yards and 3 TD’s.
RB, Joe Mixon
Mixon looked explosive in this one, making nice cuts on multiple runs to get to the outside. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry and allowed the Bengals to keep a balanced attack on offence, and his TD late in the game sealed the victory. Mixon totaled 87 yards on the ground and added another 23 through the air.
Offensive Line
You can’t mention Joe Mixon without also mentioning the offensive line. The running lanes were the best I have seen from the unit this season. They were there on a consistent basis, and the players lined up opposite of them are certainly no slouches. The pass protection was also quite good. Orlando Brown did allow some pressure, but with Nick Bosa as his opponent, it can be excused. Brown actually fared quite well against the 49ers super star. Seeing Cordell Volson have a good game was also encouraging. If he can build on it going forward, it will be huge for the Bengals offence.
WR, Ja’Marr Chase
Chase was great, as usual. His 10 receptions were double that of the next closest receiver, and he tallied an even 100 yards. Chase’s route tree has been looking more diverse lately, and his ability to make catches in key chain moving situations have been a big part of the team’s recent offensive success.
LB’s, Logan Wilson & Germaine Pratt
Wilson was all over the field, leading the team in tackles, and coming up with a key interception that led to a Bengals TD shortly after. Pratt wasn’t quite as good, as he did have a couple of lapses in coverage. However, his interception was a game changer, with the 49ers driving and close to tying the game.
DE, Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson’s weekly appearance in this section continues. He was a menace, forcing Purdy to scramble quite often. Though he didn’t get home every time, he did pick up a sack. As well, Hendrickson picked up an ankle injury, but continued to play well after getting it taped up.
CB, Mike Hilton
The Bengals secondary was a bit inconsistent at times, but I thought Hilton was pretty solid. Especially given how tough a matchup against the 49ers can be on a slot corner. He did well to limit what was given up, and his interception late in the 4th quarter was undeservedly wiped out by a questionable penalty elsewhere on the field.
Zac Taylor & Brian Callahan
This was the best game by far this season for Taylor and Callahan. We heard midweek about some of the changes being done to the offence, but on Sunday, we got to see it. And not only see it, but see it work. The game plan was more aggressive, surely a product of Burrow’s improving health. As well, I liked that they finally mixed in some plays from under centre. The diversity was nice to see, and it would be nice to see this kind of thing on a regular basis going forward.
Lou Anarumo
Not to be outdone, Anarumo called a pretty good game, himself. He regularly deployed 5 DL in order to combat Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers run game. For the most part, it seemed to work, and the Niners had to make some big adjustments at half time.
The Bad:
TE, Irv Smith
Smith’s struggles not only continued, but got worse. Throughout the year, he has been ineffective, but his fumble at the goalline towards the end of the 1st half was a costly blow. The team is lucky that they still pulled out the victory, but had they lost, this play would have been the turning point. Since this game, the Bengals signed Tanner Hudson off of the practice squad, so Smith has officially been put on notice.
Defence Against Play Action
The defence played well for the most part, but did have some struggles against play action in the 2nd half. The 49ers increased usage of play action was a direct result of the Bengals using 5 defensive lineman on the field. For a couple of drives, the Niners were able to slice right through the Bengals defence, largely using play action passes to do so. Luckily, the Bengals were able to limit the damage. Germaine Pratt’s interception was especially critical in stopping a little bit of their momentum.
Modified Homescreen Image Via: Alexander Jonesi (CC)