Bengals reclaim the Battle of Ohio: Mohammad Ahmad’s observations

CINCINNATI, Ohio – After 5 straight losses to Cleveland, the Cincinnati Bengals returned the imaginary Battle of Ohio trophy again to Cincinnati with a 23-10 win over their in-state archrival Browns at Paycor Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

One of many greatest questions surrounding this sport was how the Bengals would cease Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson was taking part in solely his second sport of the 12 months and his first in opposition to an AFC North rival. He appeared environment friendly, throwing for over 270 yards and finishing nearly 65% of his passes. The Browns solely mustered three first-half factors earlier than being restricted to only a landing within the second half.

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The sport was sloppy on each fronts to start out. Each groups mixed for 10 penalties at halftime, with seven of them coming from the Browns. 53 penalty yards allowed by the Browns on the Bengals’ first scoring drive would later hang-out Cleveland as they by no means took the lead on Sunday.

Nonetheless, a win is a win. The Bengals add their second victory to the divisional win column. They usually’ve now received 5 straight, making them one of many hottest groups in all of soccer.

Right here’s what went proper and what may have gone higher for the Bengals on Sunday.

1) Bengals win the snail race to open the sport

The beginning of this sport regarded acquainted. Possibly, too acquainted.

Bear in mind the Bengals’ begins in opposition to Tennessee and Baltimore earlier this 12 months? Oh, and the primary time the Browns and Bengals performed one another again on that horror of a Halloween night time? When you do, then Sunday’s begin for the Bengals ought to ring a bell. 3 scoreless drives, two first downs and 40 yards of complete offense is how Cincinnati opened the sport.

However the Bengals wouldn’t let these outdated demons hang-out them.

Regardless of Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd leaving Sunday’s sport early as a result of respective accidents, Burrow discovered a strategy to discover traction with Ja’Marr Chase, Trent Taylor and Trenton Irwin. Chase scored the primary landing of the sport after the Browns gifted them with penalty yards galore.

From there, Cincinnati did what they couldn’t do in opposition to the Browns of their final two primary matchups: transfer the chains. Actually. That 25-0 deficit on Halloween looks like only a spooky reminiscence at this cut-off date.

2) Burrow makes performs by any means vital

After Burrow was hitting incompletion after incompletion to start out the sport, he actually took issues into his personal fingers. We’ve seen Burrow use his legs as a last-second resort to a tee in opposition to the Chiefs and Titans, particularly on third down. Burrow did that twice the primary half by changing two of the Bengals’ early third downs to start out the sport.

Neither one resulted in a scoring drive, however that’s not necessary. What issues is that Burrow didn’t get thrown off kilter like he did the final time he confronted Cleveland. After throwing an early decide to start out that sport, Burrow had an evening to neglect however that wasn’t the case on Saturday.

That 15-yard landing to Chase to open the scoring? Pinpoint accuracy between two defenders in the long run zone. Oh, and about Taylor? Burrow hit him for a 34-yard catch that arrange Samaje Perine’s 6-yard landing to increase the lead earlier than halftime.

We are able to’t neglect the cherry on prime. Irwin caught what might have been probably the greatest flea-flicker throws this season. Burrow hit him for a 45-yard strike that gave the Bengals a 20-3 result in open the second half.

Chase might have been the star of the present along with his 100-plus-yard receiving yard day. However with an MVP caliber arm like Burrow’s, he’ll flip apply squad receivers into superstars. The priority for Boyd and Higgins with their respective accidents continues to be vital shifting ahead.

3) The jungle is protected by the massive orange wall

Cincinnati’s defensive position has been wanting increasingly like a stout brick wall for the reason that bye week.

The final time the Bengals handled Nick Chubb, he ran for over 100 yards and made the run protection pay. Not this time although.

Chubb averaged a couple of paltry 2.5 yards per keep it up Sunday, along with his longest run being simply 13 yards. Chubb was the second-leading rusher within the league this season getting into Sunday’s sport however not anymore. The Bengals run protection can now brag about shutting down Derrick Henry and Chubb this season, giving it vindication that it didn’t even want to start with.

Defensive sort out D.J. Reader has joked about being a defensive again at coronary heart. He won’t be flawed. After swatting three passes in his final two video games, Reader obtained one other move deflection early within the first half. B.J. Hill obtained one as nicely late within the sport. Defensive finish Sam Hubbard’s ascension as one of many league’s underrated defensive ends continues. He sacked Watson and hit him two extra occasions.

An honorable point out goes to the linebacker duo of Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt. Wilson was their main tackler with over 15 mixed tackles and Pratt added a pair of tackles for loss. Watson did begin to present extra progressions within the second half, however Cincinnati stewarded any comeback hopes.

4) Bengals’ offensive line wasn’t fairly, however will get the job completed

Browns defensive finish Myles Garrett has a particular place in his coronary heart for Joe Burrow.

Burrow has been sacked by Garrett each time the 2 have confronted off, Garrett has hugged and sacked Burrow at the least as soon as. After not touching Burrow within the first half Sunday, Garrett would get to him twice, even tipping one other move proper after a kind of two sacks. Jadeveon Clowney additionally tipped a move from Burrow that Deion Jones intercepted.

Bengals left sort out La’el Collins had three holding penalties that just about may’ve stalled a few of the Bengals’ scoring drives. Past that although, Burrow wasn’t sacked by anybody else. He’d get hit simply as soon as past Garrett’s brutish hits.

Extra importantly, Perine and working again Joe Mixon mixed for over 100 yards in Mixon’s return from harm. Mixon even ripped off a 40-yard run, one among his greatest since his 210+ yard efficiency in opposition to Carolina. Mixon had about 5 extra carries than Perine however the tandem averaged for nicely over seven yards per carry.

Whereas this wasn’t the cleanest sport for Cincinnati’s offensive line, this nonetheless provides to the progress they’ve had since that loss to Cleveland when Burrow was sacked 5 occasions.

Mohammad Ahmad covers the Bengals for cleveland.com. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @MohammadAhmadTV and browse all his protection at StrictlyStripes.com.

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