NFL Week 16: Bengals’ top plays from win over Lions

The Bengals ended Detroit’s playoff hopes on Christmas’ eve, upsetting the visitors from the Motor City just one week after being dismantled by the Vikings, and two after losing badly at home to the struggling Bears.

Not only they beat a team that was in the thick of the Wild Card race, but they did it without their top three offensive tackles while losing running back Joe Mixon to an injury in the first half.

They also overcame another poor performance by Andy Dalton and yet another pedestrian afternoon by A.J. Green, but Giovani Bernard, William Jackson and kicker Randy Bullock led them in a win that doesn’t help their draft position next season, but it sure gave the fans something to cheer on after a very tough year.

Which big play gets your vote for the Play of the Game for the Bengals against the Lions? Cast your vote and sound off on your winner!

Bernard’s 25-yard rush in the second quarter: longest carry for Gio since 2015 and also the spark that helped turn on a struggling offense that hadn’t done anything prior to that play and had turned the ball over in the previous drive. Spoiler alert: it won’t be the last thing you’ll see from Gio.

Vincent Rey’s pick off Matthew Stafford at the end of the first half: Stafford got hit by Vontaze Burfict and his throw went right into the arms of Rey, allowing the Bengals to reduce the lead to just one point before halftime.

Jackson’s pass defended on third down in the end zone: the Lions had a chance to score the touchdown, but the Bengals’ rookie shutdown cornerback made a great play and Detroit had to take the field goal.

Brian Hill’s 34-yard catch and run in the third quarter: signed off the Falcons’ practice squad a few weeks ago, the rookie showed a lot to like on Sunday while sparing Gio a little bit. This play helped set up a Bengals touchdown that would give them the first lead of the game. Hill just takes a not-to-great swing pass from Dalton and makes four or five defenders miss finally being tackled inside the red zone.

C.J. Uzomah’s one-yard touchdown: the broadcasters knew, Lions probably should’ve known and Dalton’s throw was pretty bad. It didn’t matter.

Bernard’s eight-yard catch at the end of the third quarter: a hospital throw, it should’ve been a tackle for a loss, but it wasn’t, and it was all Gio. A fantastic play by the electric back from North Carolina.

Bernard’s touchdown: just a deserving icing on the cake after a superb game by Gio.