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My opening observations:
Bengals 19 Rams 16
It wasn’t pretty at times, and it certainly got frustrating. But it was a win and it saved the season. The Bengals defense wreaked havoc on Matthew Stafford, while Joe Burrow gutted things out and the Bengals again found a 2nd half rhythm and rode Joe Mixon.
The Rams scored a TD to pull within 19-16 with 1:03 remaining, but Mitchell Wilcox fell on the onside kick and ran out the clock.
Offense
Chase career high 12 catches/15 targets, 141 yds....Chase 1st two games:10-70.
Burrow wasn’t close to 100%, but he was pretty damn gutty. 26 of 49-259, O TD, 1 INT, 2 SK.
He made nifty naked bootleg roll/throw to Chase for 43 yards.
31 passes/7 runs w/ clearly compromised QB in the 1st half? He dropped back 51 times.
Per Paul Dehner Jr., 2nd most 1st half attempts of Burrow's career. Malpractice.
18 first half drives this season, no TD…3 FG.
1st redzone trip of night 6:32 of 3rd. 1st lead of season: Mixon 14-yd TD run, 13-9…5:34 3rd.
Mixon: 7-23 yards 1st H…..12-42 2nd H…..19-65. Ran hard/decisively
40 plays netted 6 points in the first half
Nice to see: Tyler Boyd over the middle on the opening drive
Screen pass Charlie Jones for a 1st down/1st career completion.
Seemed to use a lot of motion early…..used middle of field.
Tanner Hudson tripped/fell on opening drive 3rd & 3….but later had nice 26 yard grab
3 TE saw snaps within 1st two drives: Hudson, Wilcox, Sample. (Smith Jr. out)
3rd & 1 became 3rd & 6 on Mixon false start/ then 3rd & 11 on Brown Jr. false start.
False start Boyd made 3&6 a 3&11.
Tee had three drops and a PI. He went to the locker room briefly in 3rd.
Tough night for Cordell Volson.
Defense
6 sacks tied most under Lou Anarumo. Hendrickson (2), Hubbard, Reader, Hill, Hill.
Hendrickson was in Incredible Hulk mode. 2 sacks & 2 more wiped by penalty.
10 QB hits, 7 tackles for loss....1 for 11 3rd down, 1-4 in red zone, 3 FG
Logan Wilson 2 INT
Dax Hill made his presence felt: 8 TKL, 2 TKL, INT
Secondary breakdown led to TD w/ 1:00 left in the game.
Tutu Atwell 24-yard opening drive TD reversed (stepped out at 2 yd line) … Reader then got a sack and the D flexed and held to a FG.
Dax a heat seeking missile into the backfield for -3 yards on run.
Dax sacked Stafford late 1st half/forced a punt/led to FG 6-6.
Stafford 46 yard completion followed Mixon TD/then INT Wilson off Hilton tip.
Joseph Ossai got snaps in his season debut
D stood up after Burrow INT up 16-9 w/ 10:00 left at Rams 20.
Special Teams
McPherson 4 of 5 FG: 49, 53, 48, 54
Robbins 33-yard punt + Tycen Anderson penalty
Jones 10-yard.19 yards PR
4th & 3 at Rams 37 on 1st drive…McPherson missed from 56. Go for it?
Miscellaneous
I love those white jerseys
They won the toss and elected to take the ball.
Lead? What lead? Bengals didn’t hold a lead in first 10 quarters of season.
53% of those responding to my Twitter question said the best course of action was for Burrow to sit.