A breakout performance from rookie running back Joe Mixon and Andy Dalton’s consistency under pressure helped the Cincinnati Bengals to a 30-16 win over the visiting Cleveland Browns.
A second-round pick from the 2017 draft, Mixon carried the ball 23 times for a career-high 114 yards and one touchdown. He also added another 51 yards to his stat line through the air on three receptions.
Feeding Mixon and the rest of the Bengals’ pass-catchers, Dalton completed 18-of-28 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns to a couple of Tylers, the first going to Tyler Boyd and the latter to Tyler Kroft. Taking a page from Mixon’s book, Dalton churned out 28 rushing yards on two carries of his own.
Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer limited his mistakes for a majority of the contest and had a solid game throughout, but he failed to convert his successful drives into touchdowns in the red zone. The Browns opted for field goals on each of their first three red zone trips before Kizer rushed in their only touchdown of the day on fourth down in the fourth quarter.
Kizer’s three-yard scamper was too little too late for Cleveland to spark a successful comeback and with that, we give you our PFF-exclusive takeaways from the contest for each team.
Top 5 Grades:
RB Joe Mixon, 89.2 overall grade
DT Geno Atkins, 88.5 overall grade
LG Clint Boling, 88.4 overall grade
CB Dre Kirkpatrick, 81.7 overall grade
WR A.J. Green, 80.3 overall grade
Performances of Note:
RB Joe Mixon, 89.2 overall grade
It was a career day for the rookie who cracked the 100-yard marker for the first time in his career. He broke four tackles on 23 carries and gained 65 yards after contact.
LG Clint Boling, 88.4 overall grade
Much of Mixon's success was due to finally having holes to run through, and no one cleared more of them than Boling. In pass protection, the left guard also did not allow a single pressure.
LB Nick Vigil, 28.5 overall grade
Even before his injury, Vigil was having a nightmarish day. He had two missed tackles and zero solo tackles on the day, getting exposed against both run and pass.
DT Geno Atkins, 88.5 overall grade
Just another day at the office for the all-pro defensive tackle. He had two sacks, two hits and two hurries on the day to go along with two stops in the run game.
Top 5 Grades:
C JC Tretter, 91.1 overall grade
QB DeShone Kizer, 91.0 overall grade
DE Myles Garrett, 90.4 overall grade
RG Kevin Zeitler, 85.5 overall grade
LB Joe Schobert, 81.3 overall grade
Performances of Note:
QB DeShone Kizer, 91.0 overall grade
Kizer made a handfull of big time throws in this one. On throws 10-plus yards down the field, Kizer completed 7-of-11 for 181 yards – and that doesn't even include the dropped touchdown from Corey Coleman. It was by far the most encouraging performance of Kizer's rookie season.
C JC Tretter, 91.1 overall grade
Tretter was on top of his game Sunday. In pass protection, he didn't allow a single pressure, while he did some serious work on the Bengals linebackers in the run game.
DE Myles Garrett, 90.4 overall grade
It was a career day for Garrett who seemed to be the only lineman making plays for the Browns all afternoon. He had a sack, a hit and a hurry as a pass rusher as well as two stops in the run game.
CB Jason McCourty, 35.1 overall grade
After seeing his career revitilized in Cleveland this season, McCourty had easily his worst game in a Browns uniform. He yielded six catches on nine targets for 75 yards and didn't record a single stop.
PFF Game Ball: Joe Mixon, RB
*Grades are subject to change upon review
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