The Bengals got their first playoff win in 31 years when they beat the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend. It was a good performance by the offence, especially early, while the defence came up with several key stops as well. While they were in control for much of the game, things did start to slip towards the end, painting a clear picture of what the Bengals can improve on as they continue on in the playoffs.
The Good:
– TE, CJ Uzomah
CJ Uzomah has become an emotional leader on this team, being one of the veterans on the offence. As well, he has backed up his talk with good play on the field.
Uzomah was second on the team in receptions and yards last weekend. He was a reliable target on key plays for Burrow. Additionally, he scored the Bengals first points of the game with a clutch TD catch on 3rd down. Uzomah also contributed down the field, making a 29 yard catch down the seam.
– WR, Ja’Marr Chase
The offence went through Ja’Marr Chase in this one. He was targeted early and often, with several of his catches going for 1st downs. He didn’t score, but he led the team with 9 receptions and 116 yards. His long of 28 was just 1 yard short of Uzomah’s. Chase additionally contributed a few times on the ground, going for 23 yards on 3 carries.
– QB, Joe Burrow
Burrow was at the top of his game yet again. This has become the norm. Going beyond just statistical production, the way Burrow carries himself both on and off the field would suggest that he is a veteran. He was as good as ever in the pocket, handling pressure when needed to. His accuracy was pinpoint and he made plays off script, including his TD pass to Tyler Boyd.
– LB’s Germaine Pratt & Logan Wilson
Pratt and Wilson both had pretty good games, with some stand out plays that land them on this list. While Josh Jacobs did have his moments, both LB’s made several nice plays against the run. Each of them went for over 10 tackles. As well, they were solid in coverage, contributing to relatively small numbers put up by Darren Waller, compared to last time out.
Additionally, it was Germaine Pratt’s interception in the dying seconds that sealed Cincinnati’s playoff victory.
– Safeties Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell
The two safeties might have made the biggest impact for the Bengals defence. The game plan going in was clearly to shut down Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow. The two combined accounted for 134 yards, which is pretty good considering the quality of the players. Bell and Bates were often tasked with doubling the two Raiders, which directly contributed to their modest performances. Lou Anarumo also gets some credit for coming up with a good gameplan.
– DE, Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson was once again the heartbeat of the Bengals pass rush. He was consistently getting pressure and he was the one who stripped the ball from Carr, allowing Ogunjobi to recover it. That led to a Bengals field goal. When he left the game due to a concussion, his absence was greatly felt.
– CB, Chidobe Awuzie
With Bates and Bell often giving extra attention to Waller and Renfrow, Awuzie was left singled up a lot. He locked down his side of the field with Carr rarely even looking to throw in his direction. Awuzie doing his job is what enabled the Bengals to confidently put extra attention in the areas they needed to.
The Bad:
– WR, Tee Higgins
It was a quiet day for Higgins. He was a no-show for most of the game before eventually making a 10 yard catch for a 1st down. That would be his only contribution during the game, with guys like Chase and Uzomah piling up the receptions.
– Run Blocking
Mixon went for 48 yards on the ground, but whether he was taking a pitch to the outside or running up the gut, he often found it hard to find room. He averaged a poor 2.8 yards per carry. Manufactured runs to Ja’Marr Chase somewhat salvaged the team’s day in the run game.
– Redzone Playalling
The Bengals can’t keep settling for field goals when they get deep into opposition territory. It cost them games in the regular season and could have cost them against the Raiders. With the competition only getting tougher going forward, a quick fix will be crucial.
Modified Homescreen Image Via: Jeffrey Beall (CC)
