Cincinnati Bengals Observations From a Season-Capping Rout of the Backup Browns

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals were playing to win while the Cleveland Browns were intent on simply getting everyone home in one piece, and the game went how one would expect.

The Bengals scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions and built a 24-point first-half lead on the way to a 31-14 triumph.

Cincinnati Bengals Observations From Win Against the Browns

The victory enabled Cincinnati to finish with a winning record for the third consecutive year — the second-longest streak in franchise history — and avoid the indignity of going 0-6 against AFC North division opponents for the first time since 2002.

By late in the third quarter, the Bengals had a 31-point lead and began mass substituting with AJ McCarron replacing Jake Browning at quarterback and offensive linemen Alex Cappa, Orlando Brown, and Ted Karras heading to the bench for Cody Ford, Jackson Carman, and Max Scharping.

Here are some quick observations from a season finale that looked and felt like a preseason game:

Mixon’s Grand Finale

Running back Joe Mixon set a season high in rushing yards, topped 1,000 yards for the season, scored two touchdowns, and banked an extra $100,000 … all in the first quarter.

Mixon scored a 1-yard touchdown run to open the scoring before ripping off a 44-yard run that is the longest of the season for the Bengals and his longest since 2018. That run also was the one that put Mixon over 1,000 for the season.

Likely playing in his final game for the franchise that drafted him in the second round in 2017, Mixon finished with 14 carries for 111 yards — his first 100-yard game of the season.

He’s under contract in 2024, but his $8.5 million cap hit is a non-starter. The Bengals negotiated a pay cut with Mixon before the start of the 2023 season, and part of that was to load the new deal with incentives. One of those was an additional $250,000 if he scored 10 touchdowns, which he accomplished last week at Kansas City.

That number bumped to $350,000 with 12 touchdowns, which he achieved with his two touchdowns today.

Mixon had 80 rushing yards in the first quarter, his biggest quarter since running for 83 in the second stanza of a 37-34 win against Tampa Bay in 2018.

Had Mixon reached 1,100 rushing yards, he would have received an additional $250,000.

But he still could pocket another $500,000 for making the Pro Bowl, which is still in play after he was voted a first alternate last week.

Chase Hits 100

Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase caught a pass for minus-1 yard on the first play of the second half to give him 100 for the season.

Chase went into the game with 96 receptions and said earlier in the week 100 would be meaningful to him, as would 101 because it would be the second-highest total in team history behind T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s 112 in 2007. Carl Pickens had 100 in 1996.

MORE: Cincinnati Bengals Depth Chart

After hauling in his 100th reception, Chase made his way to the sideline and did not play another snap.

Sack Situation

Trey Hendrickson entered the game two sacks shy of T.J. Watt’s NFL lead, and he appeared to get one on Cleveland’s second series, only to have Browns quarterback Jeff Driskel briefly break free before B.J. Hill took him down.

The official stat crew initially ruled it a full sack for Hill, but after discussion, it was decided to award a half sack each to Hendrickson and Hill.

But that was as close as Hendrickson would get to the NFL lead as he came out of the game in the second half.

Punter Predicament

Earlier this week Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons was lamenting rookie punter Brad Robbins’ ability to take his practice performance into games, saying the disconnect was the result of the emotions and pressure that come into play in a game, which is something you can’t replicate in practice.

Some boos for Brad Robbins after he shanks a 33-yard punt from deep in his own end.
Browns will start at their own 43 with 3:53 left in the half.

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) January 7, 2024

But there was no pressure Sunday with the Bengals cakewalking with a 21-0 lead and the Browns showing no interest in anything than getting out of town healthy. But late in the second quarter, Robbins suffered another shank that went just 33 yards, drawing some boos from the crowd.

In a similar situation early third quarter, Robbins had a 50-yard punt. But he followed that with another poor, 40-yard effort from deep in his own end late in the third quarter.

Simmons said it’s too early to decide whether the team will bring in someone to compete with Robbins in camp, but it’s certainly looking as though that will be the case.

Iosivas Doubles Up

With wide receiver Tee Higgins inactive due to a hamstring injury and likely not in the Bengals’ plans moving forward as he enters free agency, rookie Andrei Iosivas stated his case as the replacement with a career-high five catches for a career-high-tying 36 yards and two touchdowns.

The two scoring catches doubled his season total to four.

Battle Tested

Rookie safety Jordan Battle recorded the first interception of his career when he ran under a lofty, poorly thrown fade pass by Cleveland quarterback Jeff Driksel on the third play of the game.

Battle started the final seven games of the season after taking over for Nick Scott. Despite the late start, he went into Sunday’s finale as the team’s fifth-leading tackler.

He already recorded his first career sack earlier in the season and got another one in the fourth quarter to go along with his first career takeaway.

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