Bengals running back Giovani Bernard demonstrated glimpses of greatness last year as a rookie. Sunday it was a sustained show.
In addition to carrying the ball a career-high 27 times for 90 yards, Bernard also set personal marks for receiving yards (79) and all-purpose yards (166), 46 of which came on the longest play of his career when he took a little shovel pass from Andy Dalton and hurdled his way through the Falcons’ defense to set up his own touchdown run six plays later.
“Me and Andy just have this thing,” Bernard said of the big play. “I heard him call my name and turned my eyes. I saw a blitzer coming and picked the guy up, then he fell to the ground. Andy was looking to get out of it and said my name and we made it work.”
Still plays: Promoted from the practice squad earlier in the week, defensive tackle Devon Still was active Sunday and finished with three tackles.
The subject of numerous national media stories as his 4-year-old daughter battles cancer, Still received a loud ovation the first time his name was announced following a tackle in the third quarter.
“The fans here are just amazing,” he said, adding that his daughter was released from the hospital Sunday.
“I said ‘You’re going to be up,’ and you see this big smile,” Lewis said. “I don’t know how many snaps he played today, but it was great.”
Nugent nod: After tying his career high with five field goals last week at Baltimore and drilling a 31-yarder on the opening drive Sunday, kicker Mike Nugent missed his next three attempts from 36, 49, 55.
It was the first time in his 10-year career Nugent has missed three field goals in a game, but coach Marvin Lewis said he wasn’t concerned.
“I know he’ll be better next time out,” Lewis said. “That’s the one good thing about Mike – he’s such a pro. We had a bad day, and we lived through it. Next time I can go back and count on him like we did a week ago.”
Sack star: One player who is taking advantage of new defensive coordinator Paul Guenther's more aggressive blitzing style is Reggie Nelson.
The veteran safety got half of a sack on the game-clinching play last week in Baltimore, and he added another one Sunday, marking the first time in his eight-year career he’s collected sacks in back-to-back games.
“Paully’s calling the numbers and we’re just executing,” Nelson said. “It’s working out pretty good for us. We faced a good quarterback today. That was the No. 1 offense coming in. We just had to play good defense.”
Pair of picks: Safety George Iloka intercepted quarterback Matt Ryan twice to raise his career total to three.
“The last time I had two in a game was in college against Utah State,” said Iloka, of Boise State. “They say they come in bunches, so hopefully they just keep rolling in.”
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