The clearest path for a Cincinnati Bengals player to get a game ball from head coach Zac Taylor after a win is to create a turnover during the game. Nearly every time a defensive player has forced a turnover in a Bengals win, Taylor has rewarded him in the postgame locker room.
After the Bengals beat the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson got a game ball since he strip-sacked Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the second half. Through 11 games, Hendrickson ranks sixth in the NFL with 10.5 sacks.
But Hendrickson’s sack total, his forced fumbles and his number of game balls don’t capture his impact.