Bengals at Browns: Highlights, score and recap
By James Dudko
The Cincinnati Bengals beat AFC North rivals the Cleveland Browns 23-10 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Week 14. Here are the highlights and key players from Sunday’s game.
Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes to help the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Cleveland Browns 23-10 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Week 14 and improve to 5-7-1. Cincinnati’s defense chipped in with three sacks and an interception as the Browns lost their 13th-straight and moved a step closer to 0-16 infamy.
Dalton and the Bengals got their offense rolling early against the Cleveland Browns. In fact, Dalton directed three-straight touchdown drives.
Two of those marches ended with Dalton hitting Tyler Eifert on scoring passes. The tight end reeled in 14- and five-yard touchdown grabs.
A one-yard plunge from running back Jeremy Hill was sandwiched in between Eifert’s scores. The Bengals built a 20-0 lead at the break thanks to their balanced attack.
Robert Griffin III helped the winless Browns show some fight in the third quarter. RG3 went over from a yard out before Cody Parkey kicked a field goal as Cleveland ran up10 points.
A 44-yard field goal from Mike Nugent helped the Bengals retake the initiative in the fourth quarter. Nugent made up for yet another missed PAT earlier with what proved to be the game’s final points.
Hill carried six times once the Bengals got the ball back to help Cincy kill the clock and ice the contest.
Three Stars
1. Tyler Eifter
The Bengals have needed pass-catchers to step up with premier wide receiver A.J. Green on the shelf. Eifert duly obliged this week, after snagging five passes for 48 yards, including a pair of touchdowns in the red zone.
Big No. 85 was clutch whenever Dalton needed a play. He worked over the middle of the Browns defense and made the most of his targets.
2. Jeremy Hill
When it comes to feeble run defenses, the Browns are about as soft as it gets. So it’s not surprising Hill was able to run wild this week.
The plodding, straight-ahead runner battered his way to 111 yards and a score on 25 carries. Most of those yards were gained between the tackles, as Hill routinely lowered his head and wisely targeted the vulnerable middle against Cleveland’s front seven.
Hill was also aided by strong blocking that not only made nose tackle Danny Shelton a non-factor, but also got hats on the Browns’ talented linebackers.
This is the level of production the Bengals have needed out of Hill all year, but rarely gotten.
3. Geno Atkins
He hasn’t really been himself for most of this season, but Geno Atkins turned the clock back in Week 14. Turned it back to a time when he was arguably the most dominant 3-technique pass-rusher in the NFL.
Atkins sacked Griffin twice and spent the game splitting double teams and causing havoc. The Bengals rely on this kind of pressure from their defensive front every week.
Atkins and Co. have been inconsistent, but this was more like it from Cincy’s monster in the middle.
Next: NFL Hot Seat: 5 Coaches who must win in Week 14
Cleveland’s D actually boasts excellent linebackers in Jamie Collins, Demario Davis and Christian Kirksey. But nose tackle Danny Shelton and the line can’t keep these playmakers clean.
Next Week
The Bengals host another division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Week 15. It’s a road trip for the Browns against the Buffalo Bills.