Biggest Takeaways from Cincinnati Bengals' Week 13 Win

The Cincinnati Bengals didn't encounter any issues grabbing win No. 10 while visiting the Cleveland Browns in Week 13, cruising to a 37-3 outcome and a season sweep of their in-state rivals.

Little went wrong for the Bengals on the day despite missing several big names from both sides of the football. 

Andy Dalton threw two scores on just 19 attempts, Jeremy Hill posted another strong performance and the defense showed off a strong rush and clogging run defense that kept the home fans quiet or booing most of the afternoon.

Within, let's take a look at the biggest takeaways from the victory as the team gears up for a run at the top of the AFC.

Jeremy Hill's Here to Stay

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Jeremy Hill put together another strong performance to make it two in a row.

Those hoping Hill's strong showing against the St. Louis Rams in Week 12 wasn't a fluke saw a wish come true while he bulldozed the Browns all day Sunday.

Hill took 22 carries for 98 yards and a score, giving him his highest yardage output of the year to go alongside his biggest number of opportunities handed out by the coaching staff all season.

After, Hill spoke about the big picture with ESPN.com's Coley Harvey: "We know what's at stake. Everyone in here knows what it is. You can almost taste it at this point." 

After a sluggish start to the season, Hill might be the biggest key for the Bengals as they make a postseason push. His ability to gain yards as he did Sunday makes the passing game borderline simple for Dalton.

Look for Hill to keep the strong form going.

Dalton's Deep Ball Can Be Consistent

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Andy Dalton put on a show with his deep passes.

One of the biggest weaknesses observers cite when it comes to Dalton's game is his ability to put deep passes where they need to be at a consistent clip.

It's a fair criticism, too, as Dalton has showcased struggles at times in this area.

Just not during the field trip to see the Browns.

Harvey explained that Dalton put together one of his best deep-passing efforts of the season Sunday:

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Of the six passes Andy Dalton threw to A.J. Green on Sunday, four were thrown at least 15 yards downfield. All four of those attempts were completed (tied for the most 15-yard-plus hookups Dalton and Green have had in a game in their careers). One of them was Green's 23-yard TD catch. Dalton's 21-yard TD pass to Marvin Jones also traveled more than 15 yards in the air, giving the QB a perfect 5-for-5 overall completion rating on his deep throws.

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Some will point out the performance came against the Browns. While a fair criticism, Dalton has excelled far more than he's struggled this year, and he's earned the praise no matter the level of competition.

Perhaps most importantly, Sunday's superb deep passing from Dalton might have been the product of Hill keeping the defense honest, meaning Cincinnati has a clear blueprint to lean on as the season continues.

Bengals Can Win Without Key Pieces

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Marvin Jones was one of many to step up in Cleveland.

Tyler Eifert, the man fighting for the league lead in touchdown receptions, didn't even suit up for the Bengals Sunday against the Browns.

Alas, the Bengals responded with 233 passing yards through the air and 144 on the ground.

In the first avenue, Dalton targeted Green a team-high six times with Eifert out of the lineup. One of the league's best receivers did what most figured he would by catching five of those for 128 yards and a touchdown, including one grab that went for 57 yards.

Also deserving credit is No. 2 wideout Marvin Jones, who stepped up and caught all five of his targets for 55 yards and a score.

All offseason, folks got to hear about how the Bengals were one of the deepest teams in the league. Sunday, key and role players trumpeted that fact loud and clear, a demonstration the rest of the AFC had to notice.

Secondary Depth Can Step in When Necessary

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Adam Jones and the secondary stood strong without key names.

It wasn't just the offense entering Cleveland gimpy, though.

By the time kickoff rolled around, the Cincinnati secondary was without Darqueze Dennard, George Iloka and Leon Hall.

Granted, the team could afford to rest a few hobbled players against a Cleveland team trotting out Austin Davis under center. Fine, but the fact the secondary, aided by a strong rush, helped limit the Browns to three points speaks volumes to the depth of the unit.

As the new faces tasked with coming up big against a divisional rival, Josh Shaw stepped up with five total tackles, while Troy Hill added three.

Obviously, in the postseason, the Bengals don't want to be without some of the guys they missed Sunday, but it never hurts to know the young guys can come in and stand a chance if it comes right down to it.

Bengals Control Destiny

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Cincinnati decides where it goes from here.

The New England Patriots got the Bengals an early holiday present Sunday. 

There, Tom Brady and Co. took a dive at the hands of the struggling Philadelphia Eagles in 35-28 fashion, dropping the Patriots to 10-2 as losers of two in a row.

In other words, the Bengals and Patriots now share the same record, giving the Bengals the AFC crown for at least a week. If the Bengals can win out, they'll secure the top seed and sit pretty with a bye.

It's never as easy as it sounds, though. Cincinnati has to deal with Pittsburgh again next week, and while games against San Francisco and Baltimore look easy, it's a Week 16 showdown in Denver with the Broncos that may decide everything.

Those Broncos also sit at 10-2 and tout a win over the Patriots. Cincinnati beat up on Peyton Manning and Co. last year, but this one goes down away from home, making the task all the more difficult.

These new-look Bengals have risen to every challenge this year. The latest asks them to take hold of their future and dictate how things play out. Maybe the NFL's biggest storyline over its closing month will center on if they can do so.

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