One of Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon's franchise-record five touchdowns during Sunday's win against the Carolina Panthers came on a catch from quarterback Joe Burrow, and Mixon told Rich Eisen that the way it came about was somewhat unconventional.
"I remember telling Joe like - he was like, 'Man we're gonna line up in empty.' So we ended up lining up in empty," Mixon said to Eisen. "I'm like, 'What do you want me to run?' He was like, 'Just run a fade.' And I was like, 'Alright!' So I ended up running a fade and all of a sudden the corner(back) almost like dropped me because he sees Joe about to scramble, then he remembers I was there. He tries to hold me, so I just spinned out. And then Joe just delivering a dime, and I just tried to give my best impression of Ja'Marr Chase and the toe-tap. … And that's exactly how he talked it up, not drew it up."
"How often does that happen with him?" Eisen asked Mixon.
"To be honest, I think the last time like he said something like that was when we played Baltimore last year," Mixon said. "I think he threw for like 500 yards. (Note: It was a career-best 525.) He told me to run a fade and then he ended up throwing it to me. … I think that was his record-breaking throw right there. I think that was probably the last time he did that. I guess great things happen when I ask Joe, 'What should I run?'"
It was similar to what Mixon told reporters after Sunday's win when asked about his TD reception:
"I remember going to the sideline and telling Zac (Taylor), 'We're lining up in empty again?' He said 'Yup.' I remember it was maybe third-and-10 and I ended up going in and I said (to Joe Burrow), "Joe, what are we doing?' (and he said) 'Just run a fade (route).' I lined up on the right exactly where (the cornerback) was and I ended up releasing on a fade and I saw Burrow come out and scramble and all of sudden, (the defender) tried to hold me, so I just shook him off. I saw Joe throw the ball and said, 'Man, I better catch this.' I caught that thing, toe-tapped it and it was just a great feeling. It was a great feeling for me and knowing Burrow trusts me as me as a receiver is a great feeling, too. Just having that extra tool for him is a great thing."
LOVE SPORTS? [ Subscribe now for unlimited access to Cincinnati.com ]
