Giovani Bernard was the first running back selected during last year’s draft.
Thursday night against the Miami Dolphins, Bernard showed why.
Bernard scored two touchdowns in the second half to rally the Cincinnati Bengals from a 14-point deficit to even the game at 17-17 early in the fourth quarter.
Bernard scored on a 3-yard run to bring the Bengals back within a score, but it was his second touchdown that was a work of art.
Bernard tried to run off right tackle but was turned away by cornerback Brent Grimes and linebacker Philip Wheeler, who both missed tackles on the play. Bernard circled all the way back to the left sideline, making Olivier Vernon miss in the backfield as well, and picked up a block from quarterback Andy Dalton along the way. He forced another whiffed tackle from Grimes and broke a tackle from Reshad Jones as he broke free and dove into the end zone.
It was officially a 35-yard touchdown run in which Bernard likely covered double the amount of yardage weaving his way into the end zone.