It was Gio Bernard's world in the first half as the versatile Cincinnati Bengals running back made up for WR AJ Green's absence (toe injury). Used as a weapon both through the air and on the ground, Bernard's big start keyed Cincinnati's 10-3 advantage over the Atlanta Falcons heading into the break.
Our Falcons/Bengals First-Half Quick Hitters
The Cincinnati Bengals weren't satisfied with that, however, as they came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders. On drives of 80 yards (finished by a lightning burst of a 76-yard TD connection from Andy Dalton to Mohamed Sanu) and 43 yards (set up by a Matt Ryan interception), Cincy scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the second half to take a commanding 24-3 lead.
Atlanta would never recover, as the clock would tick away on their hopes in the fourth quarter despite a nice 14-yard TD catch by WR Julio Jones.
Key Player: RB Giovani Bernard: From fantasy darling to on-field machine, Bernard's ability to produce both in the passing game and on the ground could turn him into a household name before long. He followed a dominant athletic display in the first half with a repeat performance in the second, opening up the field for Andy Dalton to utilize the other parts of his arsenal to full effect.
Turning Point: Mohamed Sanu's 76-yard streak to open up the scoring in the second half visibly deflated an Atlanta Falcons' defense that had been holding on for dear life in the first half. With that one massive play, Cincinnati went up two scores and never looked back while Atlanta's offense fought itself for the majority of the half.
What We Learned: Cincinnati is a true contender in the AFC, without question. With questions surfacing about Denver's running game and New England's defense, this could very well be the year that the Bengals put it all together and grab that elusive brass ring.
What's Next: The Bengals welcome in Jake Locker and the Tennessee Titans while the Falcons have a short turnaround before hosting the Tampa Bay Bucs on Thursday.
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