Cincy Jungle - Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL Week 15: Everything to knowWho Deyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48495/cincyjungle_fave.png2020-12-25T10:00:00-05:00http://www.cincyjungle.com/rss/stream/219444452020-12-25T10:00:00-05:002020-12-25T10:00:00-05:00Germaine Pratt is emerging as a top-notch linebacker
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<p>The second-year player has excelled in coverage in recent weeks</p> <p id="rj7twe">Yet another bright spot in the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a>’ splendid, refreshing, and redeeming win over the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> was Germaine Pratt having his best game yet. </p>
<p id="iZreko">Pratt excelled in coverage, with a PFF grade of 90.9. He only allowed two receptions for seven yards and had a near interception. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Also!!!!<br>Germaine Pratt with a career game and a grade of 90.3<br>25 coverage snaps and a grade of 90.9 in coverage.<br>6 Tackles<br>3 Defensive Stops<br>2 catches allowed for 7 yards<br>1 PBU</p>— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeGoodberry/status/1341397297930878984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="AoinlV">The second-year linebacker showed a national audience precisely why the Bengals drafted him out of <a href="https://www.backingthepack.com/">NC State</a>. But while this was perhaps his biggest game, it was part of a trend and not complete unexpected.</p>
<p id="VMvdmu">Pratt has been the best linebacker in the entire NFL over the last four weeks in coverage, allowing only 11 yards total. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keeping with the last month or so...<br><br>Germaine Pratt has the HIGHEST coverage grade of all linebackers through the last 4 weeks with a 90.9 -- next LB has an 84.6 grade.<br><br>Pratt has played 72 coverage snaps, has allowed 6 catches for a grand total of ELEVEN (11) yards.</p>— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeGoodberry/status/1341449296168759296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="bmQrpw">While that is impressive, it only made him the eighteenth highest-graded linebacker on account of his low grade against the run (37.4). Next year, the team can only hope that Pratt develops that element of his game to become a complete linebacker. </p>
<p id="QBR81m">We talked about the defense’s big-time showing against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers in the video below: </p>
<div id="LVw1wO"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3BkCsjkj-uM?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; clipboard-write; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="8qhypY">You can also <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bleav-in-the-1-bengals-podcast/id1530835181">listen on iTunes</a> or using the player below: </p>
<div id="NRQ3O8"><iframe src="https://art19.com/shows/bleav-in-the-1-bengals-podcast/episodes/1cdde6de-4f85-49b4-b910-001b318f99a1/embed?theme=dark-orange" style="width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/25/22198610/germaine-pratt-bengals-nfl-linebackersDadio Makdook2020-12-25T07:00:00-05:002020-12-25T07:00:00-05:00Bengals’ free agency spending paid off vs. Steelers
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<figcaption>Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Now it’s time to fix that o-line.</p> <p id="eh7N9Z">You can credit the coaching, Ryan Finley, or Giovani Bernard for the big win over the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> on <em>Monday Night Football</em>. </p>
<p id="xqJePm">But the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a>’ glorious and long-overdue victory was largely the result of Cincinnati’s secondary absolutely dominating Ben Roethlisberger. And two of the biggest contributors were free agent acquisitions: Vonn Bell and Mackensie Alexander. </p>
<p id="72Xy0R">Bell, of course, had one of the most iconic moments in the franchise’s history, when he absolutely blew up JuJu Smith-Schuster just a short while after the Steelers wide receiver danced on the Bengals’ logo. </p>
<p id="C4azrM">The best part is that Bell warned Smith-Schuster and said he’d have to “hit him and let him know where he stands.” And then the safety went out and did it. </p>
<p id="berLX0">When’s the last time we’ve seen a Bengals player talk big and <em>back it up?! </em>That kind of confidence and pride is precisely what was missing from the Bengals in recent years, nay, decades. </p>
<p id="gdHtGy">Alexander, meanwhile, came up with a huge interception of Roethlisberger in the second quarter. He also <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/22/22194857/mackensie-alexander-contract-bengals-nfl-free-agents-2021">had an outstanding day in the slot</a>, keeping James Washington without a reception on three targets. </p>
<p id="GfLgcf">We talked about how the secondary was the biggest key to the victory in our most recent show, which you can watch below: </p>
<div id="QY579g"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3BkCsjkj-uM?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; clipboard-write; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="ENBeqH">You can also <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bleav-in-the-1-bengals-podcast/id1530835181">listen on iTunes</a> or using the player below: </p>
<div id="J8ZDwY"><iframe src="https://art19.com/shows/bleav-in-the-1-bengals-podcast/episodes/1cdde6de-4f85-49b4-b910-001b318f99a1/embed?theme=dark-orange" style="width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>
<p id="cE2ciO">This game proved that spending wisely in free agency is a big component in building a complete team in today’s NFL. Bell and Alexander were two of the three biggest playmakers on defense, the other being Carl Lawson, and their aggressiveness was arguably what fueled the attitude change in the Bengals in primetime; while normally the team looks like an abused cat just trying to find shelter, this time Cincinnati was the one dishing out the hits.</p>
<p id="o4GIzN">And we still haven’t even seen what these free agent additions can do. The biggest one, D.J. Reader, was thriving before he went down with a quad injury in October. And the second biggest addition, cornerback Trae Waynes, has yet to suit up. </p>
<p id="sSfPd6">Hopefully the big win justifies opening up the pocketbook last offseason, and Mike Brown and the Blackburns reach back into the money bin to fix that offensive line and bolster the pass rush. Joe Burrow with protection plus a playmaking defense would mean that such primetime wins will no longer come as a surprise. </p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/25/22197585/bengals-big-moves-in-free-agency-paid-off-vs-steelersDadio Makdook2020-12-24T14:18:44-05:002020-12-24T14:18:44-05:00Ben Roethlisberger never played that bad against the Bengals before
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<figcaption>Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>After years of getting torched by Big Ben, Cincinnati took it to him in primetime. </p> <p id="g0ztiv">Ben Roethlisberger had one of his worst games ever against a 2-10-1 <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> team. Think about how big that is. </p>
<p id="k8iqB9">The <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> quarterback had won 24 of 31 games heading into Monday Night. And then he dropped a stinker. Perhaps the biggest stinker he’s ever dropped. And, just by looking at him, you can tell the man has dropped some big stinkers in his life. </p>
<p id="qo07Tf">According to Pro Football Focus, this was, indeed, Big-Bod Ben’s worst game as a pro:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just went through every year of PFF grades and this was indeed Ben Roethlisberger's lowest graded game of his career.</p>— Jake (@Jake_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jake_NFL/status/1341424725382184967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="QcOki6">And it was his <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/5536/ben-roethlisberger">worst game this year in terms of quarterback rating</a>, both traditional rating (62.4) and QBR (15.1).</p>
<p id="870mwQ">We broke down Roethlisberger’s terrible game in the video below: </p>
<div id="9mDVrg"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3BkCsjkj-uM?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; clipboard-write; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="gndIHS">You can also listen to our analysis <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bleav-in-the-1-bengals-podcast/id1530835181">on iTunes</a> or using the player below: </p>
<div id="GpzSvX"><iframe src="https://art19.com/shows/bleav-in-the-1-bengals-podcast/episodes/1cdde6de-4f85-49b4-b910-001b318f99a1/embed?theme=dark-orange" style="width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>
<p id="89L8Gx">Roethlisberger looked helpless trying to throw downfield, where he’s made so many back-breaking plays against the Bengals over the years to guys like Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant. On throws 10 or more yards downfield, the seventeen-year veteran could only complete one pass, a 23-yard touchdown to Diontae Johnson. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ben Roethlisberger on throws 10+ yards vs. Bengals:<br><br>▪️ 1-13<br>▪️ 1 TD<br>▪️ 1 INT <a href="https://t.co/vcFZswvrX8">pic.twitter.com/vcFZswvrX8</a></p>— PFF (@PFF) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1341238428407656448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="v3P3v6">While Steelers offensive tackles Alejandro Villanueva and Chukwuma Okorafor <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641763&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pff.com%2Fnews%2Fnfl-2020-week-15-pff-refocused-cincinnati-bengals-27-pittsburgh-steelers-17&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cincyjungle.com%2F2020%2F12%2F24%2F22198598%2Fsteelers-ben-roethlisberger-career-worst-game-vs-bengals" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">had poor games</a>, this really was about Roethlisberger falling apart when his team needed him most. Pittsburgh had lost two in a row after an 11-0 start, and this was their chance to bounce back and hold on to home field advantage in the playoffs. But his chubby ankles simply crumbled as he missed targets and failed to create for almost the entire game. </p>
<p id="rxQKXX">It is for these reasons that I declare this the worst game of Big-Boned Ben’s career. And the fact it came in Cincinnati provided just enough happiness to fans to get them through the long period before Joe Burrow returns to the field. </p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/24/22198598/steelers-ben-roethlisberger-career-worst-game-vs-bengalsDadio Makdook2020-12-23T15:21:00-05:002020-12-23T15:21:00-05:00JuJu Smith-Schuster ending pregame dance routine after massive Vonn Bell hit
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<figcaption>Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>“It’s about respect,” Mike Tomlin said following the Steelers Monday Night Football loss to the Bengals.</p> <p id="cY15lZ">There may not be a better off-field moment for the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a> this season than JuJu Smith-Schuster changing his pregame routine. </p>
<p id="iehWTR">For weeks, Smith-Schuster would dance on the opponent’s logo, oftentimes doing moves found on the wildly popular short-form video app TikTok. He does have a rather large presence on the app, amassing 2.7 million followers. </p>
<p id="XbxO06">Prior to the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>’ Monday Night Football game in Cincinnati, Smith-Schuster took to his rival’s field and danced on their logo, spiking the ball after he finished his dance. Everyone in the stadium knew it, and the Bengals, as many other teams that came before them, likely felt it was disrespectful. </p>
<aside id="LNNzQ4"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Get your ‘Keep Dancing’ shirt to celebrate Bengals silencing Steelers","url":"https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/22/22195882/bengals-shirt-hoodie-vonn-bell-hit-juju-smith-schuster-dance-steelers"}]}'></div></aside><p id="JWdbn3">Well, they made Smith-Schuster pay. Vonn Bell, the team’s offseason addition from New Orleans, is one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the league, and he laid an absolute hammer on the Steelers star. </p>
<p id="5jvmSM">Let’s also keep in mind — this was a clear hit. No flag was thrown. This isn’t just the video, but one of many TikToks that were created following the massive hit.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vonn Bell turned Juju Smith-Schuster into a meme <a href="https://t.co/EFtylAWg4l">pic.twitter.com/EFtylAWg4l</a></p>— Barstool OSU (@BarstoolOSU) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarstoolOSU/status/1341430275176341504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="ut0pPC">Mike Tomlin said following the game that “<a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30582637/pittsburgh-steelers-mike-tomlin-plans-talk-juju-smith-schuster-dancing-antics">it’s about respect.</a>” ESPN also reported that he was planning to talk to the receiver. Well, the news is out, and the star is hanging up his pregame dancing cleats.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steelers’ WR JuJu Smith-Schuster told reporters this today: “For the betterment of myself and my teammates, I'm going to stop dancing on the logos."</p>— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1341825296945823744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2020</a>
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<p id="wD3eOd">The Bengals went out and dominated the Steelers on Monday Night Football. They entered halftime with all the momentum and a 17-0 lead. </p>
<p id="cEVYZM">Now, there’s no telling whether the Bengals were truly upset and energized by Smith-Schuster’s dance, but it certainly couldn’t have helped calm down the 2-10-1 Bengals fighting for their coach.</p>
<p id="HIZIwm">That said, this is awesome for a fanbase that will now always take credit for forcing their rival’s star receiver to stop dancing on logos. Also, let’s not forgot to mention the Bengals handed the Steelers their third straight loss after they started the season 11-0.</p>
<p id="vgzLXi">Both are important.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/23/22197687/steelers-news-juju-smith-schuster-dance-hit-vonn-bell-bengalsNathan Beighle2020-12-23T14:46:44-05:002020-12-23T14:46:44-05:00Weekly Lineman: Carl Lawson did it for Kevin Greene, Mike Daniels’ dirty work
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<img alt="Pittsburgh Steelers v Cincinnati Bengals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4LkHLi7xp--BI7gVXOiAXbYHHGA=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68574031/1292506482.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Lawson had a career night on a bittersweet day, and let’s appreciate what Mike Daniels continues to bring.</p> <p id="Lpwgdc">Monday night did not end with a shortage of storylines for the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a>. What else can you really say about a game that has never happened in a lifetime for some people? </p>
<p id="H72yia">Seriously! The Chad Johnson era and the Andy Dalton-A.J. Green playoff streak helped reel in a younger generation of Bengals fans. And the Bengals have beaten the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> during those years, but never quite like this.</p>
<p id="jJu7sb">Not since 2003 have they beaten the Steelers by two scores. Not since 1999 have they won despite being 10-point underdogs or more to the six-time <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a> champions. Not since...have they ever been this physically dominant against them before?</p>
<p id="4NOKvm">That’s a question worth asking someone old enough to have actually watched Kevin Greene play live.</p>
<p id="PgwN1S">A few hours before kickoff on Monday, Greene passed away at the age of just 58. Like most everything that’s happened in 2020, it seemed to have come out of nowhere. When Greene made two Pro Bowls and an All-Pro team with the Steelers from 1993-1995, his position coach was none other than Marvin Lewis for all three years. Greene’s playing days were nearing an end, but Lewis’ coaching career was just beginning.</p>
<p id="U6Po9G">Jay Morrison of <em>The Athletic</em> said on Twitter that Lewis was able to go to Greene’s Hall of Fame induction in 2016, and just talking about it made Lewis more excited than his usual self.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">One of the more memorable conversations I had with Marvin Lewis was in 2016 when I asked him after a training camp practice about flying to Canton to watch Kevin Greene's HOF induction. Usually buttoned up, Lewis was so excited about going and happy to talk about it.<br>(1 of 3)</p>— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayMorrisonATH/status/1341163144027234306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2020</a>
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<p id="w1cjN5">Lewis is a true football guy, <a href="https://youtu.be/IRMXMKno_9M?t=2609">which as our own Matt Minich states</a>, is someone who will talk about the game with anyone; a true ambassador to the sport. Minich said that Greene definitely qualified as that, and Carl Lawson, one of Lewis’ last great draft picks, probably agrees.</p>
<p id="iJ27QP">Greene’s professional career is historic and beloved by many, but before all of that, he started as a walk-on at Auburn. His 11-sack 1984 season is still second in school history, and not even Lawson could break it in his two years rushing the passer for the Tigers. Greene is one of the greatest players in the history of Auburn football, and if there was any doubt that he had an impact on Lawson, another War Eagle pass-rusher, that was erased on Monday night.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">That game was for you KG. Rest easy Shifu <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BeatSteelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BeatSteelers</a></p>— carl lawson (@carllawson55) <a href="https://twitter.com/carllawson55/status/1341240879424675841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="7GDcIm">Lawson played the best game of his NFL career against one of Greene’s former teams. He finished the night with nine pressures and five hits on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Oh, and a strip-sack to boot. He’s had multi-sack games in his four years with the Bengals, but this was next level. He was beating the crap out of left tackle Alejandro Villanueva in such a diverse manner, using inside and outside counter moves flawlessly. It was a true pass-rushing clinic, and it needs no commentary from yours truly. Just sit back and enjoy: </p>
<div id="G0Bk8Q"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FfaWfm0tP2k?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; clipboard-write; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="xwAVRz">Believe it or not, only 10 other players currently on the Bengals roster have played more games for the team than Lawson, who isn’t even 26 years old yet. Lawson knows more about this (dare I say) “rivalry” than most of the team, and that includes Mike Daniels. At least that’s what I thought. </p>
<p id="ER3BFn">In the final minutes before kickoff on Monday, ESPN played a clip from the Bengals’ first game against the Steelers this season. I checked the full replay on <em>NFL GamePass</em> to see if it was there; it was not, so you’ll have to take my word on this. It featured none other than Daniels in the middle of a pregame huddle repeating three words to his teammates.</p>
<p id="5oBsni">“WE HATE THEM. WE HATE THEM.”</p>
<p id="Ez5nqv">At that point in his life, Daniels had never been a part of a Bengals-Steelers game; he was signed as a free agent about a month before the season even started. When he retires, he won’t be known for his time in Cincinnati.</p>
<p id="KhkDHv">That didn’t matter. Daniels embraced the animosity. He wore it like a badge of honor.</p>
<p id="Svr5ji">After Monday’s victory, Daniels had more words to say about those darn Steelers and proceeded to celebrate with some Black & Gold cigarettes in hand—excuse me—Black & <em><strong>Yellow </strong></em>cigarettes. </p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/wD5wrmD9qA">pic.twitter.com/wD5wrmD9qA</a></p>— not kevin durant (@nevkinturand) <a href="https://twitter.com/nevkinturand/status/1341799150996828160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2020</a>
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<p id="chxX8G">That clip is enough to make any Bengals fan a Mike Daniels fan. But I wanted to truly do justice to what he’s meant for this team.</p>
<p id="NPqMPA">Daniels hasn’t produced like his old self in his ninth year in the league, but he’s taken on multiple roles for a defensive line that has been bombarded with injuries and lackluster play. Even in this game, Daniels didn’t jump out on the box score, but he continued to do the dirty work at essentially every spot between the tackles. Here are a few plays from Monday that best showcase his weekly grind. </p>
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<p id="Oi6e5N">From Vonn Bell’s <em>hit stick</em> explosion, to Mackensie Alexander’s high-stepping interception return, to Daniels’ unglamorous labor and unrivaled energy, it really seemed like the catalysts for the Bengals’ biggest win in years were players that only recently joined the team. These are the guys that can help you establish a winning culture, because they have seen and experienced other winning cultures. They don’t need coaches telling them what the expectations are, they put in the work already knowing what the expectations should be.</p>
<p id="CN8bGx">Monday night was about the players; the ones proving their worth in contract years, like Lawson, and the ones leaving their mark, like Daniels. When a team comes together all at once like that, there is no demon of a football team they can’t overcome.</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/23/22195846/bengals-film-room-carl-lawson-kevin-greene-mike-daniels-steelers-mnfJohn Sheeran2020-12-23T14:37:00-05:002020-12-23T14:37:00-05:00Film Room: Bengals make key plays to beat Steelers
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<figcaption>Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>These are the plays that won the game for the Bengals.</p> <p id="mYAUn4">There are a handful of plays that determine the outcome of any game. </p>
<p id="ZPceZO">Last week, I wrote an article on game-changing plays which featured eight plays that led to the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> losing to the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a>. This week we’ll look at 10 plays that resulted in the Bengals upsetting the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>. </p>
<h3 id="6buEuQ">Fumble!</h3>
<p id="jHRyPL">Last week the Bengals fumbled three times, and the result was 17 points for the Cowboys. This week it was the Steelers who were careless with the football and the Bengals who took advantage. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fumble! <a href="https://t.co/91NX4lcfKF">pic.twitter.com/91NX4lcfKF</a></p>— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341364130909970433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="TVGW9R">The Bengals and Steelers each went three-and-out on their first two drives, but the third possession went even worse for the Steelers.</p>
<p id="2zioea">On the first play of the drive, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger came out from under center, without securing the ball. Bengals linebacker Josh Bynes fell on the ball after it ricocheted off of the pulling guard.</p>
<p id="GA50nx">This gave the Bengals the ball in the red zone. They were able to pick up a first down, but a false start and a sack pushed them back and they settled for a 34-yard field goal from Austin Seibert. </p>
<h3 id="uSdD52">Last Dance</h3>
<p id="OVEYBg">The Bengals defense forced another three-and-out on the ensuing possession. Then Seibert missed a 55-yard field goal, giving the Steelers good field position. </p>
<p id="LNSFwQ">The Bengals defense responded, holding the Steelers to three total yards on first and second down. </p>
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<p lang="und" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://t.co/lN3IslEgtK">pic.twitter.com/lN3IslEgtK</a></p>— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341372989988876289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="xLe43k">That brought up third-and-seven.</p>
<p id="Y4Pnj6">Roethlisberger threw a short pass to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster who was running across the formation. Safety Vonn Bell broke on the route and separated Smith-Schuster from the ball. </p>
<p id="Jea87w">Linebacker Jordan Evans was right there to recover the fumble. The play was initially called an incomplete pass, but a successful challenge gave the Bengals the ball at the Steelers’ 38 yard line. Seven plays later, Giovani Bernard ran it in for a four-yard touchdown. </p>
<p id="cUskRQ">At that point the Bengals defense had two turnovers and 10 points as a result, but they were not done yet.</p>
<h3 id="owN79U">Intercepted!</h3>
<p id="0ywjCd">Trailing by 10 points in the second quarter, the Steelers finally converted a first down for the first time all night, but it took them four downs to do it. After moving the chains once more they ran a jet sweep to wide receiver Chase Claypool on second down, but defensive end Carl Lawson made a <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341378643218620418">phenomenal play</a> that set up third-and-14. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Awesome play by Mackensie Alexander <a href="https://t.co/YoDhAuiSxe">pic.twitter.com/YoDhAuiSxe</a></p>— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341379903023951874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="rMAa8c">Slot cornerback Mackensie Alexander let Claypool run by as he dropped into the hook. Roethlisberger inexplicably tried to throw it over Alexander to Smith-Schuster, but Alexander went up in the air and made the pick. </p>
<p id="Fz9YVP">The Bengals had other opportunities for interceptions in this game, but they couldn’t come up with the catch. This time, they made the play. Three plays later, Bengals quarterback Ryan Finley connected with Bernard for another touchdown. This gave the Bengals a 17-0 lead and not unlike the 17 points the Cowboys scored in the first half of the previous game, all 17 came off of turnovers.</p>
<p id="OYoOQV">The average drive length for the Bengals first two touchdowns was a mere 32 yards. Turnovers forced by Bell and Alexander set the offense up very nicely. </p>
<h3 id="t4nKOj">Redemption</h3>
<p id="9uqh3d">The Steelers got the ball back and on third-and-three Alexander made a great play that should have forced another three-and-out, but there were multiple flags on the field. </p>
<p id="fLzLL6">One was <em>holding</em> on the Steelers, the other was <em>taunting</em> on Alexander for celebrating his play on the Steelers’ sideline. The penalties were offsetting, leading to a replay of the down. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mackensie Alexander getting the penalty that prevented them from getting off the field on 3rd Down, then responding by making the play to force the punt on the very next play, may be the best thing I’ve seen all year from this team <a href="https://t.co/93bURTQE7K">pic.twitter.com/93bURTQE7K</a></p>— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341384989779353602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="i4ivV0">This is the type of situation that has hurt the Bengals in the past. A dumb penalty giving the opposition another opportunity. </p>
<p id="bbW6GW">Fortunately, Alexander responded. He made an awesome play on the slant forcing the Steelers to punt. </p>
<p id="G8DEnZ">This was a situation that had the potential to lead to a major momentum swing, but Alexander stepped up and shut it down. </p>
<h3 id="nbCLUx">Red Zone Defense</h3>
<p id="nHzkGf">Thanks in part to Alexander, the Bengals managed to go into halftime up 17-0, but the Steelers fought back in the third quarter. </p>
<p id="GX3vhE">The Bengals went three-and-out on their first two drives of the second half, while the Steelers scored a touchdown on the first drive and drove steadily down the field on their second. They took the ball all the way down to the seven yard line, but then the Bengals defense tightened up.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The RB is helping the LT with Carl Lawson, but ADG forces him to come off and Lawson gets the pressure <a href="https://t.co/fIYYXWgIGv">pic.twitter.com/fIYYXWgIGv</a></p>— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341400207439872002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="Yfq0T6">With a little help from Akeem Davis-Gaither, Lawson was able to pressure Roethlisberger on this third-and-goal play, helping to keep the Steelers out of the end zone. </p>
<p id="YASz6m">They would end up kicking the field goal and making it a one-score game, but this was still a huge stop for the Bengals defense. </p>
<p id="HyJUVu">The Steelers had all the momentum and while this play didn’t swing it back in the Bengals favor, it at least slowed down the Pittsburgh serge. </p>
<h3 id="NsjrQP">3rd and Short Stop</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Josh Bynes <a href="https://t.co/FOft92agmu">pic.twitter.com/FOft92agmu</a></p>— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341406792048369667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="E52tW2">The Bengals went three-and-out, punting the ball back to the Steelers. </p>
<p id="kyhN8p">A few plays later, Pittsburgh faced third-and-one. They showed jet sweep action, but gave the ball to running back Benny Snell instead. Bynes was not fooled and tackled Snell for a loss of two yards. </p>
<p id="W2gFYW">This forced a three-and-out from a Steelers offense that seemed to have gotten their act together in the second half. This was another big push in Cincinnati’s favor, but in order to take the momentum back they needed to respond offensively.</p>
<h3 id="DDV40Y">Finley Finesse</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I don’t think we are talking enough about how ridiculous this play was <a href="https://t.co/iGpvz2qcca">pic.twitter.com/iGpvz2qcca</a></p>— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341408023563124739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="Ucu7Xl">The Bengals managed to move the chains on their next drive, but on 1st and 10 the pressure soon closed in on Finley, and it looked like he would be sacked.</p>
<p id="dkotHN">Although it would have only been second down, it would have been second and very long and the Bengals are just not equipped to deal with that situation. Poor quarterback play and poor offensive line play do not pair well with 10-plus yard situations. A sack here likely would have ended this key drive. </p>
<p id="vlsgdA">Miraculously, Finley escaped! Ducking the pressure, stepping up in the pocket, and slipping between his own linemen, he managed to find A.J. Green over the middle for the first down. This ability to create time with his feet and find an open receiver to move the chains was, dare I saw, Burrow-esque. It was a huge play, that kept the drive alive.</p>
<h3 id="TCcKbO">QB Draw</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">RB motion leaves no LBs in the box - QB draw all day<br>Great play call! <a href="https://t.co/vC8HqvIEPC">pic.twitter.com/vC8HqvIEPC</a></p>— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341427964932739073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="NPAyER">The Bengals drive went on, but soon they faced third-and-five. Fortunately, Zac Taylor dialed up a great play call. </p>
<p id="TB40hB">Expecting a pass, played Cover 2 Man. </p>
<p id="JNN5gL">This means that they had two high safeties to prevent a deep pass, allowing five other defenders to play tight man coverage underneath. Marcus Allen was the only linebacker in the box. He was responsible for covering Samaje Perine, so when Perine went in motion, Allen went with him. </p>
<p id="OaWXKF">With the box open, this was a perfect time to run the quarterback draw. Finley picked up eight yards and the first down.</p>
<h3 id="1H3hkt">Run Ryan Run</h3>
<div id="8DMwTb">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just Ryan Finley doing Ryan Finley things <a href="https://t.co/PAL1usqfQd">pic.twitter.com/PAL1usqfQd</a></p>— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341428587170291713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="vWJ1HR">Two plays later, the Bengals ran a Zone Read. </p>
<p id="DiDnEa">This means that they ran a zone play, but did not block the edge player on the backside, in this case, Alex Highsmith. Instead, Finley had to read him. Because he bent hard down the line of scrimmage in pursuit of the running back, Finley pulled the ball and took off running. With no one on the backside of the defense, Finley ran the ball 23 yards for the touchdown. </p>
<p id="ZRmLCr">This was the response the Bengals needed from their offense. </p>
<p id="OOKhue">You may have noticed that all the offensive plays that I have highlighted in this article came on this one drive. That is because the Bengals’ other scoring drives came on short fields following turnovers. This, on the other hand, was an 80-yard touchdown drive that gave the Bengals a two-score lead. </p>
<p id="xEQ70Y">It was a good thing too because the defense fought on the next drive, but the Steelers offense was eventually able to drive down the field and get in the end zone. </p>
<p id="04LaUn">The Bengals were nearly able to end the drive twice, but a dropped interception and a <em>defensive pass interference</em> call on 4th down kept the Steelers’ hopes alive. They eventually scored, but the Bengals forced them to take nearly six minutes off of the clock in the process. </p>
<p id="sa97Ag">What the Bengals really needed after that was a nice long scoring drive from the offense, but that was not to be.</p>
<p id="VzghL7">The Bengals moved the chains once on the drive with a Finley run, but he was stopped short of the marker on the next third down. </p>
<h3 id="g2rIt9">Four-and-Out</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great play <a href="https://t.co/2EkPEMiczV">pic.twitter.com/2EkPEMiczV</a></p>— Matt Minich (@CoachMinich) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMinich/status/1341433368932741120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2020</a>
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<p id="98DpSD">The Steelers got the ball back with 2:17 to play, down by only one score.</p>
<p id="wYjlh5">They had a chance to put together a drive and tie the game, but the Bengals’ defense shut them down. </p>
<p id="izMGSO">The most impressive play of this four-and-out stand by the defense came on third down. The Steelers looked like they had a good shot of completing this deep ball, but Darius Phillips made an incredible play. </p>
<p id="Or1HlW">The offense couldn’t manage to pick up the game-sealing first down, but a Seibert field goal put the game out of reach for the Steelers with only a few seconds to play. </p>
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<p id="MB1l5s">This week the Bengals made the plays they needed to get the win. Although their offense struggled, they managed to do just enough to get the job done and came up with a big drive when the team desperately needed it. The defense finally generated turnovers which led to 20-points and came up with the four-and-out stop to close out the game. </p>
<p id="09UGnP">The Bengals have played some good games offensively and some good games defensively but the units have failed to complement each other until now. In this game, both units stepped up at key times to get the win. </p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/23/22194982/film-room-bengals-steelersMatthew Minich2020-12-23T12:34:33-05:002020-12-23T12:34:33-05:00Zac Taylor’s optimism finally pays off
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<figcaption>Zac Taylor | Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Bengals may be beginning to finally turn the corner under Taylor’s watch. </p> <p id="5Gi0Mq">Maybe Oscar Wilde was right. Maybe “the basis of optimism is sheer terror.”</p>
<p id="arLKaz">But, whatever the reason may be, Zac Taylor of the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> is an eternal optimist. Sometimes, it drives you crazy. Especially when it’s coming from a football coach who has won all of four games over the past two years. </p>
<p id="odo8wO">Take last week, for example, when the Bengals got embarrassed by a not-very-good <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> team, 30-7.</p>
<p id="2MosZy">“A lot of effort goes into this,” Taylor said. “Guys are pulling together, and it’s still a very close team. I think you can see that you see them out there playing. We just haven’t made the plays to put us in a position to win the game.”</p>
<p id="bstvBg">But sometimes . . .</p>
<p id="hsXMRU">“These are things I’ve been talking about all week, they just haven’t showed up,” Taylor said after Monday night’s upset win over the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a>. “It’s as resilient of a group as I’ve ever been around. They never stopped believing in each other, never stopped believing in what we’re asking them to do. I can’t say enough how proud I am, the coaches, the players, the staff, everybody just hung in there together.”</p>
<p id="GR1piN">So maybe it is true. Maybe if you say it often enough, people might actually start to believe it. It sure looked that way Monday night when the Bengals frustrated and embarrassed a Pittsburgh Steeler team that was trying to lock down its first AFC North Division title since 2017. Cincinnati handed Pittsburgh, which entered the game as 14.5-point favorites, its largest upset defeat since 1966.</p>
<p id="7CBPTR">Many of the things the Bengals have had problems with this season suddenly turned into strengths, at least for this one game - things like making adjustments as the other team starts to gain momentum.</p>
<p id="0S3vF3">Cincinnati jumped out to a 17-0 lead at halftime, only to see Pittsburgh take its opening possession of the second half and drive 67 yards for a touchdown in only 1:27. The Steelers tacked on a field goal to pull within a touchdown before the Bengals responded with a touchdown of their own to open up a 14-point lead.</p>
<p id="RCuqcj">Coming into Monday night’s game, Cincinnati was near the bottom of the NFL in turnover margin with 12 takeaways and 22 takeaways. Against the Steelers, the Bengals forced and recovered two fumbles and added an interception. Cincinnati did not turn to ball over.</p>
<p id="3MIvlI">Maybe Taylor’s message is finally staring to get through. Or maybe it has already gotten through, but it has just taken a while to start to show results.</p>
<p id="fSEdwS">All of the work, and all of the optimism paid off in a big way Monday night when the Bengals finally broke the curse that has been the Pittsburgh Steelers - at least for a day.</p>
<p id="5KP6S1">“This has just been the expectation,” Taylor said. “Every Sunday when we walk onto the field, you expect this result. It’s obviously been disappointing when it hasn’t been that way, but I don’t feel any different. I’m excited, obviously. I’m excited for all of the guys in the locker room that put in the work. But this has been the expectation for us and this is gonna continue to be the expectation. And so, it feels like we knew we were gonna win, and we won. And that’s just how I feel right now.”</p>
<p id="SK9CPJ">Taylor wants to make sure that each and every man in the locker room gets to enjoy the experience. So he decided to do something special for each of the players that hit the field Monday night.</p>
<p id="flTKBJ">“We gave everybody a game ball today,” Taylor said. “It’s been a long five weeks since the bye and, again, for these guys to have this type of energy every single day they come into the building, waiting for a moment like this. That’s not something we do often, but these guys, they come to work every day. I’m proud of ‘em and everyone deserves to cherish this thing.”</p>
<p id="KbizNz">Let’s hope this is only the beginning.</p>
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https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/23/22194897/bengals-zac-taylors-optimism-finally-pays-offJohn Acree2020-12-23T07:00:00-05:002020-12-23T07:00:00-05:003 things we learned from the Bengals’ upset over the Steelers
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<img alt="Pittsburgh Steelers v Cincinnati Bengals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pYC7R-cTAZ85NEznirH1sgY5eGk=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68571331/1292503564.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Bengals pick up a huge win on Monday Night Football.</p> <p id="uYrw3e">What happened on Monday night?</p>
<p id="V2UvZl"><a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/22/22194844/bengals-news-espn-experts-steelers-nfl-picks-week-15">The Bengals trolled the analysts</a> who predicted a big <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> victory, but honestly, who can blame them? Who thought the Bengals had a chance to win 27-17?</p>
<p id="lMeY7w">These “What we learned” pieces have become increasingly critical over the years, but we finally have something positive to talk about.</p>
<p id="Alasqw">The Bengals improved to 3-10-1, which is still really bad. So even though the Bengals won an amazing game, they’re not immune from criticism.</p>
<p id="J5pSun">This win may have had more to do with how badly the Steelers are spiraling right now than with how well the Bengals played.</p>
<p id="9vUJ3p">But a win is a win. A win over the Steelers on Monday Night Football feels like even more of a win than normal.</p>
<p id="ZDw26z">We can enjoy this win while also recognizing that the Bengals still have a long ways to go before they can be competitive again. But let’s savor this one.</p>
<p id="pgIbRB">Here’s what we learned from the Bengals’ shocking upset over the Steelers.</p>
<h2 id="TObrsx">Ryan Finley still isn’t a starter, but he played a heck of a game</h2>
<p id="y20GEK">Finley played his heart out on Monday, and he deserves all the accolades for the win and the effort he put into it.</p>
<p id="7GZCcL">That said, that will probably be his only win of the season.</p>
<p id="1YA9et">We all know that Finley doesn’t have an NFL arm, and the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a> know this. There’s a reason that Finley only had 13 pass attempts, while the Bengals ran over 40 times. Giovani Bernard had nearly twice as many carries (25) as Finley had pass attempts.</p>
<p id="bB4naV">On most drives, Bernard carried the offense. In fact, Bernard had more yards from scrimmage (97) than Finley had passing yards (89).</p>
<p id="QqOuwx">So how does a quarterback with only seven completed passes score 27 points on the division-leading <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a>?</p>
<p id="kWKEhu">For one, 20 points came off of turnovers or turnovers on downs. On those drives, the average starting position was the Steelers’ 27-yard line. It makes it easier to score when you only have to drive on quarter of the field.</p>
<p id="8ZHvN6">On the one scoring drive that actually started in Bengals’ territory, the Bengals called a two of designed quarterback runs. Finley ran the ball twice, but only passed once on that drive. While Finley gained 31 rushing yards and a touchdown a touchdown on that drive, the success came from the element of surprise, not Finley’s athleticism.</p>
<p id="y2IAxn">The <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a> and Ravens will watch this game and see all of these designed runs with the Bengals pro-style quarterback. Both teams will have defenses used to practicing against mobile quarterbacks, so they will be able to stop the quarterback run and make Finley pass.</p>
<p id="vwETQn">Does Finley have the arm to win either of the final two games? It’s highly doubtful.</p>
<p id="LTXBiD">Finley will compete, but he has too many physical deficiencies to overcome for lightning to strike more than once.</p>
<h2 id="hmv8ol">Defense played well again</h2>
<p id="7tC0DS">This Bengals defense has dramatically improved over the course of the season. Pro Football Focus agrees and <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeGoodberry/status/1341446000301531139">has been giving the Bengals glowing marks</a> over the last four weeks.</p>
<p id="UkcbEE">Yes, you could argue that the Steelers’ offense hasn’t been playing well lately. But the eye test indicates that the Bengals defense had a huge part in the win.</p>
<p id="anHyKT">First of all, as indicated above, four of the Bengals’ five scores were made possible by the defense. The Steelers fumbled twice, threw one interception, and on their last full drive, went four plays in a row without completing a pass.</p>
<p id="WQ2E62">Secondly, most of the players on defense had their best games of the season. The three cornerbacks, Mackenzie Alexander, William Jackson, and Darius Phillips, combined for six passes defended. The only knock on this group is that most of those passes defended should have actually been interceptions.</p>
<p id="amjeZp">The linebackers produced all three turnovers. Josh Bynes fell on the botched snap to give the Bengals the early lead. Vonn Bell’s <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/21/22194568/vonn-bell-hit-juju-smith-schuster-dance-logo-bengals-bills-news-steelers">forced fumble</a> on JuJu Smith-Schuster was originally ruled incomplete, so Jordan Evans’ clear and immediate recovery led to the Bengals getting the ball back again. And, of course, Germaine Pratt got an interception.</p>
<p id="l4xci1">Carl Lawson had a great game, with six QB hits and the game’s only sack. On the other side, Sam Hubbard had two hits and a crucial pass batted at the line of scrimmage.</p>
<p id="dTsuqR">For most players on defense, this was their best game of the season. Players like Lawson, Jackson, and maybe even Jessie Bates made their case to get extensions in the offseason.</p>
<h2 id="OYx8mD">Coaching still bites</h2>
<p id="mPomXD">Zac Taylor gets credit for pulling out a win from a game the Bengals had no chance even competing in.</p>
<p id="I2dZCc">But how much of that was due to good coaching, and how much was player execution?</p>
<p id="4fO9Xi">I will give him the long touchdown drive. That was a well-executed drive with some great playcalls to get the chains moving.</p>
<p id="xdHkot">However that was just about the only well-coached drive of the night. Like most of the last four games, the offense had trouble manufacturing points without help from the defense.</p>
<p id="DUAg96">The biggest indication that there was some ineffectual coaching was early in the second half. The Bengals had the momentum, they had the Steelers getting chippy, and they had a chance to expound on their 17-point lead when they got the ball to start the half. </p>
<p id="JTvhEE">Instead, the Bengals punted three times in the third quarter and nearly let their lead slip away.</p>
<p id="cobBuM">Somehow, the defense stopped the Steelers, Finley ran the well-executed drive, and the Bengals extended their lead.</p>
<p id="Pb2S2d">Did Taylor save his job? Possibly. Winning covers a multitude of sins.</p>
<p id="0ujJdt">If the Bengals play over the next two weeks like they played on Monday, then get ready for year three of Zac Taylor. </p>
<p id="jscFXe">But the Texans and Ravens will adjust to the Bengals’ game plan. Will the offense be able to find another way to move the chains, or will they spin their wheels doing the same thing?</p>
https://www.cincyjungle.com/2020/12/23/22195572/3-things-we-learned-bengals-vs-steelers-week-15-ryan-finleyNick Manchester