What We Saw: Week 12

The What We Saw team recaps everything you missed from Week 12

Ben Brown
What We Saw 2 Years Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Bills @ Lions
Giants @ Cowboys
Patriots @ Vikings
Broncos @ Panthers
Buccaneers @ Browns
Ravens @ Jaguars
Texans @ Dolphins
Bears @ Jets
Bengals @ Titans
Falcons @ Commanders
Chargers @ Cardinals
Raiders @ Seahawks
Rams @ Chiefs
Saints @ 49ers
Packers @ Eagles
Steelers @ Colts

Bengals @ Titans

Final Score: Titans 20, Bengals 16

Writer: Justin Herrera (@Semtexmex93 on Twitter)

 

The Cincinnati Bengals traveled to the “Music City” to play the AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans. This game was missing Joe Mixon (concussion), opening the door for Samaje Perine to start. This was a back-and-forth game with seeding implications, as both teams were either in the race for or in control of their division. The game started out slow, with the first five drives resulting in a punt and a strong defensive presence on both sides. We saw both teams running backs needed to become receivers to become viable in the game. These teams found themselves relying on the quarterback play that was lacking for most of the game. Going into halftime at 10-10, it seemed like this game was bound to drone on. In the second half Joe Burrow showed up, and his connection with Tee Higgins put the Bengals in the lead and helped to keep the pressure on Ryan Tannehill and the Titans. This game ended on an undisciplined hit on the long snapper, which helped the Bengals seal the game. The game result was the Cincinnati Bengals 20, Tennessee Titans 16.

 

Cincinnati Bengals

 

Quarterback

 

Joe Burrow: 22/37, 270 Yards, TD | 9 Carries, 32 Yards

 

 

Joe Burrow played his butt off in this game, showing off his rushing ability and looking rather quick on his scrambles. In this game, Burrow was not on point with a lot of his throws, completing 59% of his passes. Burrow and the Bengals punted on their first three drives. On the fourth, he found Hayden Hurst for a 29-yard deep ball that got the Bengals into scoring range and helped them tie up the game 3-3. Two drives later, Burrow got going, completing all five passes for 64 yards and scrambling for 17. This drive got started with a 32-yard catch and run to Samaje Perine, and it ended with Perine running it in for a touchdown. Tying it up before the half at 10-10.

Burrow didn’t start off the second half well, completing four of ten passes for 36 yards on his first two drives. On the third drive, Burrow got Tee Higgins involved to the tune of two catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. I wanted to point out something with this drive, and it was the best pass I’d seen Burrow throw all day. The touchdown pass to Higgins was in the one spot where he could highpoint it and come down with the contested catch. This wouldn’t be the last pass and catch that these guys would connect on that would make your jaw drop. On the next drive, Burrow placed a pass to where all Higgins had to do was get one arm available to catch the pass that was dropped right into his bread basket. The Burrow on the last two drives was the guy who went to the Super Bowl and is the guy we promptly dubbed “Joe Cool.” Overall, Burrow and Higgins brought the Bengals to the promised land and tied them for the lead in the AFC South divisional race.

 

 

Running Back

 

Samaje Perine: 17 Carries, 58 Yards, TD | 7 Targets, 4 Receptions, 35 Yards

Trayveon Williams: 2 Carries, 18 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 24 Yards

 

Samaje Perine came into this game as the starter and made the most of it this week, getting 93 scrimmage yards on 24 touches and adding a touchdown. Perine started the game strong with a massive stiff arm on a seven-yard catch and run that opened the door for his first big start. On the first touchdown drive for the Bengals, Perine caught a 32-yard pass that opened the door for his seven-yard touchdown run. This was the most successful series of plays for Perine, and overall he’s someone to consider playing in fantasy from now on. Trayveon Williams made an excellent catch and run for 24 yards and almost put extra efforted into a touchdown.

 

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Tee Higgins: 9 Targets, 7 Receptions, 114 Yards, TD

Hayden Hurst: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 57 Yards

Trenton Irwin: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 16 Yards

Tyler Boyd: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards

Trent Taylor: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 8 Yards

 

 

Tee Higgins was targeted nine times, catching seven passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Higgins took the lead this week as the number one guy and showed out. He was a force at all levels of the field and was the go-to guy in this game and made some huge contested catches. The biggest coming on his 27-yard touchdown catch, where he was closely guarded but disengaged with the corner at the last moment to get up and high point the ball. This wouldn’t be the last of the game, but maybe the more impressive of the two. Higgins was once again covered perfectly, but a mix of a perfectly thrown ball and Higgins’ ability to peel the corner off one of his arms led to maybe the best catch of the day.

Hayden Hurst had a good day on Sunday, getting targeted nine times and catching six passes for 57 yards. Hurst got most of his yards on his first catch of the game, which went for 29 yards. Hurst was utilized all over the field and targeted at all levels. Hurst should continue to produce even when Ja’Marr Chase returns in a week.

Trenton Irwin had a great catch on the sideline on third and 12, going for 16 yards. Tyler Boyd had an underwhelming performance, with two catches for 16 yards. Trent Taylor also had a catch for eight yards this week.

 

Tennessee Titans

 

Quarterback

 

Ryan Tannehill: 22/34, 291 Yards | 2 Carries, 9 Yards

 

Ryan Tannehill is a good but not great quarterback and today was vindication of this claim. Tannehill started out his first three drives, going six of twelve for 65 yards, and connected with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for 25 yards getting them into the red zone. This opportunity was wasted with two incompletions and a one-yard rush. The problem was Tannehill couldn’t get his guys a good pass to keep the drive going. Then there was the next drive that didn’t last long as Tannehill dropped it off to Derrick Henry for what looked like a house call but ended up getting fumbled and recovered by Treylon Burks. This had to infuriate Tannehill Managers to the point of throwing a remote at their TV. On the final drive, Tannehill completed six of eight passes for 67 yards and missed Westbrook-Ikhine on a deep pass across the middle while he was double-covered.

The second half started off with Tannehill going two for four, with 12 passing yards and -5 rushing yards. On the next drive, Tannehill got off a bomb 51-yard pass to Burks, while also getting a roughing the passer call tacked on to bring the Titans to the Bengals’ 12-yard line. Then once again, the Titans settled for a field goal instead of going for the touchdown. On the Titans’ final drive, Tannehill connected on big passes of 17 yards to Chigoziem Okonkwo and 10 to Westbrook-Ikhine. This drive ended with a field goal, but they had a fourth and five on the Bengals 20-yard line. Why not go for the win, as we saw in this game you never know if you’ll get the ball back.

 

 

Running Back

 

Derrick Henry: 17 Carries, 38 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 79 Yards, Fumble

Dontrell Hilliard: 2 Carries, 16 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 3 Yards

 

 

Derrick Henry was stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey most of Sunday, averaging 2.23 yards per carry. Henry’s biggest run was actually a reception that he took for 69 yards, and in a rare feat for Henry, he fumbled it on the goal line, and it was recovered by Burks for a touchdown. Henry finished the day with 117 yards from scrimmage but would’ve had a terrible day if not for the 69-yard catch. On a rare occasion, Henry was stopped in his tracks today. Dontrell Hillard had five touches for 19 yards on the day, and, much like Henry, has had better days.

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Treylon Burks: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 70 Yards, 1 Fumble (Recovered)

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 58 Yards

Chigoziem Okonkwo: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 35 Yards

Austin Hooper: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 30 Yards

Robert Woods: 6 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards

Geoff Swaim: 1 Target

 

 

Treylon Burks had a good game today, getting targeted six times and catching four passes for 70 yards. Burks made a hell of a hustle plays when he ran down with Derrick Henry and recovered the fumble for a touchdown. It was maybe the play of the game, period, and that’s saying something because Burks also went up and high-pointed a 51-yard catch. Burks is coming on strong when the Titans need him and is someone to look out for in fantasy football for the rest of the season.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine continued to solidify himself as the team’s number two receiver. Westbrook-Ikhine was tied with Burks and Robert Woods with six targets, catching four for 58 yards. His biggest catch came on third and ten, where he caught a 25-yard pass across the middle to set the game’s first score. On the last drive of the first half, Westbrook-Ikhine would haul in a 20-yard pass, and got a shot at a touchdown that was double covered. Overall, Westbrook-Ikhine had a great first half and only caught one pass for 10 yards in the second.

Chigziem Okonkwo is looking like a solid tight end for the future. Today he was used as a check valve of sorts for Tannehill. Okonkwo came up with two big catches for 17 and 12 yards and was a big option on third down. The Titans want to do some big things with the athletic rookie tight end, which could lead to him having some bigger moments going forward.

Austin Hooper had one major series where he caught two of three passes for 22 of his 30 yards. While the Titans use both tight ends, they might start leaning more on Okonkwo for bigger receiving days going forward. Robert Woods had a bad day, only catching two of his six targets for 16 yards.

 

Series Navigation
Introduction
Bills @ Lions
Giants @ Cowboys
Patriots @ Vikings
Broncos @ Panthers
Buccaneers @ Browns
Ravens @ Jaguars
Texans @ Dolphins
Bears @ Jets
Bengals @ Titans
Falcons @ Commanders
Chargers @ Cardinals
Raiders @ Seahawks
Rams @ Chiefs
Saints @ 49ers
Packers @ Eagles
Steelers @ Colts

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