Bengals’ awards in 34-37 loss to Browns in Week 7

Another week, another heartbreaking loss for the Cincinnati Bengals. After seemingly having yet another win in 2020 sewn up, they let the Cleveland Browns steal one on their home turf.

Nevertheless, there were many great individual performances by Bengals players. So, cast your vote and sound off on your winners!

Most Valuable Player

Joe Burrow

Another day at the office and another rookie record set by Burrow. Aside from an egregious red zone interception on the opening drive, No. 9 was near-perfect.

Burrow finished 35-of-47 (74.6%), for 406 yards and four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing). He’s on pace to break Andrew Luck’s rookie passing yardage mark for the regular-season.

Tyler Boyd

Mr. Automatic was on display again at Paul Brown Stadium last Sunday. He caught 11 balls on 13 targets for 101 yards and a score.

A.J. Green

It was a nice day for the second consecutive week for Green. He left some plays out there, but still had seven catches for 82 yards on 13 targets against the Browns.

Tee Higgins

Cincinnati officially has a solid trio of wide receivers putting up big production. Higgins caught all five passes thrown his way for 71 yards and a score. He also added a 7-yard run.

Giovani Bernard

It’s so easy to forget about what No. 25 can do when he gets so few opportunities behind a healthy Joe Mixon. But, Sunday was a great reminder as to why Bernard is a team captain.

He ran for 37 yards, but also added 59 receiving yards and a touchdown on five grabs. And, not to be outdone, Bernard also held up exceptionally when called upon to pass protect.

Unsung Hero of the Week

Billy Price

Part of the criteria for this award is in someone stepping in and playing able football in the wake of injury. Price’s career has been a disappointment to this point, but he came in for Trey Hopkins and played relatively well. There were a couple of penalties, but Price held up when the game was on the line.

Fred Johnson

Like Price, Johnson was called upon to protect Burrow’s blindside with Jonah Williams leaving with an injury. There were some speed bumps along the way, but you have to tip the cap to a relief effort at left tackle aiding in Burrow’s huge statistical day.

Randy Bullock

He’s been mocked for injuries to his lower extremities, but when it’s not a fourth quarter field goal attempt, Bullock has been among the league’s best kickers in 2020. He accounted for 10 points in Sunday, going perfect on his four extra point attempts and two field goal tries.

Logan Wilson

I guess we have to get a defensive player on here sometime, right? Wilson had four total tackles, including one for a loss and helped to keep the Browns under 85 team rushing yards on Sunday. The kid has flashed in rotational snaps as a rookie.

WI guess we have to point out one defender for Sunday, right?

Play of the Week

Darius Phillips’ interception of Baker Mayfield

The Bengals marched down the field on their opening drive, but an unfortunate interception by Burrow in the red zone gave the Browns the ball right back. Fortunately, Phillips gave the Bengals the ball right back with a great sideline interception of Mayfield. It led to a Bengals touchdown on the subsequent drive.

Joe Burrow’s 1-yard touchdown run

The aforementioned touchdown was a bolt up the middle by the Bengals’ rookie quarterback. Zac Taylor wasn’t messing around with fullback dives this week, so Burrow got the call and punched it into the end zone.

Joe Burrow’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd

How Burrow fit this one in to Boyd is beyond comprehension. There were two Bengals receivers in the area and four Browns defenders, but the rookie quarterback zipped it in to No. 83 for the go-ahead score right before halftime.

Joe Burrow’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins

This was a biggie to start the fourth quarter. Cleveland’s offense was gaining steam and the Higgins touchdown gave the Bengals a brief, albeit necessary lead.

The rookie combo showed a glimpse of what’s ahead for both of the careers of Burrow and Higgins. Burrow hit him in stride, as the big-bodied wideout pin-balled off of defenders to scoot into the end zone.

Joe Burrow’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Giovani Bernard

Fourth down. Game on the line. No starting running back, nor four, true starting offensive lineman.

Burrow had an opportunity to make a statement and did so, thanks to a great play-call by Taylor. The rookie signal-caller threw one to the flat with Bernard making a great grab for what should have been the game-winning touchdown.