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The Bengals got a much needed win over the Browns to bring their record to 3-4 ahead of a trip to London to face Washington next Sunday. The Bengals’ offense was clicking and Tyler Eifert’s return didn’t make much of an impact in the box score, but it’s great to have him back on the field.
Andy Dalton threw for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns, Jeremy Hill rushed for 168 yards and 1 touchdown and Giovani Bernard added another 80 yards on the ground and 1 touchdown. We also can't forget Rex Burkhead who entered the game after Hill re-aggravated his chest injury and generated 23 yards rushing on 4 plays. The Bengals finished with 271 rushing yards, their best effort on the ground, by far, this season. On the receiving end, A.J. Green caught all 8 of his targets for an impressive 169 yards and a touchdown; Brandon LaFell had 4 catches for 83 yards and six other players had receptions as well: Hill, Burkhead, Bernard, Eifert, Tyler Kroft and Tyler Boyd. (Yes, three Tylers had at least one catch for the Bengals on Sunday). James Wright was targeted twice but didn't haul in either catch.
Here are the immediate reactions on social media following the Bengals’ win over the 0-7 Browns.
Even the opposition wants A.J. Green’s autograph.
Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins brought his son to the locker room to get an autograph from AJ Green. Green was the man of the hour
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) October 23, 2016
Baby Hawk walks in with his son to say hi to AJ Green. I ask his son: "Who's the best player in the league?"
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) October 23, 2016
Hawk: "He already knows."
Indeed, Dunlap:
Carlos Dunlap on AJ's Hail Mary: "That's AJ Green. That's AJ Green." #Bengals
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) October 23, 2016
Dalton expects Greens TD catch to be the play of the year
— Elise Jesse (@Elise_JesseWLWT) October 23, 2016
If you’re practicing it every week, why would the team even consider kneeling the ball to go into halftime, as it seemed Marvin Lewis was content with doing?
Dalton said they practice plays like AJ Green's Hail Mary catch every week #Bengals
— Elise Jesse (@Elise_JesseWLWT) October 23, 2016
I’d be smiling too if I caught 8 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown.
A.J. Green all smiles leaving the field. pic.twitter.com/Jp9BOsNkHx
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) October 23, 2016
Sideline jokes...
Dalton said he was joking with Hill bout Bernard scoring...he said don't worry I'll get mine and he did 2 plays later (and then some).
— aly cohen (@alyco32) October 23, 2016
The Bengals were on the winning end of the impressive effort this time around.
Last time #Bengals had 300 pas, 100 rush, 100 rec in regulation game was 9-16-07 at Cleve (Palmer, 401; Rudi, 118; Chad, 209)
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonCMG) October 23, 2016
51-45 loss
They hit the 300, 100, 100 milestone in overtime more recently, though, that game ended in a tie.
Last time #Bengals had 300 yard passer, 100 yard rusher, 100 yard receiver was 10-12-14 in a 37-37 tie vs Carolina (Dalton, Bernard, Sanu).
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonCMG) October 23, 2016
The offensive line did look better this week, Cedric Ogbuehi excluded, for the most part.
"I thought our line played really good, controlled the guys up front and that set the tone for how the game was gonna be." -Dalton
— aly cohen (@alyco32) October 23, 2016
Hill is a warrior!
Jeremy Hill wearing a jacket that says: "Bruised never broken." #Bengals
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) October 23, 2016
Hue Jackson’s thoughts:
Hue says Hill didn't do anything different. Played well. Blocked well. Gave him some chances gave the ball to him. That's what he can do
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) October 23, 2016
#Browns Hue Jax said he took his headphones off during game because: "I don't like losing." Admitted it's tough. "I've never lost like this"
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 23, 2016
#Browns Kevin Hogan said Pep Hamilton took the headset and communicated with him in second half
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) October 23, 2016
Please do!
AJ Green says he's supposed to the "the tipper" on Hail Mary plays. But, "I can tip it to myself if I can."
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) October 23, 2016
Eifert had one catch on two targets for 9 yards.
Eifert says he wasn't on a scheduled snap count rather game situation dictated his usage. #Bengals
— Jim Owczarski (@JimOwczarski) October 23, 2016
Marvin Lewis claims Andrew Whitworth is fine after leaving the game with a head injury.
Marvin Lewis said Whitworth (head injury) should be fine for next week.
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) October 23, 2016
But, it seems that’s not so true as he’s now in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Whit in concussion protocol, unavailable for interviews. #Bengals
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonCMG) October 23, 2016
Eifert speaks after his first game back!
Eifert said it felt great to get hit and hit somebody and help the team win. #Bengals
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonCMG) October 23, 2016
Everyone was happy to see Hue... after they beat his team.
Lost count of how many players hugged Hue Jackson at midfield. Adam Jones ran up and kissed him on the cheek. #Bengals #Browns
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) October 23, 2016
Boomer Esiason’s post-game thoughts:
.@7BOOMERESIASON : "At the end of the day, it's about who you're playing & when you're playing them." #Bengals beat team they needed to beat
— Enquirer Sports (@ENQSports) October 23, 2016
The run game was GOOD today.
Bengals rushed for 271 yards -- seventh-highest performance during a regular season game in franchise history.
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) October 23, 2016
Quite the day for Dalton:
Andy Dalton worked all areas of the field in the Bengals' 31-17 win over the Browns. #CLEvsCIN pic.twitter.com/XrFDJ3Y6Zv
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) October 23, 2016
WOW; big numbers bolstered by Green (169 yards) and Hill (186 yards). Dalton threw for 308 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
Bengals' 559 yards most since 0ct. 7, 1990
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) October 23, 2016
Green now third all-time on Bengals receiving yardage list
— Geoff Hobson (@GeoffHobsonCin) October 23, 2016
169 yards and one insane Hail Mary catch. Have a day, @ajgreen_18! pic.twitter.com/cho6J8x8V8
— SNF on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 23, 2016
AJ Green's hobby of juggling paid off for him on his Hail Mary TD catch. pic.twitter.com/GX9YGhEOJf
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 23, 2016
Player reactions:
3-4 moving on to redskins!!!! #WhoDey pic.twitter.com/T1suMY8fTr
— Carlos Dunlap (@Carlos_Dunlap) October 23, 2016
Way to get that W today men. On to the next #letsgo #whoday #WinningisEverything
— Dre Kirkpatrick (@DreKirkSWAG) October 23, 2016
Great team win #Whodey
— Jody Breeze (@Blafell1) October 23, 2016
#jujuonthatbeat pic.twitter.com/Px3O3RCpvj
— Jeremy Hill (@JeremyHill33) October 23, 2016
Got the W #WhoDey and walking dead starts back up today can my day get any better
— Marcus Hardison (@13igDuke) October 23, 2016
This is awesome, from Kevin Huber’s wife Mindi who looks to be getting an early start on the Europe trip:
Happy game day @khuber10 from The Louvre! #WhoDey #LetsRoar pic.twitter.com/xJnF9TbZHG
— Mindi Huber (@MindiLN) October 23, 2016
The Redskins are on deck:
Marvin Lewis on next week: “We’re not going to London. We’re playing the Redskins. It just happens to be in London.”
— Emily Parker (@Emily_Parker) October 23, 2016