Cincinnati Bengals: Top 10 Games of 2015 Season

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Sep 20, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) runs the ball along with offensive guard Clint Boling (65) during the game against San Diego Chargers defensive end Kendall Reyes (91) and defensive end Corey Liuget (94) in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati defeated San Diego 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Chargers 19, Bengals 24

Who would’ve ever thought that Andy Dalton could’ve outperformed Philip Rivers before the 2015 season began? Not only did Dalton have a better overall season than Rivers, he outperformed the Chargers’ quarterback in Week 2.

Dalton threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns against San Diego’s defense, while Rivers managed 241 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Dalton spread out the ball, too. He completed passes to eight different players, including offensive tackle Jake Fisher.

The Bengals overcame two fumbles from Jeremy Hill, holding onto a narrow lead throughout the game. Giovani Bernard overcame Hill’s fumbling problem, rushing for a season-high 123 yards on 20 carries. Despite the frustrations that come with Hill’s ball-control issues, it was refreshing to see the Bengals’ number two perform so well as the team’s primary ball-carrier. Bernard’s performance even stirred up questions of whether Hill would be the team’s long-term starter. (Ultimately, Hill remained the starter.)

In the end, it took a Vincent Rey interception to seal Cincinnati’s victory. The defense totaled four sacks on the day, in addition to six pass defenses and three tackles for loss. The Bengals played well from top to bottom and, as a result, came out with a nice win.

What made this game special:

Andy Dalton was able to back up a fantastic Week 1 performance with an even better Week 2, outdueling an elite quarterback and showing that he, too, could be on the verge of becoming elite.

For more on the Bengals’ Week 2 performance, make sure to check out the game recap.

Next: 7. Bengals 16, Steelers 10