Bengals running back Joe Mixon chased contract incentives all day. His two touchdowns earned him an extra $100,000. (Cincinnati Bengals)
Browns backups buried by Bengals, 31-14
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
CINCINNATI, OH
Instant takeaways from Browns 31-14 loss to Cincinnati Bengals …
1. Careful what you ask for: Kevin Stefanski said the Browns “earned the right” to treat their 17th game as a day off for their regulars. Ultimately, what they earned was the right to a butt-whuppin’ by the Bengals. This resembled a throwback to the 1987 strike season, when some teams were bolstered by veterans who crossed the picket line and played. The Bengals rested few available players and unapologetically crushed the Browns’ backups, 31-14. If this indeed were an audition for Browns QB5 Jeff Driskel, well, P.J. Walker’s backup job would appear safe. Driskel had no chance but didn’t distinguish himself with two interceptions. He avoided the shutout with a nice TD pass of 31 yards to David Bell over two cornerbacks with 8:45 to play. Bell added another scoring grab of 24 yards at the 2:34 mark. So the Browns hit a speed bump on the way to a wild-card game next week and ended the regular season 11-6. The Bengals avoided a winless record in division games and finished 9-8, good for only fourth place. It marked the first time since 1935 that every team in the same division finished above. 500.
2. Going back to Houston: The Browns will play the Houston Texans in their wild-card game next weekend. Day and time will be announced later Sunday night. The Texans earned the AFC South title when Jacksonville lost to Tennessee, 28-20. The Texans defeated the Colts, 23-19, Saturday night.
3. Clear the decks: The only semi-regulars to see much action for the Browns were backs Jerome Ford and Kareem hunt and starting tackles Geron Christian and James Hudson on offense, and tackle Jordan Elliott and safety Ronnie Hickman on defense. Edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo got in some snaps at left end in his first appearance since tearing a pectoral muscle in the Jacksonville game on December 10. One of the Browns’ starting safeties was Vincent Gray, who was signed to the practice squad on November 7. After one quarter, the Browns’ offense ran 11 plays for 0 net yards. Receiver Elijah Moore, who suffered a concussion in the Jets game on December 28, got in a snap in the third quarter. Bengals coach Zac Taylor pulled starting QB Jake Browning with 1:34 left in the third quarter.
4. Injury list: The Browns did not escape the day injury-free. Defensive tackle Shelby Harris left with a shin injury. Receiver Cedric Tillman was helped off the field in the fourth quarter after absorbing two hits following an 18-yard catch and was evaluated for a head injury. Running back Pierre Strong started the game and left with a back injury.
5. Operationally unsound: The perils of playing all subs, especially with Driskel in his first appearance with the Browns, included bad operations in critical moments. The Browns wasted a scoring opportunity at the end of the half when they couldn’t line up fast enough to spike the ball with no timeouts left after a Jordan Akins catch at the Bengals’ 28. The teams recused to the locker rooms at halftime with the Bengals ahead, 24-0.
6. Money ball: If it appeared that Bengals running back Joe Mixon was extremely motivated to play a meaningless game, well, he was chasing some worthwhile incentives. He scored the first two touchdowns for the Bengals, which netted him an extra $100,000 for reaching 12 on the season. Also, he needed 177 rushing yards to reach 1,100 and another $250,000. Mixon 90 on 9 carries in the first half and finished with 111 on 14 attempts. Mixon can be a free agent in 2024.
7. Touche, Proche: Special teamer James Proche added kickoff duties with Pierre Strong getting more reps at running back. Proche was a terror on punt coverage, downing Corey Bojorquez punts at the Bengals’ 3- and 1-yard line.
8. Not pleasant: The latter play by Proche merely set up a 99-yard touchdown drive by Browning. The Browns’ defensive subs with one neutral zone infraction by Siaki Ika on the very first play and another by Jordan Elliott on a fourth-and-4 from the Browns’ 40. Browning put the Browns out of their misery with a 7-yard TD pass to Andrei Iosivas for a 31-0 lead, culminating a 14-play march that, thankfully, ate 8 minutes, 12 seconds off the clock.
9. In the books: Be it recorded that Driskel’s first pass attempted for the Browns was intercepted by Bengals safety Jordan Battle on a deep throw down the left sideline for Cedric Tillman.
10. Turnabout: D’Anthony Bell intercepted Browning’s second pass of the game. Quite a play, too. On a pass too high for Tyler Boyd, Bell tipped the ball forward with his left hand and made a diving grab for the INT.
11. Looking ahead: Next season the Browns will play all teams in the AFC West and NFC East divisions. Marquee home opponents include the Cowboys, Giants, Chiefs and Chargers. Destination road games include Las Vegas, Denver, Philadelphia and Washington. The three opponents dependent on 2023 standings: Home v. second place AFC East finisher (loser of Bills-Dolphins), on the road at second place of NFC South (Saints, Falcons or Bucs), and second place AFC South (Texans or Jags). As far an international game in 2024, every NFL team must play overseas once every eight years. If the Browns were tabbed, it would be as the visitor against an NFC team. So Browns v. Eagles in, say, Germany is a possibility. Browns last played in London in 2017; Eagles in 2018. Some international games are announced as soon as the NFL Combine next month.
12. Pre-game notes: Browns inactive list was loaded with front-line players: cornerback Greg Newsome, safety Juan Thornhill, receiver Amari Cooper, receiver Marquise Goodwin, kicker Dustin Hopkins, cornerback Mike Ford, and defensive end Myles Garrett.
