Indianapolis Colts @ Cincinnati Bengals
Final Score: Bengals 34, Colts 14
Writer: Brian Hartman (@TooMuch_Brian on Twitter)
Backup Quarterback Jake Browning put up an excellent performance to halt the Colts’ four-game win streak. As a result, the Colts still hold onto the last playoff spot as of today, but they’ve put themselves in a great spot to compete for it over the final weeks of the season. The Colts’ only offense-scoring drive came at the end of an eight-minute drive. They only needed 30 seconds to score again after they picked off Browning for another score and tied the game with a two-point conversion after kicker Matt Gay missed his first extra-point attempt. The Bengals saw great success come from their running back room today, and Jake Browning managed to plunge into the end zone, as well; that score essentially put the game out of reach.
Three Up
- Michael Pittman – The Colts’ alpha receiver continues to get it done however he needs to. The sure-handed player turns volume into production, just what his fantasy managers love to see. Michael Pittman has now seen a 20-plus percent target share in each game this season. Only once has he had less than 10 PPR points this season.
- Jake Browning – The fifth-year quarterback played phenomenally well in his last two starts against AFC South opponents. Could he hold onto this momentum to get the Bengals into the playoffs in what seemed like a lost season?
- Chase Brown – We finally know who’s capable of filling the “Samaje Perine” role in this offense; the rookie running back looked great when spelling Joe Mixon.
Three Down
- Josh Downs – It’s not just the name that puts him in this category; Josh Downs continues to play an important role in the offense, but the Colts’ many athletic tight ends chip away at his target share.
- Zack Moss – After a fantastic start to the season as the Colts lead back, he has not looked like his early season self since taking over for Jonathan Taylor. He did very little with 81 percent of the running back rushes and a 20 percent target share. Not good!
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback
Gardner Minshew: 26/39 comp, 240 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 2 carries, 5 yards
The Bengals’ defense came ready to play today, especially the front seven. Gardner Minshew typically looks uncomfortable in a clean pocket, so with the rush in his face all day, he struggled to do anything outside of feeding Pittman his normal feast of targets. The Colts signal caller showed us why he is a backup in this league. Minshew was sacked three times today, but while watching, it seemed like he was taken down more often than that. The lack of big plays capped this offense; Pittman was the only player to notch a reception for longer than 16 yards today with his 31-yard catch. The lone touchdown for the Colts offense came from a drive that took the Colts over eight minutes; it ended with a score from Mo Alie-Cox.
Running Back
Zack Moss: 13 carries, 28 yards | 8 targets, 4 receptions, 28 yards
In Zack Moss’s second game in his second stint as the starter for the Colts, he could not establish much of anything on the ground outside of his longest run of 12 yards. Outside of that play, he ran for only 16 yards on 12 attempts. The Bengals have a formidable defensive front, but regardless, it can’t make his fantasy managers feel good going into the first week of the playoffs with Moss putting up such underwhelming totals. A mere 56 total yards on 21 opportunities doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Trey Sermon: 3 carries, 13 yards
Tyler Goodson: 1 target, 1 reception, -2 yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Michael Pittman: 11 targets, 8 receptions, 95 yards | 2-pt conversion
In what seems like the Colts’ only weekly bright spot, Pittman kept the party going with another outing featuring heavy usage. He continues to be Gardner Minshew‘s favorite target and made things happen in space, as most of his targets only came a few yards from the line of scrimmage. Pittman pulled in the two-point conversion late in the first half to tie the game but the Colts never sniffed the red zone after that drive, limiting Pittman’s opportunities to cross the stripe.
Josh Downs: 3 targets, 3 receptions, 32 yards
It was another pedestrian day for the Colts’ third-round rookie pick. In a game where Gardner Minshew was pressured often and continually dumped the ball off only a few yards downfield, you’d think Downs would’ve been more involved via screen passes and other plays designed to get him the ball in space. Downs hasn’t had a game with more than 44 yards since Week 8, washing away hope of Minshew supporting two pass-catchers in this offense.
Alec Pierce: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 22 yards
As exciting as last week was for Alec Pierce, today was more of the norm for this 2022 second-round pick. For a guy who is statistically atop the route runs metric, Pierce needs time for plays to develop so he can get downfield; that’s where he truly succeeds. Minshew’s erratic pocket presence is hurting the upside of players like Pierce.
Will Mallory: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 46 yards
Well, the magical tight-end carousel continues for the Colts. Will Mallory was the main beneficiary of the game, catching all his targets and having a decent fantasy day for the fewer than one percent of fantasy managers who started him.
Mo Alie-Cox: 1 target, 1 reception, 1 TD
The big guy came away with his seventh catch of the season and earned his second score of the year in the process.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Jake Browning: 18/24 comp, 275 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT | 3 carries, 7 yards, 1 TD
It’s funny: much like those Magic Eye books from your childhood, if you stare at Jake Browning’s name long enough, it looks like Joe Burrow, and that’s who I thought was on the field today. After his 354-yard day in Jacksonville last week, Jake Browning led the Bengals to another victory on the strength of two passing touchdowns and a third on the ground. Try and tell Browning that he has two elite wide receivers; he doesn’t care. Browning today tossed one touchdown to his tight end and another to rookie running back Chase Brown. His running backs amassed an astonishing 33 percent target share. The Bengals continue to fight for a playoff spot in what seemed like a season devoid of hope given their rough start and the loss of Joe Burrow. Browning did go to the locker room in the fourth quarter with hand cramps but was able to return to the game.
Running Back
Joe Mixon: 21 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD | 4 targets, 3 receptions, 46 yards
The veteran running back continues to be heavily used in this offense. He produced over 100 yards in back-to-back games, and that’s while also giving up some work to Chase Brown. The Colts played tough in the trenches today, but Mixon used his ability as a powerback to pound away at this defense in a game well-controlled by Cincinnati. Mixon showed his skills with a 45-yard catch and run, as well.
Chase Brown: 8 carries, 25 yards | 3 targets, 3 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
While most of the work is still going to Joe Mixon, Brown had a statement game, showing that he should be involved much more in the game plan in the future. His most exciting play came from a 54-yard reception that he took down the sidelines on which he juked past a defender en route to the end zone.
Treyveon Williams: 1 target, 1 reception, -1 yard
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Tee Higgins: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 72 yards
It was nice seeing Tee Higgins come away with a decent yardage total today. The big-bodied receiver came down with a couple of 30-plus yards catches; his biggest went for a whopping 46 yards. While his fantasy managers would like to see a larger target volume, his ability to make big plays with Browning under center was encouraging.
Missed Opportunities
- Tee Higgins pulled in a touchdown close to the red zone that was called back because he was called for offensive pass interference.
Ja’Marr Chase: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 29 yards
The star receiver for the Bengals really came down to Earth today after his impressive Monday night performance. The Colts defense did everything possible to keep Ja’Marr Chase from beating them. It was a dud of an outing from a fantasy darling that fantasy managers were counting on to punch their playoff tickets.
Tyler Boyd: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 23 yards
Tyler Boyd continues to be nothing more than a role player, even with Jake Browning playing at a higher level than most anticipated. He’s barely rosterable in most leagues and should only ever start in cases of emergency.
Tanner Hudson: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 21 yards, 1 TD
The tight end who has been taking snaps from Irv Smith, Jr. walked away with a six today.
Drew Sample: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 4 yards