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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAL at NE | BUF at MIA | CIN at CLE | DAL at DEN | DET at CHI | GB at MIN | NYG at KC | NYJ at NO |
| OAK at HOU | SD at PIT | SEA at IND | STL at SF | TB at WAS | TEN at JAX | ||
Week 4 Game Recap: Cincinnati Bengals 23, Cleveland Browns 20
Cincinnati Bengals
| QB Carson Palmer, Pass: 23 - 44 - 230 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - 20 - 0 |
Palmer had a solid statistical effort in Cleveland and spread the ball around to eight different receivers. He was inconsistent, however, missing on timing routes and having his receivers make a different read on the defensive back than he did at times, leading to a just over 50% completion rate. The Browns held the downfield passing game in check by using lots of Cover-2, and Palmer mostly checked down to underneath routes, making only one poor decision on a deep sideline route that was easily intercepted. Palmer did look more mobile than he has in recent seasons, rolling out to avoid the pass rush and showing some acceleration on a fifteen yard scramble on a fourth down play in overtime.
| RB Cedric Benson, Rush: 18 - 74 - 0, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (3 targets) |
Benson had trouble finding running room in the first half and most of the second while Shaun Rogers remained fresh. Late in the fourth quarter and in overtime, Benson looked like the same player he was in the first three weeks, running with power, vision and elusiveness on his way to multiple long runs. Benson's hands were more suspect this week; he dropped two catchable balls on checkdown routes. He also fumbled again, though the Bengals recovered.
| RB Brian Leonard, Rush: 1 - 4 - 0, Rec: 6 - 28 - 0 (7 targets) |
Palmer continues to rely heavily on Leonard in third down situations. When Leonard isn't contributing in pass protection, he's being used on screen and dump routes frequently. He was targeted on a shovel pass inside the five yard line in the game tying drive.
| RB Bernard Scott, Rush: 6 - 41 - 0 |
Scott saw extended action for the first time this, breaking into the lineup for a couple of rush attempts in the first half, then seeing time in base offensive sets as a change-of-pace back in overtime. He hit the hole quickly and showed some elusiveness, though he generally went down on first contact. He was not used on passing downs.
| WR Chad Ochocinco, Rec: 3 - 24 - 2 (11 targets) |
Ochocinco was targeted 11 times, but caught only three passes. He and Palmer miscommunicated on multiple read routes and Palmer was again forced to throw a couple of out routes too early, accounting for many of the missed targets. Ochocinco was targeted often in the red zone, with his two touchdown catches coming on a sideline fade inside the five and a play where Ochocinco worked himself open on a fourth down play that broke down late in the game. Ochocinco had another fade route knocked out of his hands in the end zone earlier in the drive in which he caught the second touchdown. He continues to get open easily and hold his focus throughout the game.
| WR Andre Caldwell, Rush: 1 - 11 - 0, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (4 targets) |
Caldwell saw fewer targets this week than in the first three games despite the Browns extended use of Cover-2 and open underneath routes. When targeted, he again showed good hands, though appeared to turn to the opposite shoulder than what Carson Palmer expected on at least one play.
| WR Chris Henry, Rec: 2 - 36 - 0 (3 targets) |
Henry was targeted on a deep sideline route once, but it was underthrown and nearly intercepted after Henry didn't come back hard for the ball. Henry was more competitive on two later targets for good gains on deep in routes. Henry continues to play sparingly in three receiver packages when Laverneaus Coles sits.
| WR Laveranues Coles, Rec: 2 - 24 - 0 (6 targets) |
Coles was targeted six times and got his hands on most of the targets. Two were just out of reach in tight coverage and another was intercepted in double coverage. He continues to get more playing time than Chris Henry.
| TE Dan Coats, Rec: 4 - 36 - 0 (6 targets) |
The Browns tried to take away the Bengal downfield threats by playing Cover-2 frequently, forcing Carson Palmer to check down often. Coats saw a number of checkdown targets but was also used twice on screen passes, an increasingly common play call over the first month. He showed good hands catching the ball, but isn't quick enough to turn his targets into long gainers.
| TE John Paul Foschi, Rec: 3 - 44 - 0 (3 targets) |
Foschi, like fellow TE Dan Coats, saw an increased number of pass targets against Cleveland. Two of the three targets were standard checkdown plays, but Foschi was able to get open for a long gain on a seam route late in the fourth quarter and showed good hands making the catch.
Cleveland Browns
| QB Derek Anderson, Pass: 26 - 48 - 269 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 2 - 1 |
Anderson had an up and down day. He completed many passes that Brady Quinn had been unable to complete, especially the deep fades and crossing routes that Quinn didn't have the time or the urgency to throw. However, Anderson was again inaccurate and missed wide open receivers with throws behind his wideouts on deep routes or underneath routes thrown with too much pace. He was also inconsistent in the red zone, overthrowing fades and forcing balls into tight coverage. He showed impressive chemistry with Mohammed Massaquoi, who more than doubled the targets of Braylon Edwards.
| RB Jerome Harrison, Rush: 29 - 121 - 0, Rec: 5 - 31 - 0 (7 targets) |
Harrison was more effective between the tackles than last week, hitting the hole with quickness and speed. He showed his usual elusiveness in the open field and good hands out of the backfield as an outlet receiver. He remained productive late into the game despite a heavy workload of 36 total targets.
| WR Mohamed Massaquoi, Rec: 8 - 148 - 0 (13 targets) |
Massaquoi showed an easy chemistry with Derek Anderson, with whom he's been taking second team reps during the first month of the season. He made tough catches in tight coverage and regularly was able to gain separation from defensive backs. He was targeted on a variety of routes, deep and underneath, and showed impressive hands and concentration when competing for tough catches.
| WR Mike Furrey, Rec: 4 - 37 - 0 (7 targets) |
Furrey was targeted seven times on underneath and deep middle routes. Derek Anderson missed him on two occasions where he was open. Furrey also saw extended time as a nickel safety on defense.
| WR Josh Cribbs, Rush: 1 - 15 - 0, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (2 targets) |
Cribbs saw little playing time in the base offense, as Mohammed Massaquoi started and played extremely well opposite Braylon Edwards. The Browns didn't line up in the Wildcat against Cincinnati, but Cribbs did get one rush attempt on an end around that went a long gain. He remains very effective on returns.
| WR Braylon Edwards (5 targets) |
Edwards had zero catches on the day. After dropping his first catch on a wide open short curl route, Edwards was a non-factor. Teammate Mohammed Massaquoi was targeted more often and more successfully. Edwards had one red zone target, but was overthrown on a fade route.
| TE Steve Heiden, Rec: 5 - 33 - 1 (7 targets) |
Heiden looks like he's recovering well from offseason knee surgery. He moved well with the underneath zones and saw many targets from Derek Anderson underneath. Anderson and Heiden connected on one short touchdown pass in the red zone, but a miscommunication on a second red zone attempt led to an interception in the end zone.
| TE Robert Royal, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (4 targets) |
Royal was targeted a few times on underneath routes and could have had another decent gain on a route that Derek Anderson misfired on.