On first and ten from the Cardinals 49-yard line with over eight minutes remaining in the first quarter, quarterback Andy Dalton drops back and does his "throw up a holy prayer" to A.J. Green with Patrick Peterson covering. After the incomplete, a flag falls and Paterson is called for defensive pass interference, moving the Bengals to the Cardinals 28-yard line.

Cincinnati picked up the first down following a five-yard Cedric Benson run and an Andy Dalton scramble to the Cardinals 17-yard line, returning to the red zone. A limited Benson run and a quick three-yard pass to Jerome Simpson, the Bengals decide to call a timeout with 6:31 remaining in the first quarter.

Four yards needed on third down from the Cardinals 11-yard line, Andy Dalton lines up in shotgun and takes the snap. Dalton pump fakes over the middle and scrambles to the left, finding Jermaine Gresham in the endzone, who out works linebacker Daryl Washington to give the Bengals a 10-0 lead with over six minutes remaining in the first quarter.