Bengals 2020 season awards: Win of the Year

The Bengals doubled their win total from last year, from two to four.

Joe Burrow won two games in the first eight weeks before going down with an injury not long after. There were times when it looked like the Bengals couldn’t win without him.

But then Ryan Finley of all people led the Bengals to their first win without Burrow. Brandon Allen put together another one, and suddenly the Bengals had twice as many wins as the year before.

The Bengals only had four wins, so they should all be pretty easy to remember. Which will come out as the Win of the Year?

Week 4 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The first win of the Joe Burrow era.

After the Bengals tied with the Eagles in Week 3, some started to wonder if the Bengals could win a single game this season. But the Jaguars came to town, and the Bengals checked their first box in the win column.

Joe Mixon rushed 26 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns against the Jaguars. He added six receptions, 30 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. Burrow passed for 300 yards to get his third straight 300+ yard passing game in only his fourth career start.

On defense, Jessie Bates was already putting together his amazing season, with 10 combined tackles, two passes defensed and one tackle for a loss. Jordan Evans was a surprise contributor on defense as well with an interception and a sack.

The Bengals’ offense and defense put together their best game of the season by that point, and defeated the Jaguars 33-25 in Week 4.

Week 8 vs. Tennessee Titans

No Mixon, no problem. The eventual rushing champion Derrick Henry went toe-to-toe with Giovani Bernard and Samaje Perine.

The Bengals kept Henry to 112 yards and a single touchdown, which was right below his per game average. Even though the Bengals gave up 218 rushing yards in total, they still kept the Titans to only 20 points that game.

Bernard and Perine rushed for one touchdown apiece, and Bernard added a second total touchdown through the air. Tyler Boyd scored the Bengals’ fourth touchdown for the Bengals.

Bates had 11 combined tackles and an interception. Rookie linebacker Logan Wilson collected the first sack of his career.

The Bengals’ defense stopped Derrick Henry as well as anyone else this season, which was enough for the 33-20 win.

Week 15 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

A win against the Steelers is a little bit sweeter, isn’t it?

The Steelers came into Paul Brown Stadium with aspirations of claiming the top seed in the AFC. The Steelers had suffered two losses in a row, but they wanted to right the ship against the worst team in the division.

The Bengals’ didn’t have much of a chance to win. Ryan Finley was the starting quarterback, Mixon was still out, and Tyler Boyd left the game with a concussion before he could even record a reception.

Somehow, the Bengals pulled off the upset, taking down the Steelers 27-17.

The offense didn’t contribute as much to this game as the defense, although Finley’s 23-yard touchdown run was the highlight of the game.

Carl Lawson forced a fumble and had six quarterback hits. Mackenzie Alexander had an incredible game as well, and had an interception. But the play of the game was when Vonn Bell crushed JuJu Smith-Schuster and forced a fumble.

Week 16 at Houston Texans

Up to this point, Zac Taylor had never won on the road, and never won two in a row. That changed in Week 16.

Brandon Allen was back at quarterback and played the game of his life. He completed 29 of his 37 passes (78.4 percent) for 371 yards, 2 touchdowns, no interceptions and no sacks.

For reference, Burrow had more yards than that only once and never had that high of a completion percentage.

Perine also had a great game, with 13 rushes for 95 yards and two touchdowns.

Deshaun Watson put up similar numbers to Allen, with 24 of 33 passes completed (72.7 percent), 324 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Watson had a chance to win the game, but Sam Hubbard recorded the first sack of the game with a minute to go in the game, and forced a fumble to give the Bengals the ball.

The Bengals got it done for their fourth win, 37-31 in Houston.