While this season wasn't what any Bengals fan wanted to see from the team, that doesn't mean that Cincinnati's players didn't excite us with big plays throughout the year. Whether it was a last-minute kick, big touchdowns or unexpected players stepping up, there were many nominees for the Bengals' 2016 Play of the Year.
Cast your vote and sound off on your winner!
Mike Nugent's 47-yard field goal versus Jets: Though the veteran kicker didn't last the entire season, he came through in a big way in Week 1. With the Bengals down 22-20, Nugent set up for a long 47-yard attempt and nailed it with 58 seconds to play.
A.J. Green's Hail Mary in Week 7 versus Browns: The Bengals were in a bit of an unexpected dogfight with the winless Browns and needed a huge play before the midway break. After falling out of field goal range in their two-minute offense, Andy Dalton decided to heave one deep to see what happened. Green, in the midst of what seemed like the best season of his career, inexplicably came down with the catch and Cincinnati never looked back.
Every defender involved here has to address A.J. Green as "sir" from now on https://t.co/nA8WH8g1yy
— Zito (@_Zeets) October 23, 2016
Jeremy Hill's 74-yard touchdown run versus Browns: Not to be outdone by his wide receiver counterpart, Hill had an explosive play of his own against Cleveland. After a 2015 season marked with a lack of big plays we saw from Hill as a rookie, he displayed more of that ability in 2016. Hill scampered 74 yards to essentially ice the game for the Bengals midway through the third quarter.
Alex Erickson's 84-yard punt return versus Steelers: With Cincinnati having a faint pulse for the postseason, it was known that special teams would be critical for the Bengals to possibly pull out the win. Erickson came through huge in the second quarter with a big kickoff return to set the offense up with prime field position.
Brandon LaFell's 86-yard touchdown catch versus Texans on Christmas Eve: The veteran receiver was nearing completion on a great bounce-back season with the Bengals and ended up getting the team's biggest offensive play of the season and longest passing play of Andy Dalton's career. His 86-yard catch-and-run was one of the only big plays by the Bengals' offense against the Texans and gave hope that the Bengals could pull out a victory on the holiday.
