Compounded by terrible special teams play from Brandon Tate doing absolutely nothing to give Cincinnati an advantage, the Bengals offense is returns their ineffective first half personality. A bobbled yet completed six-yard reception by Jermaine Gresham sets up a third-and-two from their own 16-yard line with 5:49 left in the second quarter. Cedric Benson takes the hand off and he's immediately forced to stretch a run towards the right sidelines, tackled after a three-yard loss.
Kevin Huber punted the football 55 yards setting Jacksonville up at their own 31-yard line with 4:57 remaining. After a limited three-yard gain by Karim and an incomplete to Mike Thomas, Blaine Gabbert badly sails a pass to towards the right sidelines for an incomplete pass, forcing Jacksonville to punt.
Brandon Tate, who has struggled throughout much of this game, posted a 22-yard punt return putting the Bengals at their own 48-yard line. Dalton and Green hook up for a first down gain before Nate Livings is called for an offensive holding that puts Cincinnati behind schedule. The Bengals eventually went for it on fourth-and-six, rather than going for a 50-plus yard field goal. They convert with a quick pass on a slant to A.J. Green to A.J. Green.
With 21 seconds remaining in the second quarter, the Bengals offense lines up third and goal from the Jacksonville three-yard line. Dalton in shotgun with Brian Leonard to his left, looks over the middle and rolls right. The quarterback finds Jermaine Gresham in the end zone for a three-yard touchdown pass on a sliding reception by the tight end. Mike Nugent fails to convert the extra point after hitting the right upright. Game remains tied at 13.