It hurts & there's no getting around that but what a season.
These are my key takeaways from the game:
- The defense played well enough to win this game. +2 turnover margin & multiple stops in the second half. Consistently got the ball back to the offense w/ chances to put it away. They did give up the last TD but overall a hell of a game from the defense.
- Why was Mixon not in the game for multiple short yardage situations? Even the last drive for the Bengals - Perrine ran the ball instead of their premier back. I didn't understand that. Mixon is a power back w/ great cutback ability & he can catch. Never understood taking him off the field in any situation.
- No screens the entire game. Another weird choice. Their pass rush is elite so why not try & use that against them w/ a few screens mixed in?
- The most obvious one - the o-line the second half was complete garbage. Six sacks in the second half alone. The Rams starting running some stunts & that really gave them issues. Going into halftime, they played very well but what a collapse the second half.
- I might catch some heat for this but Burrow's ball placement was meh. The bomb to Chase was an amazing throw but he did have some errant ones. The examples that sticks out is the 3rd & 13 where he had a clean pocket & one hopped it to Chase for an incompletion. The early 4 & 1, he missed Perrine wide open in the flat for a 1st down. Missed Chris Evans on the 3 & 4 in the 1st. Those are just three that I recall but remember thinking that throughout the game. This isn't a knock on Burrow as he's a great QB, just wasn't his A game.
For those who point to the refs. It was a bad call on Logan Wilson but so was the Higgins facemask on Ramsey. Lets not turn this game into it just being about the refs. The Bengals didn't score on their final five possessions. That won't get it done.
Still an amazing run. NOBODY thought this team would be playing in the Super Bowl. I just hope this isn't the only appearance for Burrow, similar to Dan Marino. Proud of this team but this game will be hard to forget.
Who Dey!
