There’s No Quit In Cincinnati
Bengals QB Jake Browning has had three consecutive games with a better than 70% completion rate.
After entering the 4th quarter facing a 17-3 deficit, the Bengals came storming back to defeat the Minnesota Vikings by a 27-24 final score. Jake Browning led Cincinnati to their third straight victory, and the Bengals now find themselves as the sixth seed in the AFC playoff picture.
Here are our biggest takeaways from the comeback victory.
Much like they have in this season, the Bengals refused to give up in this game
The offense struggled mightily for three quarters against a stingy Minnesota defense, and it seemed it would be that way for the rest of the game. It was a particularly rough first three quarters for Tee Higgins, as the fourth year receiver out of Clemson had a bleak stat line of zero catches for zero yards. Fortunately, Jake Browning and Higgins caught fire and did a reenactment of that Kobe-Shaq highlight reel video meme.
Jake Browning and Tee Higgins to the Vikings after going down 17-3 pic.twitter.com/JNY8pLYTM1
— Bookmakers Review (@BMRReviews) December 16, 2023
Higgins was absolutely instrumental in helping the Bengals’ comeback win over Minnesota, as in the fourth quarter, he had 4 receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns. The first touchdown was on the first play of the fourth quarter, where Browning found Higgins in the corner of the end zone. The second touchdown was arguably the play of the year, and we’ll let the clip speak for itself.
TEE HIGGINS OH MY GOD 🤯
Jake Browning throws off his back foot and somehow Tee Higgins grabs it and reaches over for the TD 😱
The Bengals are now tied with the Vikings at 24 with under a minute to play 👀
— Last Take™ (@TheRealLastTake) December 16, 2023
Higgins stepping up was critical after Ja’Marr Chase left the game early with a shoulder injury.
It wasn’t just Higgins after the beginning of the fourth quarter. Joe Mixon added a clutch short TD on fourth down to tie the game at 17, and Tyler Boyd put the nail in the coffin with a massive 44-yard reception in overtime to put the Bengals well into field goal range.
The throw, the catch, the sideline reaction 🔥#ProBowlVote x Tyler Boyd pic.twitter.com/tzYqeGoWsJ
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 17, 2023
It was a sweet victory for Jake Browning, who came out with a vengeance, and exited with an even bigger vengeance. After slamming his helmet, he looked into the camera and uttered six words that he waited all week to scream.
“You shoulda never f****** cut me.”
Players can step up in DJ Reader’s absence
Bengals fans got rough news after the game: DJ Reader is out for the year.
The star defensive tackle was carted off the field after suffering a torn quad midway through the first quarter. It is always tough to lose an anchor of the D-line, but it will give other younger players an opportunity to step up and receive more playing time.
One defensive lineman who has consistently improved in limited playing time is Myles Murphy. On Sunday, he had four tackles, one of which was a critical sack on Nick Mullens. On the play, he beat one of the better LTs in the league in Christian Darrisaw on the outside.
Myles Murphy runs the arc! pic.twitter.com/SO7Trb9jK1
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) December 16, 2023
The Bengals also expect to have an increased reliance on BJ Hill, who has quietly been one of the more consistent defenders on Lou Anarumo’s defense. While he uncharacteristically has had two consecutive games with interceptions, he also has four sacks on the season. Though he has not recorded a sack since the win against Buffalo on November 5th, his increased role may see that streak end.
The defense stepped up and performed best when they truly needed it most. However, they still gave up 424 yards of total offense to a team with Nick Mullens at quarterback and rookie Ty Chandler at running back. Even with the onslaught of yardage that the Vikings put on the Bengals, Minnesota’s scoring was more limited than it should have been due to Cincinnati handily winning the turnover battle.
Other defensive tackles expected to step up in DJ Reader’s absence include Josh Tupou, who came in after Reader got hurt, and Zach Carter.
The trickery is not fooling anyone
On their opening drive, Cincinnati was driving well when they had a third and one deep in Vikings territory. Instead of opting to run the ball up the middle for a first down, Zac Taylor decided to try some razzle dazzle, and it failed miserably.
#Bengals decide to get cute on third and short in the RZ and try to get a Tanner Hudson pass off the jet sweep.
Vikings all over it. Force a FG.
Trick plays plays when they don't work are easy to criticize. But, as well as Browning was going that drive, hard to like it.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 16, 2023
The play was doomed from the start. Hudson had nowhere to throw and Danielle Hunter was credited with a sack. A sack on a tight end is not something you see every day.
Cincinnati’s trickery lately has been tough to watch, to say the least. It was a continuation of what happened in Jacksonville, as Ja’Marr Chase’s throw to Jake Browning resulted in a seven yard loss, and Tyler Boyd’s attempt at a trick play resulted in a hilarious interception throw to DE Josh Allen.
If they choose to run those plays next week, the Bengals will have an opportunity to improve them in practice ahead of their revenge game against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
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