See PFF's "About" page for more information on their grading

Welp, by PFF grades, the Bengal's final game of the year was a microcosm for the entire season- Andre and Geno earning the top grades with Gresham and Maualuga earning the worst...

Offense

Best: Andre Smith (+2.3; +2.0 pass block)

Other good grades: John Conner (+1.1), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (+0.7)

Worst: Jermaine Gresham (-2.6; -2.8 receiving)

Other bad grades: Andy Dalton (-1.9; -2.1 pass), Kyle Cook (-1.6; -2.5 pass block), Clint Boling (-1.2; -1.5 pass block), Orson Charles (-1.0; -1.0 run block), Andrew Hawkins (-0.9; -1.0 run block)

Defense

Best: Geno Atkins (+5.4)

Other good grades: Reggie Nelson (+2.5), Leon Hall (+1.9; +2.3 pass coverage), Pat Sims (+1.6; +1.7 run defense), Terence Newman (+1.4), Nate Clements (+1.3), Carlos Dunlap (+1.3; +1.4 run defense), Emmanuel Lamur (+1.0), Dan Skuta (+0.7)

Worst: Rey Maualuga (-3.4; -3.0 pass coverage)

Other bad grades: Michael Johnson (-2.1; -2.7 pass rush), Manny Lawson (-1.8), Domata Peko (-1.6), Vontaze Burfict (-1.1; -1.8 penalty)

Other performances of note:

-Burfict graded very well in pass coverage (+1.9).

-It was a bad year for Gresham, and this game was the cherry on top, but he clearly has the potential to be better: last year (2011), he graded +0.7 overall (compared to -16.4 overall this year).

-This has nothing to do with PFF grades, but why the hell wasn't Geno in the game on 1st and 2nd down of the Texans' final drive - the most important defensive stand of the entire season?!?!?! As it was, the Texans gained 8 yards on two rushes on those two downs, leaving an easy 3rd-and-2 to convert. Absolutely bewildering.

-A.J. Green scored +0.3 overall... one wonders what could have been had he gotten more targets...

-Kevin Zeitler finished solidly, also +0.3 overall

-Taylor Mays again grades positively, although only +0.1 and only in 7 snaps.

-That's all for this year, folks. Despite the ugly ending, I'm looking forward to the next!