Evaluating the Bengals after big win
The Cincinnati Bengals improved to 9-6, and they lead the AFC North by a game after beating the Baltimore Ravens 41-21.
Wide receiver Tee Higgins set a new career high in receiving yards. Quarterback Joe Burrow had a franchise record for passing yards in a game, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson established the franchise record for sacks in a season.
The Bengals have now swept the Steelers and Ravens, putting Cincinnati in prime position to win the AFC North.
Here's what we learned from the Bengals dominating win:
Burrow is scary good at his best
Burrow was nearly perfect against the Ravens Sunday completing 37 passes on 46 attempts, for 525 yards and four touchdowns.
Burrow's career day makes him the franchise record holder for passing yards in a game.
Bengals head coach, Zac Taylor, said he's trying to instill a killer instinct in his team and leaving Burrow in despite having a huge lead was part of that.
The Bengals and Burrow looked like they received Taylor's message.
“I was really excited about how aggressive we were,” Burrow said.
Higgins is emerging as a top wide receiver
Wide receiver Tee Higgins recorded 12 catches for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Ja'marr Chase added seven catches for 125 yards and Tyler Boyd recorded three catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Taylor gave game balls to all three receivers and Burrow for “stepping up” and rising to the occasion.
Higgins has now recorded 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career, and his 194 yards Sunday was a new career high.
“It felt so good. First time ever going for 190. Yeah, it felt good,” said Higgins.
Hendrickson continues to be the Bengals’ defensive MVP
Bengals star defensive end, Hendrickson now has 15 sacks and ranks No. 5 in the NFL in this category. He recorded Cincinnati's lone sack against Baltimore's Josh Johnson.
“He's always making plays, some of them show up on the stat sheet, and some of them don't,” Taylor said of Hendrickson. “The opponent we're playing always feels his presence.“