SLANTS AND SCREENS

Burrow’s voiceover killed the Browns’ script as much as his arm on the first and last snaps of the game.

Chase’s touchdown was basically on their last play of the day, outside of backup quarterback Jake Browning’s knee. Go back to the first play of the game when safety Vonn Bell forced a fumble on the Bengals’ half-yard line, where the Bengals started their drive.

In order to get away from the goalposts, Burrow went with a funky cadence, and it drew Browns middle linebacker Mohamoud Diabate offsides.

“It’s the ultimate weapon. He really is the best in the (cadence) business,” Zac Taylor said. “For years I watched Aaron Rodgers do this to people over and over, and on third down get free plays. We got three or four of them last week and two today. The backed-up one, on the one, was huge and resulted in a touchdown. …

Bell is used to saving playoff runs. It will be recalled when the Bengals were closing in on the 2022 AFC North title, they needed him to punch the ball out of the arms of Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson at the Bengals 5 with a minute left to preserve a 22-18 Christmas Eve win at Foxborough.

Bell, who has lost his starting job this season to Battle, said, “I don’t live in the past,” when asked how similar the play was.

Burrow knows how huge it was. In the first minute of the game the Browns have first down at the Bengals 11 and suddenly get no points.

“I’ve seen Vonn make that exact play countless times. Saved the game in New England, doing that same thing,” Burrow said. “That’s the kind of guy that Vonn is. He’s never going to quit. He’s hit some adversity this year, and battled through it, and makes game-changing plays for us. He’s everything you could ask for in a veteran guy, that young guys can look up to.” …

Taylor was asked about an animated conversation between offensive line coach Frank Pollack and rookie right tackle Amarius Mims.

“That’s football, man. It’s not all easy. It’s not at all. We’ve just got to work through that stuff. We’re good,” Taylor said.

Mims battled back with a left ankle injury and came back in after sitting out before going out for good. Taylo’s not sure how bad it is, but he knows for the second straight week Devin Cochran came off the bench to give them a lift in a win.

Last week, it was his first NFL start at left tackle. On Sunday, it was replacing Mims on the right …

For the second straight game against the Browns, backup left tackle Cody Ford made sure Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, didn’t take over the game. Back in October, Garrett didn’t get a sack. On Sunday, he got one, but only got to Burrow twice.

“I thought they did an admirable job. Cody is always consistent. Cody does a great job. He’s blocking Myles Garrett all day,” Burrow said. “Cody did an unbelievable job on him all day.

“You saw Devin come in last week and play really well for us, and now he has to go in at right tackle. He’s always ready for his opportunity, too. It has to be tough when you’re just sitting on the sideline, cold, not expecting to go in. And then all of the sudden, you get thrown in there and now you have to go block an edge rusher that’s been warm all day, frothing at the mouth trying to get a sack. I wouldn’t want to be in that position, but I think they do a good job.” …