Bengals vs. Colts: Full Report Card Grades for Cincinnati
For the fourth time in as many years, the Cincinnati Bengals came up short, this time in a 26-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card Round.
Marvin Lewis' team was outgained 482-254 yards in the process. Wide receivers caught just three passes, and talented rookie back Jeremy Hill carried the ball just 13 times. Andy Dalton threw for 155 yards while being sacked three times.
The defense surrendered just south of seven yards per play as the line failed to generate pressure, and the Colts, very much a pass-first team, rushed for 114 yards and a score on just 25 attempts.
After the fact, Lewis was unwilling to let the injury bug act as the scapegoat, per Joe Danneman of Fox 19:
"Marvin on injuries: No excuse. This is professional football. @FOX19
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) January 4, 2015"
Regardless of the reason for the collapse, it is back to the drawing board for the Bengals.
Within are grades for each positional unit based on performance—not just in a statistical sense but also in an overall sense in how each piece played a role in the loss.
Quarterback: C
1 of 10
It was clear from the onset Sunday that the Bengals were comfortable with deep shots by Andy Dalton, but a few early misfires and miscommunications ended that.
Dalton continued to struggle with deep accuracy and at times hung his receivers out to dry despite obvious defenders on the way to make hits.
He finished with an 18-of-35 mark for 155 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. Despite the poor showing, an illustration from NFL on CBS shows why he cannot shoulder the blame alone:
"Amazingly enough: Andy Dalton has still never thrown a pass in the playoffs with the lead. pic.twitter.com/8EtynjtXTJ
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) January 4, 2015"
Dalton was inaccurate and indecisive Sunday, but injuries to his biggest weapons played a part in the performance.
Either way, it was a mediocre day.
Grade: C
Running Back: B
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Bengals rookie running back Jeremy Hill got the scoring started for the team in the first quarter and then became a non-factor.
Jay Morrison of Cox Media Group explains an early explosive play by Hill:
"#Bengals load up with 7 lineman and Hill kicks outside for 18 yards on third and 1. First down at Colts 37
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonCMG) January 4, 2015"
Hill went on to score to finish that drive before ending the game with 13 carries for 47 yards.
Giovani Bernard was also a major fixture of the attack Sunday and finished with six yards on three rushes and eight catches for 46 yards to lead the team in receiving.
It is far from Hill's fault that the staff went away from him so early, or Bernard's fault that the lack of a deep threat or credible arm meant the defense dialed in on him at all times.
Grade: B
Wide Receiver and Tight End: C
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Sans A.J. Green, the Cincinnati wideout corps did everything it could to produce Sunday.
Third-string running back Rex Burkhead proved to be a major asset, catching three passes on as many targets for 34 yards. Hybrid tight end Ryan Hewitt also pitched in with three catches for 37 yards.
Mohamed Sanu, technically the No. 1 wideout, exorcised some drop demons with three catches for 31 yards, too.
The lack of Green on the field hurt all involved, as Doug Kyed of NESN points out:
"Andy Dalton is going to get killed, but missing A.J. Green is comparable to missing Gronk. No way the offense was going to be the same.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyedNESN) January 4, 2015"
With Dalton inaccurate downfield and the Indianapolis secondary strong without Green and Jermaine Gresham on the field, the corps' inability to get open was amplified on the biggest stage—hence a running back leading the team in receiving.
Grade: C
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Offensive Line: C
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For the most part, the Cincinnati offensive line put on a strong performance Sunday in Indianapolis.
It helps that the staff saw it fit to roll with plenty of unbalanced looks on the ground, which in large part helped the Bengals to rush for 110 total yards and a score on a 5.2 per-carry average.
Pass protection was spotty, as Dalton was sacked three times, although some of the reason the number was so low can be accredited to quick-hitting pass plays.
As far as outright negatives go, rookie center Russell Bodine was once again under fire in the flag department.
Overall, the Bengals struggled with the Indianapolis rush.
Grade: C
Defensive Line: D
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Rinse and repeat for the Cincinnati defensive line.
Carlos Dunlap and the line were mostly ineffective Sunday in terms of generating pressure. An early note by ESPN.com's Coley Harvey set the tone:
"That was an impressive drive by the Colts. Andrew Luck picked #Bengals apart there. Nice changes at line. Ineffective pass rush helped, too.
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) January 4, 2015"
The Bengals did finish with one sack (a positive since they had just 20 in the regular season), but more often than not Andrew Luck had plenty of time to throw, and the need for pressure meant fewer bodies in coverage.
Cincinnati's struggles against the run started in the trenches too, as the Colts rushed for 114 yards and a score on just 25 carries.
The rotation of Wallace Gilberry, Carlos Dunlap and Margus Hunt did little most of the day, while tackle Geno Atkins was quiet.
As if observers needed another reminder, the defensive trenches will be a priority in the upcoming draft.
Grade: D
Linebacker: C
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The loss of Rey Maualuga early on did not help things, but the Cincinnati linebacker corps did not have a strong showing Sunday.
Emmanuel Lamur, Vincent Rey and others struggled at times with tackles, were woeful in coverage and bit too often on fakes.
Of course, the struggles up front did not help either. Rey still finished with 11 total tackles to lead the team, and Lamur was right behind with six.
This, of course, is a unit in flux moving forward as Maualuga and Vontaze Burfict will be healthy next season, as will others such as Sean Porter. Sunday, the unit was on the receiving end of few favors from the linemen in front of it.
Grade: C
Secondary: B+
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Given the amount of time it spent in coverage Sunday, the Cincinnati secondary did a solid job.
In fact, there were plenty of positives.
Jay Morrison of Cox Media Group notes young corner Dre Kirkpatrick's clutch play in the first half to keep things close:
"Super play by Dre to break up a TD pass on third down.
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonCMG) January 4, 2015"
Bleacher Report's Andrea Hangst describes a great combo play by rookie corner Darqueze Dennard and veteran safety Reggie Nelson:
"Fortuitous series of events there for Bengals. Sack, then (if it stands) Dennard FF on Herron, Nelson FR.
— Andrea Hangst (@FBALL_Andrea) January 4, 2015"
Adam Jones put on a heartfelt performance and tallied six total tackles in the process. Terence Newman was beaten deep once but otherwise gave a strong effort. The same goes for safety George Iloka.
By far the biggest positive of the day, the performance put on by the Cincinnati secondary against Andrew Luck deserves praise.
Grade: B+
Special Teams: B
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Mike Nugent broke records, but Sunday was an overall quiet outing for Cincinnati special teams.
He did something most figured impossible near the end of the first half, as John Popovich of WCPO TV details:
"Nugent sets a new Bengals franchise record with a 57-yard field goal...hit the left upright and fell in. 13-10 Colts with :10 left .
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) January 4, 2015"
Punter Kevin Huber put on a show too, pinning Indianapolis inside its own 20-yard line three times on eight attempts. The kick-coverage unit did a sound job most of the day as well, while Adam Jones flashed with a 32-yard kick return.
Overall, special teams did not provide the spark the Bengals needed, but they also did not put the team in a hole as they did one week earlier.
Grade: B
Coaching: D
9 of 10
Marvin Lewis' team once again came up short.
To the Bengals' credit, offensive coordinator Hue Jackson did a great job in the creativity department, as ESPN.com's Coley Harvey pointed out after an early play:
"Nifty play call on the opening play for #Bengals. Rex Burkhead was split out wide and got the 23-yard pickup on a reverse.
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) January 4, 2015"
There is a big difference between ideas and execution, though, which is where injuries come into play.
Regardless, Sunday's performance is a small part of a much bigger trend, as Jeremy Rauch of Fox 19 breaks down:
"In (what will be) 6 playoff losses under Marvin, #Bengals have scored 13 second half points. Total. @FOX19
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) January 4, 2015"
Most damning for the coaching staff, though, was just how flat the Bengals looked after halftime. What should have been a competitive second half was an ugly affair in which Lewis' team did not look prepared.
Grade: D
Final Grades
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| Positional Unit | Overall Grade |
| QB | C |
| RB | B |
| WR/TE | C |
| OL | C |
| DL | D |
| LB | C |
| Secondary | B+ |
| Special Teams | B |
| Coaching | D |
| Cumulative Grade | C |
Injuries, expectations and a tough opponent birthed one ugly result Sunday.
Moving forward, the Bengals have a lot to decide when it comes to the quarterback position and at head coach, although chances are that things remain the same for at least one more season.
The future staff will need to figure out whether the Bengals are a run-first team, because using the team's top runner just 13 times against an Andrew Luck-led team is just bad football. It will also need to properly hit on needs in the draft—the most significant being trenches on both sides of the football and the secondary.
Winds of change may blow in the Queen City, but Sunday was just more of the same.
All stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com as of 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 4 unless otherwise specified.
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