With 6:58 remaining in the third quarter, Joe Mixon snuck behind C.J. Uzomah for an eight-yard gain. It was significant for a number of reasons. The most prominent being:
- It was the longest gain of the afternoon for Mixon;
- It was the first positive sign of a rejuvenation effort, with the Bengals losing 17-0 and appearing lifeless in their defeated effort.
After a minimal one-yard gain on the ensuing play (bouncing outside), Andy Dalton was sacked for a 10-yard loss — in fairness to the veteran quarterback, he expertly avoided Charles Harris’ stunt (why aren’t you sliding back, Trey Hopkins?