(CINCINNATI, OH) - Andy Dalton threw three touchdowns to Tyler Eifert, played lead blocker on an end-around touchdown run by Mohamed Sanu, and led his undefeated (8-0) Cincinnati Bengals to an easy 31-10 win over what is left of the once proud Cleveland Browns franchise.
The loss marks the Browns (2-6) 12th loss in their last 14 games.
While it was an easy win for Cincinnati, it was not nearly as bad as Johnny Manziel’s last start against the Browns interstate division mate, a 30-0 debacle at First Energy Stadium in week 15 of the 2014 season. Manziel actually had the Browns in the game at halftime as they trailed only 14-10 after he capped off a 92-yard drive with a strike to Duke Johnson in the endzone.
The Bengals made the necessary adjustments at halftime and kept Manziel in check in the second half. The Browns offense failed to create a first down on their first four possessions of the second half and had only seven total second half yards late in the fourth quarter, while the Bengals offense moved up and down the field for over 200 yards of second offense.
After stretching their lead to seven on a 28-yard Mike Nugent field goal in the third quarter, they put the game away on an end around reverse that saw Sanu waltz into the endzone untouched from 25-yards out. On the play, the Browns defense looked as if they had already checked out.
The offense checked out a few minutes later.
Up 14, the Bengals knew the Browns had no choice but to drop Manziel back and throw downfield, so they sent blitz after blitz at the young signal caller. His scrambles led to nothing and at one point suffered back to back sacks that put the Browns on life support as they sent the ball back to the Cincinnati offense.
One more Eifert touchdown and the Browns were declared dead.
The game was just another pathetic showing by a team that loves to force their players to fit into their schemes rather than allowing them to thrive with what they are good at. Following his touchdown before halftime, Johnson went missing in the second half, just as he has the last three weeks. All Browns losses.
Dalton finished a highly effective 21-of-27 for 234 yards. He posted a passer rating of 139.8 and made up for his 2.0 rating from the last primetime meeting with Cleveland.
Manziel went 15-of-33 for 168 yards. He showed promise before halftime and not much after.
The Browns are off until next Sunday when they travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers
POSTED 11/06/2015 at 00:16
Lake County Sentinel
Bengals destroy hapless Browns 31-10
BY JEREMY SOMERVILLE
BROWNS BEAT WRITER
