Top Takeaways From Cincinnati Bengals' 34-14 Win Over Indianapolis Colts

Cincinnati is 7-6 after back-to-back wins over AFC South opponents.

CINCINNATI — The Bengals beat the Colts 34-14 on Sunday to improve to 7-6 on the season. Cincinnati has won back-to-back games and is in the thick of the AFC playoff race, despite not having Joe Burrow. 

Here are our top takeaways from Sunday's win: 

Browning Goes Back-to-Back

Kareem Elgazzar/USA TODAY Sports Network via The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jake Browning played outstanding for a second-straight game, completing 18-of-24 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for a score. 

The Bengals' offense was fluid and in a rhythm throughout the game. Browning deserves a ton of credit. The moment clearly isn't too big for the 27-year-old veteran signal-caller. 

Zac Taylor, Brian Callahan, Dan Pitcher, Frank Pollack and the rest of the offensive staff deserve credit too. 

Not only has Taylor called the right plays, but they've been able to make life easier on Browning by running the offense through their running backs. This is a balanced, efficient offense that has also produced explosive plays over the past two weeks.

If the offense continues to play like they have over the past two weeks, then there's no reason why the Bengals can't make the playoffs for a third-straight season. 

Running Back Explosion

© Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Chase Brown has brought lightning to a backfield that needed more explosive runs. 

The rookie running back scored a 54-yard touchdown on Sunday, topping out at 22.05 miles per hour, which makes him the second-fastest ball carrier in the NFL this season. 

He also had a 25-yard reception. Couple that with runs of 31-yards and 15-yards against Jacksonville and it's clear the Bengals have the lightning they needed to compliment Joe Mixon's thunder in the backfield. 

Brown has been great over the past two weeks, which has allowed Mixon to be a short yardage weapon that can also make plays in the passing game. The former Pro Bowl running back has 147 rushing yards, three touchdowns and 95 receiving yards over the past two games. 

The Bengals' dynamic duo of Mixon and Brown has added another element to an offense that needs as many weapons as possible with Burrow out for the season.

Lou's Crew

© Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Lou Anarumo's defense had one of their best performances of the season on Sunday, giving up just eight points. 

The Colts only converted 3-of-11 (27%) third down attempts and finished with 272 total yards.

Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson led the way with 10 tackles apiece. Trey Hendrickson had an ugly roughing the passer penalty, but he made up for it with two sacks, two quarterback hits and one pass defensed. His pressure on Minshew put BJ Hill in position to snag his first interception of the season. 

The Bengals' defense looked more like themselves on Sunday. They weren't missing tackles or giving up huge plays downfield. This is the standard Anarumo holds his guys to and they delivered against the Colts.

O-Line Stands Strong

The Colts entered Sunday's game with 21 sacks in their previous four contests. The Bengals entered the matchup having allowed a sack in each of their past 42 games, which tied a franchise record. 

Pollack's crew played their tails off on Sunday, both in the passing game and on the ground. 

The Colts didn't sack Browning and finished with just three quarterback hits. The offensive front opened holes for Mixon and Brown in the running game and they helped both guys have explosive plays on screen passes. 

The men in the trenches were as excited as I've seen them after a game on Sunday. They were smiling ear-to-ear. 

The Bengals' offensive line has played great recently and deserve a ton of credit for what the offense has done in the past two games.  

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