Samaje Perine

RB · Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers · 32 graded snaps

Replacement

Perine provided tough short-yardage running and solid special teams play early, but second-half conversion failures in the run and pass game kept his grade near replacement level.

Samaje Perine film grade: 65: share card

Special teams6413Pass block6010Receiving575Rushing683Run block651

The full breakdown

Perine earned a 64.8 grade across 32 snaps by pairing solid physical rushing with steady contributions on special teams and in pass protection. He drove his rushing grade up early with tough running, lowering his pads to convert a 3rd & 2 (Q1 06:38) and falling forward through contact for four yards (Q2 14:17). However, his receiving and rushing facets were dragged down by two critical second-half stops on 3rd & 2, first failing to hold onto a Texas route through contact (Q3 10:17) and later being stuffed for no gain off left tackle (Q4 14:18). A quiet but flawless 10 snaps in pass protection helped maintain his baseline floor.

Strengths

Short-yardage power rushing
Kickoff unit contributions
Play-action deception

Weaknesses

Contested catch finishing
Late-down run conversion

Plays that moved the grade

+1Q1 06:38, 3rd & 2Hit the left B-gap decisively and powered through contact for a 5-yard conversion.
-0.5Q3 10:17, 3rd & 2Failed to secure a pass over the middle through contact from the linebacker on third down.
-0.5Q4 14:18, 3rd & 2Stuffed at the line for no gain off left tackle on 3rd & 2.

Every graded snap · 7 wins or losses, 25 routine

+0.5Q1 13:10 · Special teamsCleanly fields the kick at the 1-yard line, follows blocks into the lane, and fights forward through contact for a 26-yard return to the CIN 27.
+1Q1 06:38 · 3 & 2 · RushingHits the hole decisively between LT and LG, lowers his pads on contact with Queen and powers forward for 5 yards to convert 3rd and short.
+0.5Q1 05:54 · 1 & 3 · Run blockSells the interior dive convincingly, drawing second-level defensive flow forward before Burrow pulls and throws.
+0.5Q1 00:52 · Special teamsEngages his assigned coverage man at the setup zone to help seal the initial seam.
+0.5Q2 14:17 · 2 & 7 · RushingHits the right A/B-gap decisively, falls forward through contact from Watt and Wilson to gain 4 tough yards.
-0.5Q3 10:17 · 3 & 2 · ReceivingReleases into the middle of the field and gets position past the sticks, but fails to secure the catch through contact from Queen at the break.
-0.5Q4 14:18 · 3 & 2 · RushingTook handoff aiming off left tackle, but with the perimeter sealed and interior overflowing, could not find push or break the initial contact to convert 3rd and short.

Samaje Perine's season grades →