The Week 14 encounter between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts very much looked like a game featuring backup quarterbacks.
Those Bengals ended up winning, 34-14, but not before coughing up a 14-point lead in the first half to make things interesting.
Still, the Bengals got back on track after a few big gaffes and pulled away again in the third quarter, keeping their not-so-longshot-anymore playoff chances alive with the win.
Before the 7-6 Bengals start thinking about the Minnesota Vikings on December 16, here’s a look at the most noteworthy numbers, info and takeaways to know in the immediate aftermath of the game’s conclusion.
Quick Hits
— Slow start for the Bengals offense, yet luring the Colts defense in with basic runs later in the first quarter opened up rookie Chase Brown for his first career touchdown, a 54-yard catch-and-run to the house.
— Right after, Bengals proceed to get lucky after letting the Colts down the field courtesy of a missed field goal to retain the 7-0 lead.
— Benefits of running this Browning-centric offense — another screen explosive went for 46 yards for Joe Mixon.
— Bengals then make it 14-0 on a short Joe Mixon run. At one point, they were prepared to kick a field goal before a costly Colts penalty.
— Disaster end of the second quarter for Cincinnati. A Trey Hendrickson penalty extended a drive that should have ended in a punt, resulting in 17 plays and a touchdown. Right after, Jake Browning gets pick-sixed after a pass behind a target bounced off the hands of the intended receiver.
— Bengals shook off the bad vibes quickly on a very impressive drive to start the second half, with key runs and even tight-window throws from Browning, resulting in Tanner Hudson’s first career touchdown.
— More of that on another scoring drive soon after, which featured Browning himself taking it into the endzone for a 14-point lead.
— The bad luck continues — Browning suffered an injury that caused him to run to the locker room, with AJ McCarron replacing him. He later returned, with the team just calling it cramps.
— Hendrickson made up for his prior mistake with a pressure that resulted in a turnover with around nine minutes left, putting this one out of reach.
Key Stat
32: Number of rushing attempts for the Bengals on the day, another big balancing act the team wasn’t doing earlier in the season. Once again, it pays off.
Game Balls
QB Jake Browning: The pick-six was off-target and a rough point, but the backup was otherwise poised and effective again, throwing two scores and rushing for another.
WR Chase Brown: How about the rookie? He was the breath of fresh air (and speed) the offense desperately needed. Three of his catches went for 80 yards and the score.
CB Chidobe Awuzie: The veteran is finally healthy just in time with Cam Taylor-Britt out and has resumed No. 1 CB status, keying on some big plays against the Colts.
Top Takeaway
We’re talking playoffs: One step closer to the unexpected. The Bengals entered Sunday as the 10th seed but with five-plus teams in front of them with just a one-win advantage. Now they’re 7-6 and three of their final four opponents are AFC teams. If Browning can keep playing like this, they can go play the spoiler role in the postseason.
