Cincinnati Bengals beat Cleveland Browns 24-6, keep playoff hopes alive

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals have kept their playoff hopes alive, beating the Cleveland Browns 24-6 on Sunday in Paycor Stadium.

Cincinnati (7-8) went into Sunday's Battle of Ohio matchup with Cleveland (3-12) knowing it was do or die.

The Browns opened the game looking strong with what seemed like an apparent rushing touchdown from RB D'Onta Foreman before it was overturned. During a review of the play, the referees found that Foreman fumbled the ball before the goal line, which was then recovered by Bengals safety Vonn Bell.

After the fumble recovery, Cincinnati came out swinging with a 99-yard drive that ended in a touchdown. Bengals QB Joe Burrow faced pressure and — somehow — as he was falling to the ground found Tee Higgins in the end zone.

On their following drive, Cincinnati kicker Cade York missed his first field goal attempt of the day, with his 47-yard attempt going wide left.

Both Cleveland and Cincinnati then shared a couple of drives that ended in punts before Cincinnati once again found the end zone. Burrow found wide receiver Andrei Iosivas in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass, extending the Bengals lead.

Cincinnati's defense, which has been inconsistent all season, continually pressured Cleveland QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson throughout the first half. Several Bengals defensive players, including NFL sacks leader Trey Hendrickson, Mike Hilton and Kris Jenkins Jr., all sacked DTR in the first half.

The Bengals then rounded out the half with a 59-yard field goal from York. The field goal was not only York's career-long, but it also tied the Bengals franchise record.

The Browns finally found the end zone for the first time in their opening drive of the second half. Former Cincinnati Bearcat Jerome Ford ran in a 4-yard touchdown. Cleveland kicker Dustin Hopkins missed the extra point though.

In the third quarter, Higgins went down with an ankle injury. The wide receiver caught a reception from Burrow and was then dragged to the ground by Browns corner Denzel Ward. Ward tackled Higgins' lower left leg, and Higgins immediately grabbed his ankle. After being attended to, Higgins walked off the field under his own power. Higgins never entered the blue tent for further examination after the apparent injury, and he also returned to the game in the fourth quarter.

Bengals safety Jordan Battle secured the first interception of the game, picking off DTR in the end zone on a pass intended for tight end David Njoku.

On the Browns' following drive, Cincinnati safety Geno Stone nabbed Cincinnati's second interception of the day. Stone picked off a bobbled pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson to David Njoku, marking his third consecutive game with a pick.

As the Bengals attempted to make something out of Stone's interception, Burrow was strip-sacked by Cleveland defensive end Isaiah McGuire, and the ball was recovered by Browns tackle Jowon Briggs.

After snuffing the Browns on downs, the Bengals extended their lead — and secured the win — against the Browns with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Burrow to Ja'Marr Chase.

The victory marks head coach Zac Taylor's first time sweeping the Browns. The game also marked Cincinnati's third consecutive win, with Taylor saying post-game "this is what it's supposed to feel like."

"This is our expectation," Taylor said.

Burrow was also happy after the game, saying that the defense allowed him to play like a different quarterback in the second half.

The Bengals next face the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 28. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m.