Bengals Blow Out Rams, 31-7

The St. Louis Rams brought their road show to Paul Brown Stadium for a showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals were able to end their modest two game losing streak with a 31-7 blowout of the Rams. According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, the victory moved the Bengals to 9-2 and tied the 1975 and ’76 franchises for best start.

Following a three-and-out from the Rams, the Bengals took over on their 37-yard line. The message was clear for the day. It would be a heavy dose of runs, peppered with timely passes. The Bengals opened the drive with a 15-yard burst from Jeremy Hill. Tyler Eifert ran for another 15 yards on a quick screen from Dalton. On a third-and-three from the Rams 24-yard line, Andy Dalton found A.J. Green dragging across the line for 14 yards. It didn’t take long for the Dalton-Green tandem to produce. On first-and-goal from the 10-yard line, Green was wide open in the end zone, for the first strike. Bengals go up 7-0, after a 63-yard drive.

After a running into the kicker penalty that saw the Rams give the Bengals the ball back, the home team was able to finish the drive they started. The Bengals added 1o more plays to the stalled march and moved to the St. Louis 3-yard line. After trying another cutie pie play, the Bengals were forced to settle for a 21-yard Mike Nugent field goal.

The Bengals promptly fell asleep on the Rams next drive. St. Louis stunned the Bengals by going 80 yards in four plays. Tavon Austin burned Cincinnati for 60 yards as he took a toss from Todd Gurley. Two plays later, Austin motored past the marker for a Rams touchdown. Rams pull to within three, with the extra point.

A sense of urgency must have swept over the Bengals. After getting the ball at their 20-yard line, they went to work, utilizing a mix no-huddle and sugar-huddle offense. They efficiently drove 80 yards in 1o plays to answer the Rams score. The highlight was a beautiful 22-yard touchdown strike to Tyler Eifert. Dalton placed the ball perfectly between two defenders, for Eiferts’s league-leading eleventh touchdown of the season. Bengals lead 17-7.

St. Louis noticed Adam Jones having difficulty defending. They immediately began throwing to his side. The plan was working until they went away from Jones and challenged George Iloka. The ball was tipped and Reggie Nelson was able to cradle the ball for an interception. An easy decision to run out the clock followed and the half ended.

Coming from the locker room, the Bengals looked good on the opening drive of the third quarter. The running game was churning and Cincinnati was moving the ball. Dalton decided to pass after a busted play and was intercepted by Janoris Jenkins

The Bengals’ defense was able to hold and gave the ball back to their fired up offense. Dalton and Co. went to work from the 28-yard line. Giovani Bernard received a handoff and rumbled 45 yards before having the ball stripped from behind. Tyler Eifert was part of his convoy and pounced on the ball to retain possession for the Bengals. Two plays later, Datlton-Green was in business again with another 18-yard touchdown.

Leon Hall sniffed out an errant pass from Nick Foles, on the Rams next drive and turned it into a pick-six. The Bengals were in cruise control after that and en route to their ninth win of the season.

The running game was a huge compliment to the efficient passing of Dalton, who finished with a passer rating of 121.4 and three touchdowns. Jeremy Hill seemed to find his stride, as he rolled up 86 yards on 16 carries.

With the win, the Bengals were able to keep at least a two game lead over the surging Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

[Feature Photo by John Grieshop / Getty Images]