The Cincinnati Bengals completed their sweep of the NFC West Sunday by defeating the San Francisco 49ers, 31-17, in Santa Clara. It was the first loss the Niners took at home in over a year, and the first time the Bengals have looked like a complete team in a while. 

One could not conjure up a better way to kickstart a second-half surge against a gauntlet of contending teams.

Stars for the Bengals played like their moniker, and against a squad compromised of elite talents all across the board, that's what it takes. These were the stars of the game. 

Five Winners From Bengals’ Week 8 Victory vs. 49ers

QB Joe Burrow

Showing up fresh off the plane in an alien mask, Burrow did everything to justify his extraterrestrial origin on Sunday. Starting with a ludicrous third-and-10 escape, capping off the day with an absolute dot to Ja'Marr Chase to extend their last drive in the fourth quarter, and 19-straight completions in-between it all, Burrow ascended the Bengals to what they expected to be against a contending team. 28-32 (89%!) for 283 yards and three touchdowns to go along with over 40 scramble yards will do it every time.



No. 9 doesn't look 100%, he somehow looked even greater than that. 

RB Joe Mixon

If Mixon played every game in his home state of California, he may be in the same echelon as Christian McCaffrey in terms of finding the end zone. His first game back in the Bay Area in nearly four years saw him rushing for 87 yards on 16 carries and score his second touchdown of the season. He’s now been responsible for at least one touchdown in all four games he’s played in Cali, including throwing for one in the Super Bowl.

The addition of under center calls were theorized to help create openings for Mixon. Consider that theory proven. The current state of the offense bodes well for Mixon finding his groove going forward.  

WR Tee Higgins

It really makes a difference when all the cogs in the machine work properly. Higgins has been struggling immensely this season, be it from injury or something else, and very much looked like his normal self against the 49ers. Five receptions for 69 yards isn’t going to turn many heads in today’s game, but it felt like so much more for the fourth-year receiver desperate to find production.

It wasn't just Burrow on the third-and-10 conversion. Higgins made the contested catch near the sideline and stretched for the first down; the start of what could be a strong end to his season.

Bengals offensive line

This week provided a chance for the pendulum to swing back in the 49ers' favors with their pass rush, a unit that's become maligned despite so much talent and investment. Arik Armstead had a good game with two sacks of his own, but Burrow's ultra-efficient day in the pocket wouldn't have been possible with his protection holding up for 95% of the afternoon. 



Tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Jonah Williams held down the edges as cleanly as possible, while even second-year guard Cordell Volson stood firm against a powerful interior group in San Fran. Kudos to the entire group for ensuring the offense could perform up to their standard. 

LB Logan Wilson

The key to limiting the 49ers’ offense, because it can’t be stopped altogether, is keeping Christian McCaffrey in check. Wilson answered the bell with a team-high nine solo tackles, and the Bengals held McCaffrey to 54 yards on 12 carries. His game became a complete performance when he intercepted Brock Purdy in the fourth quarter, leading to the Bengals’ game-winning touchdown a play later. 

It was the 10th interception of his career, and no other linebacker has more since he entered the league in 2020. 

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You'd be hard pressed to find a Bengals win in which Chase does not perform at an elite level. 10 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown looks incredibly clean on the box score, and it looked just as clean on tape. He does this all the time, and yet hadn't performed a backflip since before he came into the league and looked perfect doing that too. What can't he do?

A hat tip is in order for Trey Hendrickson as well. After suffering what looked to be a nasty ankle injury, the Bengals' top pass rusher rolled some tape and got back to work, providing more pressure on Purdy compared to when his ankle was fine. He eventually got to the young quarterback with a strip sack late in the game.

Cincinnati's defense had its struggles against George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk (which defense doesn't nowadays), but Mike Hilton looked like his prime self attacking from the slot. He's strung together two solid games in a row.

Bengals: Joe Burrow’s offseason work paid off with crazy highlight play vs. 49ers

Burrow created more magic in the pocket against San Francisco.