The Bengals went head to head against division rival Baltimore Ravens in the Wildcard round of the playoffs. It was the third time the two teams squared off, and second within the span of a week. Though it wasn’t the highest scoring game, there were several exciting moments, with the highlight being an opportunistic play by the Bengals defence that changed the game. Though divisional football is always tough, the Bengals did make things difficult for themselves at times, and also lost battles that they haven’t lost often this year. Still, the fact that they were able to overcome adversity could be something that gives them an additional boost going forward.
The Good:
- DE, Sam Hubbard
Hubbard is a no brainer to make this list. He returned the Tyler Huntley fumble 98 yards for the TD, which ended up being the difference in the game. It’s certainly not easy for a lineman to take it the entire distance of the football field, but credit to Hubbard, who was determined to get in at all costs.
- LB’s, Logan Wilson & Germaine Pratt
Wilson and Pratt each played a significant role in forcing the fumble that Hubbard returned. Pratt was the one who initially stood up Huntley short of the goal line. They both were poking at the ball until it broke free. Wilson officially got credit for forcing the fumble, as he got the initial punch onto the ball, but Pratt’s punch from underneath also seemed to help knock it loose. Both deserve a lot of credit.
- S, Jessie Bates
Playoff Bates seems to be back, as he was making plays all over the field, both in coverage and as a tackler. His best play came when he was the last man back with Huntley going towards the endzone. Bates was able to push him out of bounds short of the goal line. A few plays later, Hubbard returned a fumble for a TD. If Bates doesn’t keep Huntley out of the endzone on that initial big run, the outcome could have been very different.
- CB, Cam Taylor-Britt
Despite playing 96% of the snaps, Taylor-Britt did not allow a reception. In fact, he was only even targeted twice. Impressive stuff from the rookie, who is filling big shoes with Awuzie out. More of the same would be a welcomed sight.
- LB, Akeem Davis-Gaither
Davis=Gaither didn’t play a ton, but he was still able to make a crucial play. He intercepted Tyler Huntley on the Ravens’ opening possession. That turnover led to a Bengals TD.
- WR, Ja’Marr Chase
Surprise, surprise, Chase was Burrow’s top target. Though the offence sputtered at times, Chase and Burrow connected in some key situations. He totaled 9 receptions for 84 yards and a TD.
- QB, Joe Burrow
Burrow only had a modest day statistically, passing for 209 yards and a TD. However, with a banged up o-line, he faced quite a bit of pressure. His awareness to maneuver around the pocket and still make plays was impressive, as usual.
The Bad:
- Offensive Line
The Bengals banged up offensive line resulted in the Ravens putting up more pressure than you would like to see. Max Scharping, filling in for Alex Cappa, had a few rough moments. Jonah Williams also had a rough game, before he eventually exited with a dislocated kneecap. Jackson Carman filled in for Williams at LT, and was solid overall, but miscommunication with Perine on one play led to essentially a free run at the QB. Carman looked like he expected Perine to chip, but the two were not on the same page. It seems likely that Williams will miss the Divisional round against the Bills, so all of the communication stuff must be sorted out.
- Run Defence
The reason the Ravens were even in this game is because they beat us in the trenches for most of the game. They ran it down our throats consistently, with Dobbins, Edwards, and Huntley. Baltimore controlled the clock and limited the number of drives for the Bengals offence. The good news is that there isn’t another offence left in the playoffs with this kind of running game. But still, the positioning and missed tackles need to be cleaned up.
- CB, Eli Apple
Apple was guilty of biting on a slant route, and when the Ravens receiver, Robinson, turned up field, Apple was out of position. Robinson ended up wide open for an easy TD. Apple plays an aggressive game, and sometimes takes chances to go for an interception, but busts like that can cost you games.
Modified Homescreen Image Via: All-Pro Reels (CC)