Bengals Week 16 Snap Counts vs Browns: Safety plan finally works in Cincinnati's favor
The Cincinnati Bengals have taken full advantage of facing three losing teams in a row by beating all three of them. A 24-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns keeps the Bengals in the playoff hunt, but they need to get healthy quick as a shortened week of preparation has now begun before the Denver Broncos […]
The Cincinnati Bengals have taken full advantage of facing three losing teams in a row by beating all three of them. A 24-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns keeps the Bengals in the playoff hunt, but they need to get healthy quick as a shortened week of preparation has now begun before the Denver Broncos come to town on Saturday.
Let's see what the snaps from Sunday had to say about Cincinnati's win over Cleveland.
Bengals Week 16 Snap Counts vs Browns
Looking towards the future
The first week without edge defender Sam Hubbard available saw Joseph Ossai (51) start alongside Trey Hendrickson (52) on the opposite edge. This came as no surprise as Ossai was playing more than Hubbard and Myles Murphy (34) in recent weeks, though Murphy was the clear third edge in the pecking order ahead of rookie Cedric Johnson (6). 28 of Murphy's 34 snaps came off the left edge to give Ossai breathers.
Strong safety Vonn Bell (7) logged his lowest snap count of the season but ended making one of the biggest plays of the day with his forced fumble and recovery at the goal line on the game's first drive. Bell stepped aside for Jordan Battle (64) to thrive as a starter. Battle recorded four defensive stops per Pro Football Focus and snatched his second-career interception. His first INT, coincidentally, came in the Bengals' second game against the Browns last season.
Battle has been ahead of Bell for weeks now, but this was the best overall game from both of them. It's safe to say Battle is in position to start from the jump next season.
Ankle adjustments
Two different ankle injuries impacted the Bengals' offense on Sunday. Wide receiver Tee Higgins (40) missed some time in the third quarter but returned for the entire fourth period. Jermaine Burton (6) came in for a handful of plays without Higgins, but Cincinnati featured its tight ends as well to offset the temporary loss. Cam Grandy (11) logged his second game with at least 10 snaps this season.
Right tackle Amarius Mims (34) had the other ankle injury and didn't return after the offense's first possession of the second half. Devin Cochran (22) filled in for Mims, making it back-to-back weeks he played significant snaps after he started at left tackle in Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans. Cochran and left tackle Cody Ford protecting the edges made life difficult for Joe Burrow as the offense only scored seven points in the final two quarters, so getting Mims back for next week is a must.
Other notes
Linebacker Shaka Heyward (1) played his second career game after making his debut last week, and his one snap came on Bell's big play at the goal line.
Rookie tight end Tanner McLachlan (3) made his NFL debut with nine total snaps, three of which came on offense. He ran a route for his first snap on the same play Ja'Marr Chase broke his own single-season franchise record for receiving yards.