Bengals' win streak has LG Cordell Volson pass protecting like a brick wall

Every week, win or lose, we'll dive into the premium stats from Pro Football Focus and identify three stats to know from the previous Cincinnati Bengals game.

After getting punched in the gut with injuries and an upstart rushing attack, the Cincinnati Bengals collected themselves and engineered a comeback victory over the Minnesota Vikings. It was the kind of win that instills belief in a potential postseason run, and the numbers back it up. 

Let's see what the advanced stats had to say about the Bengals' Week 15 performance.

LG Cordell Volson: Zero pressures allowed on 20 true pass sets

The common theme for the Bengals' offense over the last couple weeks has been giving the offensive line an easier time pass protecting. With how Saturday's game started, the play calling had to rely on the line blocking in straight drop back situations more often.

Volson, regarded as the weakest link on the line, handled the jump in true pass sets with ease. He pitched a clean sheet against the Vikings' interior defensive line while Jake Browning had to handle business the traditional way. In 47 total pass blocking reps, Volson allowed just one hurry on Browning. 

It might be time to give Volson his flowers. The second-year player started the year off poorly enough to be talked about as an expendable starter going into next year. He's been virtually spotless in pass pro since Week 12, allowing just two pressures in 148 reps, and has looked mostly capable in the ground game. He may just be saving his job for 2024.

QB Jake Browning: 120.4 passer rating under pressure

Everyone who knew just the basic info of the Vikings' defense knew what their plan was going to be for Browning: Blitzkrieg. Minnesota blitzed Browning on 54% of his drop backs, and ended up pressuring 37% of them. 

Browning did take four sacks on those 17 drop backs, but when he got rid of the ball, good things happened. He was 8-13 for 129 yards and threw his miraculous second touchdown to Tee Higgins. His average depth of target was a whopping 16.4, reflected by his yards per attempt of 9.9. All of it led to an impressive 120.4 passer rating. 

When he stood tall in crumbling pockets, Browning showed he had the goods to deliver. That needs to be continued going forward.

Mike Hilton: 15 yards allowed on five targets in coverage

What a game from the Bengals' most versatile defender. Hilton was at his peak form Saturday, whether he was screaming off the edge in run defense, or aligned as a free safety to haul in his second interception of the season. He was targeted just as often as DJ Turner II was, and surrendered just three catches for five yards a pop. 

Hilton's responsibilities have drastically increased this year from an on-field communicative standpoint, so much that his level of play wasn't at his usual standard early on in the season. He's been rounding back into form over the past three weeks. No cornerback has a higher defense grade (90.6) than Hilton since Week 13.