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Burrow passes for 348 yards and 2 TDs and Bengals' defense clamps down on Bills in 24-18 win
CINCINNATI (AP) The Cincinnati Bengals showed a national TV audience on Sunday night they are still serious AFC playoff contenders.
The Bengals were all but counted out after starting the season with two losses and falling to 1-3 on Oct. 1. But four straight wins have pulled them back up and into the conversation.
The latest was a 24-18 victory over the Buffalo Bills in a rematch of a divisional playoff game from last season.
“We went out and proved to the world we’re back and we’re here,” said Cincinnati receiver Tee Higgins, who had eight catches for a season-high 110 yards.
Joe Burrow threw for a season-high 348 yards and two touchdowns, and Cincinnati's defense forced two turnovers and held off the Bills.
“We're coming along,” Burrow said. “We've played well the last couple of weeks and we have to keep it going.”
Cincinnati (5-3) is locked in a tie with Cleveland and Pittsburgh, all of them chasing the division-leading Ravens (7-2) in the AFC North. The Bengals still have to play the Steelers twice and have rematches with the Browns and Ravens on the schedule.
Burrow, who was still struggling with a calf injury early in the season, was 31 for 44 while completing passes to eight receivers, with tight ends Irv Smith Jr. and Drew Sample making the touchdown grabs.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati kept Josh Allen and the Bills (5-4) playing from behind throughout.
Cam Taylor-Britt intercepted Allen to shut down a drive in the second quarter. Nick Scott upended Buffalo tight end Dalton Kincaid and recovered the fumble on Cincinnati's 13-yard line in the third quarter.
The subsequent Bengals drive ate up 5:20 and a 20-yard field goal by Evan McPherson extended Cincinnati's lead to 24-10.
Allen threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs and the two connected on a 2-point conversion pass to cut the lead to 24-18 with 3 1/2 minutes left, but the Bengals got two first downs and ran out the clock to seal it.
“Too inconsistent overall," Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said. "I thought we got off to a really good start in our rhythm. After that it was tough sledding.”
Allen had a respectable night, going 26 for 38 and 258 yards, but he also threw an interception for the fifth straight game. Diggs had six catches for 86 yards.
Burrow was 6 for 6 for 65 yards on a methodical opening drive that he finished off with a 7-yard pass to Smith, who got his first touchdown catch of the season.
The Bills answered with a quick scoring drive, highlighted by a 34-yard catch-and-run by Diggs and capped by Allen's 2-yard TD run.
Aided by a roughing the passer call on the Bills' Tim Settle, Burrow put together another extended drive. Joe Mixon barreled in from Buffalo's 2-yard line to finish it.
Burrow tossed a bubble screen to Sample, who ran for a 22-yard touchdown and gave the Bengals a 21-7 lead at the half.
“Getting up by two scores was big,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “I also was happy with the offense on the final drive. We take pride in finishing with the ball.”
In his postgame news conference, Burrow did his best to temper expectations.
"We were 1-0 this week. We have to be 1-0 next week, too," he said. “This is only game (No.) 8. We've got nine games left.”
HARD MEMORIES
The last time the Bills played at Paycor Stadium on Jan. 2, safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated on the field. The game was postponed and eventually canceled.
Hamlin recovered and was back with the team in Cincinnati, although he was inactive for the game.
He's honoring the 10 first-responders, nurses and doctors who helped save his life by establishing a scholarship program for Cincinnati youths.
Hamlin’s charitable foundation charitable will be awarding $1,000 scholarships to 10 individuals from the area’s underserved communities for each of the next three years.
INJURIES
Bills LB Terrel Bernard was ruled out with a concussion.
UP NEXT
Bills: Host the Denver Broncos (3-5) on Monday, Nov. 13.
Bengals: Host the Houston Texans (4-4) next Sunday.
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Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | 23:22 | 36:38 |
1st Downs | 21 | 23 |
Rushing | 9 | 5 |
Passing | 11 | 17 |
Penalty | 1 | 1 |
3rd Down Conv | 7-12 | 8-15 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Total Net Yards | 317 | 397 |
Total Plays | 55 | 67 |
Avg Gain | 5.8 | 5.9 |
Net Yards Rushing | 68 | 54 |
Rush Attempts | 16 | 22 |
Avg Rush Yards | 4.3 | 2.5 |
Net Yards Passing | 249 | 343 |
Comp. - Att. | 26-38 | 31-44 |
Yards Per Pass | 6.4 | 7.6 |
Penalties - Yards | 5-49 | 6-49 |
Touchdowns | 2 | 3 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 1 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 2 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-0 | 0-1 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 3-42.3 | 3-39.3 |
Return Yards | 44 | 72 |
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 2-11 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 2-44 | 3-61 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 1-0 |
Red Zone Eff. | 2-3 -67% | 2-3 -67% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 1-1 -100% | 2-3 -67% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
J. Allen
17 QB
26 FPTS
|
J. Allen | 26/38 | 258 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
S. Diggs
14 WR
22 FPTS
|
S. Diggs | 7 | 6 | 86 | 1 | 34 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Kincaid
86 TE
16 FPTS
|
D. Kincaid | 11 | 10 | 81 | 0 | 13 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Shakir
10 WR
9 FPTS
|
K. Shakir | 4 | 4 | 57 | 0 | 23 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Cook
4 RB
7 FPTS
|
J. Cook | 4 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Sherfield
16 WR
1 FPTS
|
T. Sherfield | 2 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Murray
28 RB
1 FPTS
|
L. Murray | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Harty
11 WR
0 FPTS
|
D. Harty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
G. Davis
13 WR
0 FPTS
|
G. Davis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
T. Dodson
25 LB
|
T. Dodson | 8-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Poyer
21 FS
|
J. Poyer | 8-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Johnson
7 CB
|
T. Johnson | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Rapp
20 SAF
|
T. Rapp | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
42 LB
|
D. Williams | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jackson
30 CB
|
D. Jackson | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Joseph
98 DT
|
L. Joseph | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Douglas
29 CB
|
R. Douglas | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Bernard
43 LB
|
T. Bernard | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Benford
47 CB
|
C. Benford | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Matakevich
44 ILB
|
T. Matakevich | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Hyde
23 SS
|
M. Hyde | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Lewis
39 CB
|
C. Lewis | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Norman
29 CB
|
J. Norman | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Lawson
90 DE
|
S. Lawson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Davis
13 WR
|
G. Davis | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Morse
60 C
|
M. Morse | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Oliver
91 DT
|
E. Oliver | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Epenesa
57 DE
|
A. Epenesa | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Floyd
56 DE
|
L. Floyd | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Jonathan
59 DE
|
K. Jonathan | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Rousseau
50 DE
|
G. Rousseau | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Phillips
97 DT
|
J. Phillips | 0-3 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
T. Bass
2 K
4 FPTS
|
T. Bass | 1/1 | 34 | 1/1 | 4 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
S. Martin
8 P
|
S. Martin | 3 | 42.3 | 0 | 45 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Johnson
26 RB
0 FPTS
|
T. Johnson | 1 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Shakir
10 WR
9 FPTS
|
K. Shakir | 1 | 27.0 | 27 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
J. Burrow
9 QB
25 FPTS
|
J. Burrow | 31/44 | 348 | 2 | 0 | 25 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. Mixon
28 RB
17 FPTS
|
J. Mixon | 14 | 37 | 1 | 12 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Williams
32 RB
1 FPTS
|
T. Williams | 3 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Burrow
9 QB
25 FPTS
|
J. Burrow | 5 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 25 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
T. Higgins
5 WR
19 FPTS
|
T. Higgins | 9 | 8 | 110 | 0 | 21 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Boyd
83 WR
8 FPTS
|
T. Boyd | 5 | 3 | 56 | 0 | 32 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hudson
87 TE
8 FPTS
|
T. Hudson | 5 | 4 | 45 | 0 | 17 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Chase
1 WR
8 FPTS
|
J. Chase | 8 | 4 | 41 | 0 | 32 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mixon
28 RB
17 FPTS
|
J. Mixon | 6 | 5 | 31 | 0 | 15 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Sample
89 TE
12 FPTS
|
D. Sample | 4 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 22 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Smith
81 TE
11 FPTS
|
I. Smith | 4 | 3 | 26 | 1 | 11 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Iosivas
80 WR
1 FPTS
|
A. Iosivas | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
M. Hilton
21 CB
|
M. Hilton | 10-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Pratt
57 LB
|