The Cincinnati Bengals took on the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football and with only a two percent chance to make the playoffs, we may be in full roster evaluation mode. With a few starters out, there was a chance for some players lower on the depth chart to put out some tape.
The Bengals left Dallas with a 27-20 victory.
Here are the winners and losers from tonight’s game.
Winners
Joe Burrow
Burrow was once again the best quarterback on the field, despite being under pressure for most of the game. Burrow found eight different receivers over the course of the game, often times keeping his eyes downfield with defenders swarming him. Burrow finished with 33 completions for 369 yards and three touchdowns. Burrow did throw an interception and lose a fumble on a play where he was tackled by his face mask, but all in all, Burrow’s MVP-like numbers showed up once again.
Ja’Marr Chase
Chase is the best receiver in the NFL this season. Burrow looked Chase’s way early, finding him on a perfectly thrown back shoulder pass in the front corner of the end zone. Chase would continue to move around the formation, finding soft spots in Dallas’ zone schemes and winning his man-to-man matchups. Chase finished with 14 catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
Chase Brown
Brown continues to grow into a full-blown feature back in the Bengal’s offense. Running backs in this system are asked to run, catch, and pass protect, and Brown did all three well on Monday night. Brown had an especially good night catching the ball out of the backfield, including a 19 yard touchdown reception late in the second quarter. Brown finished with 14 carries for 58 yards on the ground, six receptions for 65 yards and the receiving touchdown. Brown has logged over 100 scrimmage yards in three straight games.
Geno Stone
It has been a rough season for Stone, but he may have turned in his best performance as a Bengal on Monday night. In the first quarter, Stone hauled in his second interception on the season when a Cooper Rush pass bounced off the chest of Cam Taylor-Britt. Stone dove, snatched the ball before it hit the turf and took a red zone opportunity away from the Cowboys. Midway through the fourth quarter, Stone flew at rush on a blitz on a third down, forcing Rush to get rid of the ball and leading to a Dallas punt. Stone finished with five tackles (three solo), a pass defensed and the interception.
Germaine Pratt
After last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pratt dismissed the idea that the Bengals were missing tackles. Monday night, Pratt fond himself in a one-on-one meeting with CeeDee Lamb in the Dallas backfield. Pratt missed the tackle, Lamb scampered back across the field and broke free for a 44 yard gain. After that, though, Pratt played a really solid game. Wearing the helmet communication in place of the injured Logan Wilson, Pratt finished with seven tackles (three solo), a pass defensed and a tackle for loss.
Cade York
Fresh off the practice squad, York was back kicking in his hometown, with his Cowboy cheerleader girlfriend watching. York went perfect on the night, drilling all three extra points and connecting on both of his field goal attempts.
Losers
Alex Cappa
Cappa seemed to be getting pushed back all night. On the Bengals’ second offensive drive, Cappa allowed a pressure in the face of Burrow that led to Burrow getting mixed up in a pile of bodies and drawing an intentional grounding penalty. The penalty would be nullified by a 12 men on the field penalty by Dallas.
Josh Newton
The rookie fifth-rounder had a tough night, primarily matching up against Brandin Cooks. Newton was flagged for illegal contact and defensive holding twice in the third quarter, with the holding coming on a play where Cooks still scored. Newton has been forced into a starting role with injuries to Dax Hill and DJ Turner II and has taken his share of lumps over the last couple of weeks.
Bengals Draft Position
With the playoffs virtually out of reach, some fans have moved toward tanking for draft position. The Bengals entered the week slated at 10th on the draft board. You never want the team to lose unless you’re rooting to move up for an impact defensive player.
Anyone Anti-Lou Anarumo
If you’re in favor of Lou Anarumo being let go in the offseason, this probably saved his job. So there’s that.
