–Linebacker Vontaze Burfict was a middle linebacker for the first time this season though not a productive one.
The Browns encountered little problems getting by him or blocking him, frustrating him to the point where he tried to pick fights with members of the Cleveland offense and getting in the faces of referees.
If those things were not bad enough, his defensive holding penalty negated a sack by Carlos Dunlap.
Burfict’s season has been a series of stops and starts with him in and out of the lineup. He sat out the first four games due to a suspension for PED usage and then missed two games with a hip injury.
–Rookie center Billy Price’s first season as a pro has been a rough one. He looked shaky in some early-season games, missed time with a foot injury and his errant snap ultimately ended quarterback Andy Dalton’s season.
“Obviously it’s my fault,” Price said. It comes down to me. I can’t have little lapses. I’ve got to make sure we’re locked down.”
Price was a guard at Ohio State before moving to center and it seems a position change could be feasible. Making it something the Bengals could consider is how Trey Hopkins played in Price’s absence.
In one game Hopkins started at center against Tampa Bay, Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of 82.8. It was the highest grade by a Bengals offensive lineman since Week 2 of the 2015 season.
–The scariest moment of last week’s loss to Cleveland was cornerback and special teams player Tony McRae getting hurt on a hit by Browns cornerback T.J. Carrie during a punt by Kevin Huber.
On the hit that led to his exit, Carrie lowered his head and struck underneath McRae’s chin with the crown of his helmet.
He was face down and motionless and trainers attended to him for several minutes before taking his facemask off. McRae was removed from the field on a stretcher and taken to a hospital.
The good news for McRae is he indicated he was doing fine in an Instagram post and head coach Marvin Lewis said McRae is dealing with a concussion.
BY THE NUMBERS: 208 — The number represents the average number of receiving yards in the last three games with A.J. Green sidelined. Before Green’s injury, the Bengals averaged 251.5 passing yards in their eight games.
