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The Cincinnati Bengals lost a tough one to start the 2020 season at home. They’re trying to rebound this week, but before we turn the page, it’s time to vote on some weekly awards!
Bengals’ Most Valuable Player
In a game where just 13 points were scored and no one is happy with moral victories, there still were some players who shined the brightest. Which Bengals player gave the team the best chance to win on Sunday?
Joe Burrow: It was a typical first start for a rookie quarterback, but Burrow gave the Bengals a chance to win at the end of the game. He finished 23-of-36 for 193 yards and an interception, but had an 84.9 rating on the should-have-been game-winning drive. He also rushed eight times for 46 yards and a score.
A.J. Green: It was the first game back for Green and he led all Bengals receivers with five catches for 51 yards. He should have had a far more impressive stat line if Burrow didn’t miss him for a wide open touchdown and/or if the refs didn’t call a questionable OPI penalty against him that would have won the game.
Jessie Bates III: This guy was an animal at the back end of the defense. He had five total tackles, a couple of pass break-ups and was one of Pro Football Focus’ best players in the NFL for the week with a 91.6 grade.
Josh Bynes: This guy showed us why he wears the “C” on his jersey. Bynes was active on Sunday, notching eight total tackles and a sack.
Trey Hopkins: The veteran had the highest PFF score of any Bengals’ lineman with 67.5 on Sunday. The big highlight was his mega-block on Burrow’s touchdown run, taking out two L.A. defenders at the same time.
Poll
Who gets your vote for the Bengals’ Week 1 MVP in their 16-13 loss to the Chargers?
This poll is closed
-
27%
Joe Burrow, QB
(155 votes) -
4%
A.J. Green, WR
(28 votes) -
56%
Jessie Bates III, S
(319 votes) -
4%
Germaine Pratt, LB
(25 votes) -
4%
Trey Hopkins, C
(24 votes) -
2%
Other (specify in comment section)
(15 votes)
Bengals’ Unsung Hero of the Week
If you’re new around these parts, this award honors players whose contributions may have gone overlooked by other flashy players’ performances. It also gives a nod to players who stepped in for injured guys, when is the case.
Carl Lawson: The lineman had a sack and some pressures on the day. Lawson also finished with five total tackles.
William Jackson III: Bates had the flashiest day in the secondary, but Jackson was rock solid. He helped corral Keenan Allen to just four catches, as the impacts of both he and Mike Williams were largely held in check.
Kevin Huber: This guy just gets better with age. He was relied upon heavily with his six boots, but three landed inside the Chargers’ 20-yard line. He probably would have had one or two more downed, but the coverage missed the opportunity. Did we mention one of his punts went for 70 yards.
Germaine Pratt: The second-year linebacker showed heady play all Sunday afternoon. He racked up a dozen total tackles, though that wasn’t displayed by his PFF score.
Jonah Williams: The second-year player had some ups and downs in his first pro start, but there was a lot to like out of Williams. On more than one occasion he was seen pushing guys clear out of the way on runs and held up adequately on pass protection against a formidable L.A. defensive front. And, sometimes not hearing one’s name called is a good thing in football.
Poll
Who gets your vote for the Bengals’ Week 1 Unsung Hero of the Week versus the Chargers?
This poll is closed
-
5%
Carl Lawson, EDGE
(22 votes) -
34%
William Jackson III, CB
(143 votes) -
23%
Kevin Huber, P
(100 votes) -
12%
Germaine Pratt, LB
(54 votes) -
23%
Jonah Williams, OT
(97 votes) -
0%
Other (specify in comments)
(4 votes)
Bengals’ Goat of the Week
Bobby Hart: Somehow, Hart had a better PFF score than Williams, which is puzzling. The team’s starting right tackle was beat by Joey Bosa routinely, giving up a sack, multiple pressures and committing his obligatory weekly false start penalty. At home. With no in-person crowd noise.
Randy Bullock: A kicker comes under scrutiny when he misses an easy, crunch-time field goal, but the Bengals should have capitalized at other points of the game. Still, even with supposed calf issues suffered during the kick, Bullock’s job duties are extremely limited, so when he misses a layup to tie the game on one of just three opportunities, he’s going to come under fire.
Joe Mixon: We’re really reluctant to put the big back here because he ground out tough yardage behind poor blocking all afternoon and hasn’t fumbled since his rookie year back in 2017. Even the fumble that places him in this list was a product of poor blocking up front. Still, Mixon coughing it up was a huge momentum shifter in the game.
John Ross III: PFF also oddly didn’t credit Ross with any drops on Sunday, yet he had at least one on the final drive, as it was called back because he bobbled it. Opinions vary on the deep ball that went through/past his hands earlier in the game, but he also had a costly false start on the final drive of the game.
Poll
Who gets your vote on the Bengals’ Goat of the Week in their loss to the Chargers?
This poll is closed
-
47%
Bobby Hart, OT
(203 votes) -
33%
Randy Bullock, K
(141 votes) -
5%
Joe Mixon, RB
(23 votes) -
12%
John Ross, WR
(53 votes) -
0%
Other (specify in comment section)
(4 votes)
Bengals’ Play of the Week
Joe Burrow’s 23-yard touchdown run: Things weren’t going overly-smooth for the rookie quarterback, but he made a gritty play in the first half to give the Bengals their only touchdown of the day.
Joe Burrow’s first career NFL TD, a 23-yard run.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 13, 2020
Via: @BryanDFischerpic.twitter.com/uYClTNiCJA
Pick a Jessie Bates play: This guy was everywhere on Sunday. Even when it was a completion and a unnecessary roughness penalty, it still was a good play. It’s hard to pick out one, but a pass break-up on a deep ball to Mike Williams is probably the best.
Jessie Bates (30) vs Chargers pic.twitter.com/SnRFPnB5Gh
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) September 14, 2020
Randy Bullock 50-yard field goal: Yes, the big miss at the end is inexcusable, but the veteran kicker did drill two other big ones prior to the shank. One from 50 yards was particularly clutch.
Poll
What was the best Play of the Week for the Bengals against the Chargers?
This poll is closed
-
78%
Joe Burrow’s 23-yard touchdown run
(297 votes) -
19%
Jessie Bates’ highlight reel
(74 votes) -
1%
Randy Bullock’s 50-yard field goal
(5 votes) -
0%
Other (specify in comment section)
(2 votes)