While running back Joe Mixon made history Sunday at Paycor Stadium with a franchise-record five touchdowns, the Bengals repeated history in Sunday’s 42-21 walk-over against the Panthers and go into the bye at 5-4 like they did last season.
The Bengals rushed for five touchdowns for the first time since 1988 and Mixon blasted away for four of them while adding a 12-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Joe Burrow with four seconds left in a dominating first half the Bengals took a 35-0 half-time lead.
The record came early in the second half on a lovely 14-yard jump cut on the left edge that froze cornerback Jaycee Horn and provided a flourishing finish to an all-purpose 211 yards.
Burrow’s day was done by late in the third quarter, after he used the rejuvenated run game to carve Carolina on 22 of 28 passing for 206 yards and a 109.2 passer rating. Mixon logged his first 100-yard day in nearly a year with 153 yards on 22 carries to spearhead the Bengals’ 241-yard rush day, the most in a game during the four years of head coach Zac Taylor and the most by the Bengals in six years.
The win did have a cost. Running back Chris Evans (knee) left early and rookie safety Dax Hill (shoulder) left an already decimated secondary in the third quarter and their availability is pending scans.
When Mixon shot around the right edge for a one-yard touchdown with 3:45 left in the half, it was his third touchdown of the day and gave him a season-high 88 yards while the Bengals were ringing up 268 yards to the Panthers’ 15.
For a defense playing without three of its top four cornerbacks and two top nose tackles, it was a hellacious stand. The only first down they allowed in the first half came on a penalty on rookie cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt. That was the first and only target in the half to wide receiver D.J. Moore, coming off a 152-yard day.
Big plays included cornerback Eli Apple separating wide receiver Terrace Marshall, Jr., from quarterback PJ Walker’s high pass, linebacker…
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