CINCINNATI — Sunday was the closest the Cincinnati Bengals have come this season to employing a true 50-50 split with running backs Giovani Bernard and rookie Jeremy Hill.

Hill rushed 18 times for 87 yards and Bernard carried 17 times for 45 yards in Cincinnati’s 22-13 victory against the Texans in Houston.

“I think that’s kind of what envisioned at the beginning of the season,” Hill said. “To get me going and have the confidence in me, it can take a load off Gio. I know Gio starting to get the bulk of the carries kind of led to his injury. It’s good to take the pressure off him.”

Bernard took a couple of big shots in the Indianapolis game Oct. 19 and injured his hip the following week against Baltimore, forcing him to miss three games.

Hill had two huge games while Bernard was sidelined, rushing for 154 yards against Jacksonville and 152 vs. New Orleans.

While the carries were evenly distributed, Bernard was on the field more often, playing 49 snaps to Hill’s 32.

“If you’re a competitive guy you want to be out there, but at the same time, once you’re getting some runs and getting your wind going, you need a guy who can come spell you,” Hill said. “Then, when you get back in there, you can be explosive and run with determination and aggression. Any time we can split it up like that, it’s definitely helpful for the team.”

NOTES: WR A.J. Green caught a career-high 12 passes and finished with 121 yards. It was the 19th 100-yard game of his career, moving him past Cris Collinsworth for fourth most in franchise history. … QB Andy Dalton threw his first road interception since Dec. 1, 2013, when his third-quarter pass intended for A.J. Green was picked off by Houston cornerback Johnathan Joseph and returned 60 yards for the Texans’ only touchdown. … RT Andre Smith suffered a triceps injury and it is unknown how much time he is expected to miss.

REPORT CARD VS. TEXANS

PASSING OFFENSE: B-plus — Andy Dalton threw his first road interception in nearly a year and it resulted in Houston’s only touchdown as Johnathan Joseph cashed it in for a 60-yard pick-six. But that play came after Dalton had a near-perfect first half to give the Bengals a little margin for error. Dalton was 16 of 18 for 151 yards and a touchdown in the first two quarters, but his second half was below average as he went 8 of 17 for 82 yards with the interception. Still, Dalton made clutch throws when he needed to, leading to the team converting 11 of 20 third downs for a nearly 2-1 domination in time of possession (39:10 to 20:50). A.J. Green set a career high with 12 catches, which were good for 121 yards. And the offensive line did not allow a sack, which is an impressive feat any time J.J. Watt is on the other side of the ball.

RUSHING OFFENSE: B — Giovani Bernard returned after missing the last three games and gave the Bengals an effective two-headed ground attack as he and rookie Jeremy Hill combined for 132 yards on 35 attempts. The load was split almost evenly, with Hill getting 18 carries and Bernard 17. Hill had a huge 30-yard run that set up the final field goal, making it a two-score game late, while Bernard had an impressive, spinning 19-yard effort in the first quarter that really got the ground game going after a clunky start. While they were effective in key spots, the Bengals averaged just 3.2 yards per carry for the day (43 rushes, 139 yards).

PASS DEFENSE: A-minus — Any time you hold the opposing quarterback to a passer rating of 49.2, you’re doing a great job, even if that quarterback is making his second career start and named Ryan Mallett. The Bengals sacked Mallett only once, but the front four did a good job of getting pressure without blitz help and the coverage in the back end was solid. Cincinnati held the explosive DeAndre Hopkins to five catches for 39 yards, with a long of 13, and Andre Johnson caught just three passes for 36 yards, including a 22-yarder that was Houston’s biggest play of the day.

RUSH DEFENSE: A — The Bengals held Houston’s Alfred Blue to 46 yards on 16 carries (2.9 average) one week after the rookie lit up Cleveland for 156 yards. Blue’s longest run was nine yards. The Texans were without Arian Foster, the Pro Bowl back who was a big reason they ranked No. 3 in the league in rushing, but the Bengals still deserve a lot of credit for limiting that offense to 64 yards on 19 carries (3.4).

SPECIAL TEAMS: A — Despite being iced by what seemed like an inordinately long two-minute warning, Mike Nugent calmly drilled a 49-yard field goal that gave the Bengals a two-score lead and essentially sealed the game with the Texans out of timeouts. Kevin Huber strengthened his bid to make his first Pro Bowl by putting all four of his punts inside the 20 and, despite the emphasis on accuracy over distance, he still averaged 48.3 yards, with a net of 46.5. Returner Adam Jones had a mediocre day by his standards, but he averaged 28 yards on three kick returns and had a solid 19-yard punt return.

COACHING: B-plus — Even though this year’s Texans team pales in comparison to the ones that knocked the Bengals out of the playoffs in 2011 and 2012, the coaches had to make sure there would be no deja vu. They did it with solid schemes on offense and defense that led to the Bengals taking an early lead and, therefore, a deep breath. Coach Marvin Lewis gets some credit for going 2 for 2 on replay challenges, although both were fairly easy calls to make. But he gets docked a few points for some dubious play calling and clock management at the end of the first half when it appeared the Bengals had a chance to attack and possibly up their lead.