It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but it will do.
Cincinnati captured its fifth consecutive win while improving to 9-4 during the process by defeating division rival Cleveland, 23-10.
Things didn’t start of the way Bengals coach Zac Taylor wanted with both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd sidelined just minutes into the game.
The injuries might have slowed quarterback Joe Burrow some but eventually he caught fire, and did what he needed to do behind another solid effort from the ground game, and offensive line to lead Cincinnati to a five-point victory.
Burrow completed 18-of-33 pass attempts for 239 yards, and two touchdowns while throwing an interception. He also carried the ball six times for 10 yards.
Joe Mixon got the nod to start in the backfield after missing the past few weeks due to a concussion. He tallied 14 Carrie’s for 96 yards while Samaje Parine found the end zone again on four Carrie’s that totaled 22 yards.
Despite the services of both Higgins, and Boyd, Burrow still had Ja’Maar Chase to throw the ball to along, of course, Trent Irwin.
That’s right, Trent Irwin.
He was the recipient of a 45-yard for flicker pass from Burrow to Mixon, back to Burrow to Irwin that gave the Bengals some breathing room at 20-3 with 7:33 remaining in the third quarter.
Irwin finished with two catches for 58 yards, and a score, while Chase caught 10 balls for 119 yards and a score.
Defensively, Jessie Bates had an interception in the fourth quarter while Logan Wilson led the way with 14 tackles. Sam Hubbard recorded a sack while Wilson and Vonn Bell both had a 0.5 sacks apiece.
Cincinnati will be back in action next week on the road against Tampa Bay.
