(You probably forgot he saved the day as the crowd settled into its seats when he dragged down Browns running back Jerome Ford at the end of his 66-yard run on the first snap of the game.)
“It feels a lot closer,” Taylor-Britt said of the defense. “Going through adversity together. The lowest of lows of the season. Hearing a lot of talk. We’ve stuck together and hung in.
“We’re just tired of losing. That’s the one way to put it,” Taylor-Britt said. “We lost a lot of these games (late). Now we’re trying to finish teams early. Throw a lot at them.”
Taylor-Britt, who had been on a Pro Bowl track when he hit some midseason struggles, thinks it began to turn for him after the Nov. 24 bye. Maybe against Pittsburgh. Maybe the next week in Dallas. It will be recalled he took the third post-bye snap for a pick-six against the Steelers.
“I found my confidence again,” Taylor-Britt said. “Whether I do good or bad, I have to stay the same. Just hold on to myself and play my game.”
Hilton saw two other rookies beginning to play their games. He caught glimpses of second-rounder Kris Jenkins Jr. and third-rounder McKinnley Jackson at defensive tackle making plays again. Jackson celebrated his first NFL sack a week after causing a fumble. Jenkins racked up a two-sack game, something his All-Pro tackle dad did three times in 108 NFL games.
“Young boys making big plays. That’s what we got them here for,” Hilton said. “They stepped up to the challenge. They’re powerful, quick and they can get to the quarterback. We’re counting on those guys for the last couple of games.”
Jenkins and Jackson were also part of the wall that stoned the Browns on that turning point of a first series. Hilton could smell what it meant. Sunday was his 43rd AFC North game and 25th win, tops among the Bengals.
“Vonn’s forced fumble set the tone for the game. Guys made big plays after that,” Hilton said. “We bowed up on the one-yard…
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