Cincinnati Bengals: 3 Reasons they beat Browns in Week 4

1. Third-Down Dominance

Third downs have been a key factor to each game of Cincinnati’s season so far. Their defense maintained a quality showing overall through three contests, but even when forcing 4-of-15 showings on third down from their opposition, the Cincinnati offense’s inability to do any better in that regard left the team susceptible to the whims of luck and happenstance. The end result was losses in ignominious fashion during the team’s first three games.

This week, the Cincinnati defense yet again was able to have a strong performance on third down tries. Fortunately, their offense held up their end of the deal this time.

Defensively, Cincinnati forced Cleveland into a 5-of-16 showing on third downs. Eight of the Browns’ 11 drives ended without a single third down being converted. This included four three-and-outs (two of which were when the game was still within two scores) and another four-play drive that started in Cincinnati territory and ended in a missed field goal.

The Cincinnati offense matched that proficient defensive showing with a 6-of-11 outcome in the same situations — a massive improvement over the first three weeks. Their efforts on the crucial down in previous weeks couldn’t even reach Cleveland’s level here: 4-of-13 vs. Baltimore, 4-of-15 vs. Houston, and 4-of-12 vs. Green Bay.

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It wasn’t exactly a stalwart unit they were facing on either end (Cleveland ranked No. 29 in Offensive DVOA and No. 21 in Defensive DVOA through three weeks), but being able to put together a positive effort on third down from each side of the ball at all stands as a noteworthy accomplishment after the start to the season Cincinnati has had.

Can they pull this off against much stronger competition than the scrub-tastic Browns? That remains to be seen, but it can’t be entirely ruled out just yet.