It’s an 0-6 mark for the Cincinnati Bengals coming out of their trip to Baltimore for an AFC North game against the Ravens.
Most everything went wrong for a Bengals team desperately searching for answers. The offense was outgained 497-250 and the defense let up 269 rushing yards on an 6.3 average. That it ended 23-17 was a surprise given the disparity of play on the field.
Here’s a look at winners and losers.
Winner: Auden Tate
Tate looked like a superstar out there, which given his surroundings lately, maybe isn’t saying too much. But he had some incredible adjustments on big catches and finished the day with five catches for 91 yards on 12 targets. At worst, one has to wonder why he wasn’t on the field more last year given how he can help along Andy Dalton.
Loser: Andy Dalton
Dalton was largely lost again. The play-calling isn’t helping. But he only completed 21 of his 39 attempts with 235 yards and an interception. And the pick was awful, as he was in a clean pocket and simply didn’t see a defender coming over to take it — into a window that was going to get broken up either way.
Winner: Brandon Wilson
Wilson had the massive touchdown return to start the game and has shown up here as a “winner” for a few weeks now. He took a chance given to him via injury to others and has run with it. He’s arguably the best returner on the team and it doesn’t look like he’ll relinquish that title.
Loser: Joe Mixon
Mixon just can’t win. his line isn’t opening anything and the offensive gameplan isn’t bothering to get him too involved as a pass-catching option. The former AFC leading rusher had a long run of three yards on the day while taking his eight carries for 10 yards, a 1.3 average.
Loser: Tyler Boyd
Boyd had been on pace to break a franchise receptions tally entering the week. He leaves it with just three catches for 10 yards on seven targets. Some of this was good defense. Much of it was bad design and an offense desperately searching for answers and just not getting them.
Loser: Offensive line, Linebackers
Let’s go ahead and throw these two in together. The line was a mess again, as expected, with little in the way of rushing room. John Miller left with an injury, which meant Alex Redmond in there. The linebackers were lost, gave up catches and largely didn’t play the run well.
