NFL

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

· National Football League
3-12, 1-7 Away
Final
6 - 24
7-8, 2-5 Home

Burrow throws 3 TD passes and Bengals keep playoff hopes alive with 24-6 victory over Browns

Joe Burrow keeps play alive for magical Bengals TD

Burrow threw three touchdown passes, including one as he was falling to the turf, and the Bengals kept their slim postseason hopes alive with a 24-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

“This one just keeps us in the race,” Burrow said. “It feels good to play in big games. It's exciting to still be in it.”

The Bengals (7-8) have won three straight. They need to win their last two games and get some help to earn a playoff spot.

Burrow finished 23 of 30 for 252 yards and became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for three or more TDs and 250 or more yards in seven straight games, surpassing the record of six set by Tom Brady in New England's undefeated 2007 season.

Chase had six catches for 97 yards and a garbage-time touchdown for Cincinnati to reach 1,510 yards this season and break his own franchise record of 1,455 yards set in 2021.

“It feels good, something I wanted to do,” said Chase, who leads the NFL in receptions (108), receiving yards and TD catches (16). “Me being competitive, I wanted to compete with myself.”

Burrow leads the league with 4,229 yards passing and 39 touchdowns.

With Dorian Thompson-Robinson replacing Jameis Winston at quarterback, Cleveland (3-12) missed some chances in the red zone.

Jerome Ford had a 66-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. But D'Onta Foreman fumbled on first-and-goal and Vonn Bell recovered.

“It's a 14-point swing,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “Not only did it take the life out of them a little bit, getting the stop on the 1-yard line then going 99 (yards) gave us a lot of confidence and set the tone.”

In the third quarter, a holding penalty negated a TD run by Thompson-Robinson, who also had a pass intercepted in the end zone by Jordan Battle.

“Obviously, you turn the ball over in the red zone, especially the first one, you're not going to put yourself in position to get a win on the road,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Not a lack of effort. It's a lack of protecting the ball.”

The Bengals cashed in on Foreman's fumble when Burrow, as he was falling, threw a 2-yard TD pass to Tee Higgins to cap an eight-play, 99-yard drive.

The Bengals' defense, which has struggled for most of the season, has forced nine turnovers in the past two games.

“The guys have done a great job on that side of the ball getting us extra possessions on offense,” Taylor said

Thompson-Robinson passed for 157 yards and two interceptions after being named the starter this week ahead of Winston, who was inactive with a shoulder injury. He had 49 yards rushing and was sacked five times.

Ford rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

Burrow threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Chase with 1:44 left when the Bengals only needed to run out the clock.

Franchise mark Cincinnati’s Cade York, a former Browns draft pick, tied a franchise record with a 59-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to make it 17-0.

It matched Evan McPherson's 59-yarder on Sept. 11, 2022. McPherson is on injured reserve with a groin injury.

“There was no ill will,” York said about the Browns. “I really enjoyed my time over there. It was nice to beat them, though.”

Garrett's milestone Myles Garrett, who said this week the Browns franchise should be focused on winning and not rebuilding, recorded the 100th sack of his career in the second quarter.

“It made my dad proud," Garrett said. "He’s been telling me through my last three weeks. I’m happy to get it done. There is no quitting in my blood.”

Garrett has 12 sacks, joining Lawrence Taylor as the only players with 12 or more in five straight seasons.

Injuries Browns: Two key starters returned in TE David Njoku and CB Martin Emerson Jr.

Bengals: RT Amarius Mims left the game with a left ankle injury and didn't return. LT Orlando Brown Jr. was inactive with an injured fibula.

Up next Browns: Host Miami next Sunday.

Bengals: Host Denver on Saturday.

How can I watch Browns vs. Bengals?

  • TV Channel: Browns at Bengals 2021-22 NFL, week 16 is broadcasted nationally on CBS and NFL Sunday Ticket - Paramount+ NFL on CBS 2021 - Try it FREE!.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
    In Canada, viewers can watch Browns vs. Bengals on DAZN.

Matchup Prediction

Bengals: 68.4%
Browns: 31.3%
*According to ESPN's Football Power Index

Scoring Summary

CIN TD 1st Period 7:14 Tee Higgins 2 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York Kick)
CIN TD 2nd Period 7:32 Andrei Iosivas 6 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York Kick)
CIN FG 2nd Period 0:00 Cade York 59 Yd Field Goal
CLE TD 3rd Period 5:50 Jerome Ford 4 Yd Rush (Dustin Hopkins PAT Failed)
CIN TD 4th Period 1:44 Ja'Marr Chase 32 Yd pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York Kick)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/cle.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCLE https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/cin.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCIN
18 1st Downs 21
8 Passing 1st downs 14
7 Rushing 1st downs 6
3 1st downs from penalties 1
3-12 3rd down efficiency 4-11
1-3 4th down efficiency 0-0
63 Total Plays 56
273 Total Yards 326
4.3 Yards per Play 5.8
10 Total Drives 11
125 Passing 210
20/34 Comp/Att 23/30
3.2 Yards per pass 6.2
2 Interceptions thrown 0
5-32 Sacks-Yards Lost 4-42
148 Rushing 116
24 Rushing Attempts 22
6.2 Yards per rush 5.3
1-3 Red Zone (Made-Att) 2-3
5-41 Penalties 5-35
3 Turnovers 1
1 Fumbles lost 1
2 Interceptions thrown 0
0 Defensive / Special Teams TDs 0
29:12 Possession 30:48

Game Information

Paycor Stadium

Location: Cincinnati, OH
Attendance: 65,734 · Capacity:

2024 AFC North Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Pittsburgh 10 5 .667 0 353 299
Baltimore 10 5 .667 0 452 349
Cincinnati 7 8 .467 0 423 393
Cleveland 3 12 .200 0 245 380
Full Standings

NFL News

Fantasy football dynasty watch: Jayden Daniels shines like a star

Fantasy football dynasty watch: Jayden Daniels shines like a star

In a season in which Jayden Daniels has stood out, the rookie put up his biggest fantasy output of the season in Week 16.

Fantasy football PPR rankings for Week 17: Wide receiver

Fantasy football PPR rankings for Week 17: Wide receiver

Fantasy football rankings from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Daniel Dopp, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates.

Fantasy football PPR rankings for Week 17: Running back

Fantasy football PPR rankings for Week 17: Running back

Fantasy football rankings from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Daniel Dopp, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates.

Fantasy football rankings for Week 17: Quarterback

Fantasy football rankings for Week 17: Quarterback

Fantasy football rankings from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Daniel Dopp, Eric Karabell, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates.

Hall of Fame to honor longtime NFL assistants Hoak, Pitts, McNally

Hall of Fame to honor longtime NFL assistants Hoak, Pitts, McNally

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will honor longtime assistant coaches Dick Hoak, Elijah Pitts and Jim McNally Awards of Excellence given to coordinators or position coaches.