Bengals Week 2 awards from loss to Browns on TNF

0-2 isn’t how the Bengals nor their fans drew up the start of the 2020 season. Still, even in a tough loss to a division rival, positives can be taken away from Cincinnati’s 30-35 loss to the Browns.

There were a number of great individual performances and the like this week. Cast your vote and sound off on your winners for these individual weekly awards!

Most Valuable Player

Joe Burrow:

The No. 1 overall pick had to fight through poor line play once again, only to put up a 300-yard-plus performance with three touchdown passes. He set a rookie record for completions with 37 and was only one of two rookies to attempt 60-plus passes in a game. Oh, and he didn’t throw any interceptions on that many attempts.

Tyler Boyd:

The savvy slot man had a pretty impact on the evening with seven catches for 72 yards and a score on eight targets. Furthermore, six of the catches went for first downs, with most of those coming on third or fourth down.

C.J. Uzomah:

Unfortunately, Uzomah’s promising season came to a premature close on Thursday Night with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Still, he had a notable impact, grabbing four catches for 42 yards and 23-yard touchdown catch—the first of Burrow’s pro career.

Randy Bullock:

It was quite the rebound game for the veteran kicker, after he missed a gimme game-tying field goal at the end of regulation in Week 1. Bullock accounted for 12 of the team’s 30 total points, nailing three important field goals and three extra points.

Unsung Hero of the Week

Brandon Wilson:

This kid is a weapon on special teams in an era where impacts on kickoff returns have been limited by league rules. He only had two returns on Thursday Night, but averaged 43.5 yards per return.

Those two returns set up ten first half points for Cincinnati. Additionally, the Browns were so concerned with Wilsons return ability that Cody Parkey kicked a third quarter ball out of bounds, helping to also lead to another Bengals field goal.

Drew Sample:

As we’ve mentioned before, part of the criteria for this award is in a player’s ability to step up in the wake of an injury. Sample did just that with Uzomah going down in the third quarter, as the second-year tight end grabbed seven passes for 45 yards on nine targets. One of those was a highlight reel one-handed snag.

Mike Thomas:

The veteran receiver and rookie quarterback built rapport during training camp and it’s starting to translate in the regular season. Thomas caught all four passes he was targeted on for 31 yards and a touchdown.

Tee Higgins:

The rookie wideout got more looks as the game wore on and appears he’s going to be a solid contributor going forward. He had three catches for 35 yards against the Browns.

This was a particularly nice play by the rookie to adjust his route and make a nice sideline grab:

Goat of the Week

John Ross:

Zero catches, zero yards on two targets. If the Bengals want to start creating more explosive plays and claw back into a late-season playoff picture, No. 11 has to start making an impact for the offense.

Bobby Hart:

Somehow, Hart managed to get a 66.6 Pro Football Focus score, even though he was involved in some disastrous plays on Thursday. It almost seems as if he has a couple of MAJOR gaffes throughout a game, but then most of the rest of the game is solid, if we are to believe PFF and our own Matt Minich?

Fred Johnson:

Speaking of issues on the right side of the line, giving Johnson his first start at right guard ended up backfiring. Johnson had a 54.2 PFF score for the week, as he and others on the line allowed Burrow to get hit by Browns defenders in the double-digit count. In fairness, it was Johnson’s third career start and first at the position, but this team needs to figure out an effective line combination pronto.

Jessie Bates:

One could make the argument that Bates was the Bengals’ best player in Week 1, racking up a 91.6 PFF score against the Chargers. It was a totally different tune this week, as Bates routinely missed tackles on Cleveland’s formidable running back duo.

If we’re going to give excuses for Johnson, I suppose we should note that run defense isn’t Bates’ forte and the absence of Shawn Williams, Geno Atkins and Mike Daniels made him take on more responsibilities than he usually has. Still, he and many other Bengals struggled with wrapping up ball-carriers properly on Thursday.

Play of the Game

Joe Burrow’s 23-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Uzomah:

The Heisman Trophy winner tossed his first career touchdown pass to the big tight end, using one of his patented back shoulder throws. He fit the ball in nicely before the streaking safety could get involved.

Joe Burrow’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Mike Thomas:

Burrow hit Thomas on an inside route, after the receiver sold an initial outside move. Though it was a short-yardage play, it was great footwork by Thomas and a solid throw by Burrow.

William Jackson’s interception of Baker Mayfield:

The Bengals’ defense struggled on Thursday night and the unit has had trouble creating turnovers the first two weeks. Jackson came to the rescue with a nifty pick of Mayfield, swiping in front of tight end Harrison Bryant, who had appeared to be open for the score. It led to a Bengals touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Joe Burrow’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd:

Boyd dropped an egregious touchdown reception earlier in the game, but atoned later with a very nice grab in the back of the end zone. It gave the Bengals one more chance to grab an unlikely win, as it put them within five points. Unfortunately, the ensuing onside kick wasn’t recovered by Cincinnati.