Using the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense and a revived running game that rolled up 145 yards, the 12-4 Bengals tied the team record for victories with a 24-16 win over the Ravens in Sunday’s Paul Brown Stadium regular-season finale.
The Bengals wanted to win and put pressure on Denver since a Broncos’ loss would give the Bengals a bye next week. Backup quarterback AJ McCarron got it done with a workman-like 103.9 passer rating derived from 17 of 27 passing for 160 yards and two TD passes.
But Peyton Manning rescued the Broncos to make the Bengals the third seed and they’re waiting to hear when they host the Steelers next weekend.
The Ravens didn’t score a touchdown until 1:47 left in the game as the Bengals secured the record for the fewest points allowed by a Bengals defense (279) in a 16-game season. Running back Cedric Peerman then jumped on the Ravens’ on-side kick and middle linebacker Rey Maualuga picked off Ravens quarterback Ryan Mallet with 24 seconds left to end it with the help of a Wallace Gilberry rush. Mallett threw it 56 times, the fourth most ever against the Bengals, and he hit 30. But it was just for 5.2 yards per on 292 yards. Two interceptions left him with a 59.5 passer rating.
Bengals running back Jeremy Hill, racing for 96 yards on the day, saved his longest run of the year for one of the biggest plays of the year when he broke a fourth-and-one for a 38-yard touchdown against the stingy Ravens defense to give the Bengals a 21-9 lead with 6:55 left in the third quarter.
Mike Nugent finished off the Bengals’ scoring with a 52-yard field goal with 4:06 left in the game.
Click here to read more of this story.
About Marion Online Sports
