Opening notes: Bengals 31 Browns 14
The Bengals led 24-0 at the half and 31-0 into the 4th quarter. They lost the shutout bid on a 31-yard TD pass from Jeff Driskell to David Bell with 8:45 remaining and then a 24-yarder to Bell with 2:34 remaining.
With the Browns resting just about everyone, it felt like the baseball version of the Bengals facing a position player on the mound for nine innings.
And to think some actually wanted the Bengals to lose to that version of the Browns….just to improve their draft pick.
The Bengals finish 9-8 and pick up their first AFC North win (1-5).
Offense
Run Joe, run! Joe Mixon 14-111… TD rushing, TD receiving. First time in 22 games he’s topped 100 yards…..15th of his career. Long run of 44, longest since 2018. First half: 9 carries /90 yards. Season: 1,014 yards. topping 1,000 yards for the fourth time. 12 combined TD this season. He is now 2nd all-time in career rushing TD for the franchise. He passed Rudi Johnson and trails Pete Johnson.
Century mark! Ja’Marr Chase 4-19 yards. 3rd Bengals WR to reach 100 catches in a season (TJ Houshmandzadeh/Carl Pickens).
Drive time: The Bengals had a 3rd quarter TD drive of 14 plays, 99 yards, 8:12.
Browning: 18 of 24, 156 yards, 3 TD, INT, 3 sacks, QB rating 113.9. Went 4-3 in place of Burrow. 12 TD, 7 picks in 7 starts this season.
Final act? Tyler Boyd had a catch and a drop in likely his final game with the Bengals. That is 513 catches for 6,000 yards in his career.
QB3: A.J. McCarron took over late in the 3rd quarter. 3 of 4, 20 yards, 1 sack.
Then and now: Bengals TE this year 88-686….last year 73-456. Per Dan Hoard.
Rooks: Andrei Iosivas 3-yard TD, 7-yard TD. 5 catches/36 yards. Season: 15 catches, 4 TD. Charlie Jones 3-49, reeled in a 35-yard catch.
Defense
You go rook! Jordan Battle made a nice sideline pick on the opening drive for his first NFL interception. He also had a sack and a 3rd down pass break up.
Sack machine: Trey Hendrickson half sack (17.5). He began the day 2 back of TJ Watt (19) for the NFL lead.
Sacks: Hubbard 1, Battle 1, Hendrickson 0.5, BJ Hill 0.5.
Picks: Wilson, Battle
Impact day: Joseph Ossai flashes several times. His pressure led to a pick. Also had a three yard tackle for loss. Three tackles.
TFL! Mike Hilton recorded his 12th tackle for loss….leader among slot corners.
Miscellaneous
2 of first 3 passes of the game were picked off…one by each QB.
The Browns defense had five neutral zone infractions.
All four AFC North teams finished with a winning record. The first time since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger and the first in the NFL since 1935.