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The Cincinnati Bengals engaged in a good old-fashioned shootout with the Houston Texans on Sunday, ultimately winning, 37-31.
The Bengals seemed rejuvenated offensively with Brandon Allen under center. But the defense just couldn’t find the spark it had during last Monday’s upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Deshaun Watson made them pay for most of the game.
Here’s a look at some quick notes and things to know from the Week 16 contest.
Quick Hits
— Zac Taylor’s script early in the game was fantastic, especially with its usage of screens and spreading the ball to a ton of different targets.
— One exception: A.J. Green. Forcing the ball his way just wasn’t working, which is problematic for a ton of different reasons. Green wound up finishing the day with four catches for 64 yards on seven targets.
— There’s a big conversation to be had about how the offense and running game seems to be just fine without Joe Mixon.
— Bengals had three early trips to Houston territory but only came away with just seven points. Considering it was only 7-3 at that point, it was a critical thing to note.
— To add to that point about Mixon, it was Samaje Perine with a nearly 50-yard run for a score in the third quarter. Guard play on the line looks better too, of course.
— An important note about William Jackson’s day before it ended early:
Take the good with the bad because it could be so much worse if he leaves https://t.co/kEzrjmTSw0
— Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) December 27, 2020
— Keep in mind the lack of WJ3 on the field meant more deep safety looks, which really exposed the linebackers in coverage. They need to extend him this offseason.
— Good news: The Bengals solved some of their third-quarter problems by scoring. Bad news: The defense collapsed, letting up big plays in a fireworks show to head to the fourth quarter tied 24-all.
— The embarrassing performance for the defense stretched into the fourth quarter, with Houston even going a casual 78 yards for a game-leading score on just seven plays.
— Big impact play from Sam Hubbard, who had been quiet for most of the year. He knocked the ball out of Watson’s hands to essentially seal the game late.
Key Stat
9.8: Houston’s yards per carry on the ground. Sunday was a step forward for the offense, but a big step back for the defense. It just looked flat, with the Texans rattling off 166 rushing yards on 17 carries with one touchdown.
Game Ball
Brandon Allen: After missing the upset over the Steelers, Allen came alive under center, throwing for 371 yards and two scores, including a pretty touchdown to Tee Higgins in the second half.
What to Fix
Defense: Lou Anarumo’s unit didn’t seem to want to fight like it had in recent weeks. That’s not totally unexpected late in the season during a meaningless game. But it’s clear Houston came in with a plan to exploit some weaknesses and did with emphasis.
Top Takeaway
One more: One game stands between the Bengals and an offseason of potential change. Zac Taylor’s team might be continuing to save his job at this point, as the team avoided a major dropoff after the upset of the Steelers on a short week. All they have to do now is show well in Week 17 against Baltimore.
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