Biggest Takeaways from Cincinnati Bengals' Week 12 Win

The Cincinnati Bengals halted a two-game skid on Sunday with a 31-7 dissection of the St. Louis Rams at Paul Brown Stadium.

It wasn't much of a contest from the jump, as the Bengals cruised to a 17-7 halftime lead before adding 14 more points in the third frame while holding the Rams scoreless the rest of the way.

Quarterback Andy Dalton was once again razor-sharp on a 20-of-27 line with three touchdowns to one interception, while key contributors around him put up big numbers. On the other side, Geno Atkins and the defense ran wild with three interceptions and stuffed a solid run game.

Let's take a look at the biggest takeaways from the dominant showing as the team next turns its attention to the Cleveland Browns.

Jeremy Hill's Back

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Jeremy Hill has now run well against two strong defenses.

It wasn't a secret that the Bengals needed to get running back Jeremy Hill going as the season winds down.

After all, Hill is the type of runner who can grind games out and take pressure off Dalton—especially in the cold as he punishes defenses.

He did that on Sunday against the Rams, carrying the ball 16 times for 86 yards. It's not the most eye-popping set of numbers in the world, but his average of 5.4 yards per carry is a season high. Oh, and so is the yardage total.

On a day when Giovani Bernard struggled to find room, Hill looked like his usual confident self against a strong defense. Considering he scored a pair of touchdowns the week prior against an elite Arizona Cardinals run defense, it's safe to say he's back.

So Is the Top Defense

Frank Victores/Associated Press

Cincinnati's back at the top of defensive rankings.

After holding the Rams to seven points, Atkins and the defense climbed back up the rankings to No. 1 in scoring, surrendering an average of just 17.5 points per game.

For those counting, the Bengals have allowed more than 10 points in a game just once over their last five outings, the exception being a 34-point allowance to the high-octane Cardinals on the road.

As some on the defense said after the team's win against the Rams, the contest was all about getting back to basics.

"We need to stick to our identity," defensive end Carlos Dunlap said, according to ESPN.com. "Success is precious. You just have to stick to what you do."

That identity was pressuring Nick Foles all day and forcing three interceptions, one of which Leon Hall took back for a touchdown. It also stuffed talented rookie back Todd Gurley for 19 yards on nine carries.

It's a league-best identity and has the team riding high.

Tyler Eifert Might Make History

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Tyler Eifert's well on his way to the hsitory books at his current pace.

Right now, it doesn't seem like anyone can stop Tyler Eifert.

When the Bengals want to look his way, they do and there's not much a defense can do about it—hence his 12 touchdowns on the season. He's already scored multiple touchdowns in four games this year.

Eifert was at it again on Sunday with the Rams in town, catching three passes for 40 yards and a score as Dalton looked his way when in trouble. The Notre Dame product went up and got the ball with ease every time except one.

Now it's time to start thinking about history. New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski holds the record for touchdowns in a season by a tight end at 17. Eifert's staring the number in the face with the team having five more games on the schedule.

At this pace, it's hard to imagine Eifert won't score five more times through January 3.

Offensive Line Woes Gone Corrected

Frank Victores/Associated Press

The offensive line got back to form in Week 12.

In a rather surprising turn of events, Dalton found a way to keep his jersey clean on Sunday against the Rams.

The offensive line in front of Dalton had struggled over the team's last three games, coughing up sacks and pressure after pressure. To his credit, Dalton powered through the woes and saw drops or a limping defense sink the team's chances at a win.

Regardless, Dalton had plenty of time on Sunday despite the presence of Aaron Donald on the field—a defensive tackle right in the same neighborhood as Atkins in terms of elite play both against the run and when it comes to generating a rush.

Instead of struggling, the Bengals didn't allow a sack and Dalton looked comfortable for most of the day.

Going into a string of AFC North games and an encounter with the Denver Broncos, it's a great sign.

AFC North in Sight

Frank Victores/Associated Press

Cincinnati controls its own destiny in the AFC North.

In recent weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers have made it apparent that the AFC North is anything but a sure thing for the Bengals.

But it is.

As Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer pointed out, the Bengals can clinch the division with a win against the Steelers in two weeks no matter the outcome of the team's trip to Cleveland next weekend.

Those Steelers aren't going away lightly this year, and the first encounter between the two sides was just a 16-10 victory for the Bengals.

At the least, though, the Bengals have played themselves into a position most teams can only dream of—being in control of their own destiny.

This is far from the AFC North of past years, but the 9-2 Bengals have control of it.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.