The Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) entered Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders (5-5) in what seemed like a must-win situation for the Bengals and took care of business. Cincinnati snapped its two-game losing streak by beating the Raiders 32-13.
"I'm really proud of the way these guys have responded," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said following the game. "Just shows the maturity of our football team. I'm really proud of them to go out after a bye, get a big road win and come back and get ready for a big time divisional game at our house, really proud of our guys today."
Doc:The Bengals showed one very important thing in their win over the Raiders
'We kept at it':Bengals pick up a struggling Joe Burrow for a bounce back win over the Raiders
Here's what we learned from the Bengals' Week 11 win over the Las Vegas Raiders:
Joe Mixon proves Bengals can win by leaning on the run game
The Bengals are embarking on a playoff push and in order for them to be playing football in the middle of January, the run game needed to get going. It did against the Raiders and Joe Mixon was crucial in making it happen. Mixon rushed for 123 yards on 30 carries against the Raiders. Following the game, Taylor said they knew in order to beat Las Vegas, they would have to run the ball effectively.
"We just stuck with it," Mixon said. "We were just trying to do whatever we could to stay with the run. Stay physical, try and wear them down. We were definitely fortunate enough to wear them down and the big runs started to come and we were playing complementary football. And we were able to put the nail in the coffin and bring one back to the crib.
Mixon thrives in opportunities to take games over and help his team win. When asked about the next few games and the importance he'll play, he said he'll be ready to make the plays when needed.
"It's a great feeling to have," Mixon said of his role. "One thing about me, I always know at the end of the day, they are counting on me to make a big play or make a big block to do whatever I can to be ahead of the sticks. With coach dialing it up and us playing complementary football today, we put the nail in the coffin and we're going to lean on the run. Sometimes it's going to be more passes than runs, which it was over the last few weeks, and you know sometimes it can get frustrating because I feel like I should be putting up numbers each and every week with the best of them because I know that's what I am. It's a great feeling to know in crunch time games, they are going to lean on me. I just have to stay ready.
Eli Apple makes big play when Bengals' defense needed it most
With less than five minutes to play, Bengals cornerback Eli Apple dropped back in coverage as Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was targeting tight end Darren Waller and picked him off. Apple has filled in as Cincinnati's No. 2 cornerback and has given up a few big plays this season. The former first-round pick made the game-sealing play for the Bengals when it mattered most. A play he's been looking forward to making all season.
"That one just fell in my lap, so (I'm) thankful," Apple said. "We were just locked in."
Evan McPherson clutch in the kicking game for Cincinnati
The Bengals relied on rookie kicker Evan McPherson often on Sunday. McPherson was 4-for-4 on his field goal attempts and accounted for 12 of Cincinnati's 32 total points. Not only did McPherson help the Bengals win against the Raiders, but getting the young kicker more reps in hostile environments will be key moving forward as the Bengals continue on their playoff push.
Head coach Zac Taylor explained following the game his team needed to play a certain way to come out of Las Vegas with a win. That meant keeping a lead and on Sunday it was their fifth-round pick who ensured that happened.
"We needed to play this game a certain way," Taylor said. "We had to get that lead no matter what it looked like. So we could keep leaning on the run game and then trying to get after their quarterback a little bit and put as much pressure on him as possible so by Evan being able to capitalize on those drives even if it's just three points, three points, three points, it's deflating for the other team and it was a great response by our guys so hats off to Evan on that."
Source link
