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Bengals clinch playoff berth with 37-28 win over the Broncos

After facing adversity in primetime, the Bengals beat the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, clinching a postseason berth for the fourth straight season.

By Josh Kirkendall
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Oh my god, what a game.

There's 2:50 remaining in the game with the Bengals white-knuckling a two-point lead. Peyton Manning, on third and one from the Broncos 29-yard line, lobs the football towards Demaryius Thomas just off the line of scrimmage. Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick cuts off the pass and returns the interception 30 yards for the touchdown.

The score gave the Bengals a 37-28 lead, securing the win and clinching a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season. The win helps Cincinnati relieve the burden of failing to win primetime games, having only won two of the past eight games (and 11 if we include the playoffs). Kirkpatrick added another interception with 1:14 remaining to seal the win for Cincinnati.

Yet it was an emotional rollercoaster. Admit it. When you saw Aqib Talib's diving interception, your heart sunk deep into the bowls of depression when Denver's cornerback scored the touchdown and A.J. Green was coming off the field in pain.

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Green wouldn't recover but Cincinnati would, scoring 17 unanswered points in the first half. Who would have thought that Cincinnati would lead 20-7 when the game reached half time after a "here we go again" moment early in the first?

Like an explorer violently taking unclaimed territory, the Broncos accepted help from a goofy mistakes by Cincinnati to outscore the Bengals 21-7 in the period. No, not goofy mistakes. Fatal. Omar Bolden returned the opening second half kickoff 77 yards to the Bengals 21-yard line. A few plays later, C.J. Anderson pounded the football for a one-yard touchdown to reduce Cincinnati's lead, 20-14. Adam Jones responded with an 80-yard kickoff return and Giovani Bernard took a swing pass into the endzone to recoup that loss and recover their 13-point lead.

Then it went downhill in a hurry... thanks to those aforementioned goofy mistakes by the Bengals. During Denver's ensuing possession, Peyton Manning hit Wallace Gilberry in the numbers, but he couldn't hold onto the football. A few plays later, Denver scored a touchdown, pulling to within six points (27-21).

The Bengals pieced together a 50-play drive, reaching the Broncos eight-yard line. Linebacker Von Miller yanked the football from Jeremy Hill. Denver went 91 yards on eight plays and took a 28-27 lead on an easy touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders, who was covered by Dre Kirkpatrick who replaced Terence Newman, who was owned by Manning. It's a symbiotic relationship, apparently.

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GO AWAY THIRD QUARTER

On the third play during Denver's first possession in the fourth quarter, Adam Jones intercepts Manning's pass but Reggie Nelson is flagged for taunting.

What do the Bengals do? Nothing.

With 12:33 remaining in the fourth quarter, Andy Dalton makes an unbelievable decision during a scramble by trying to hit A.J. Green, who had been playing with one arm since the pick-six early in the first quarter. It's amazing that Aqib Talib didn't intercept the football -- which wasn't going to be caught anyway. Dalton tried hitting tight end Jermaine Gresham in double coverage, which fell incomplete.

When the Bengals are tied or playing ahead, Dalton can produce. When playing from behind against a good team like the Broncos, my confidence in Dalton continues to deteriorate this season.

Then the recovery.

Brandon Tate, after the defense forced a three-and-out, returned the ensuing punt 49 yards to the Broncos 12-yard line with 9:43 remaining in the third. Unable to gain a first down, Mike Nugent converts the 23-yard field goal to take a 30-28 lead with 7:49 remaining in the game.

After Cincinnati only wiped out 1:54 off the clock, Denver resumed their offense from their own 20-yard line with 4:04 remaining in the game.

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THE PICK-SIX

The Bengals took an early jab on the chin after a quick slant that targeted A.J. Green was tipped off the receiver's hand. Aqib Talib made a diving catch and returned it 33 yards for the touchdown.

In addition to the unscheduled touchdown for Denver, Cincinnati essentially lost their best offensive weapon when A.J. Green suffered an arm injury.

THE RESPONSE

On Cincinnati's ensuing possession, Jeremy Hill took the handoff and sprinted 85 yards for the touchdown to tie the game at seven with over ten minutes remaining in the first quarter. Game on!

THE DEFENSE READS

Cincinnati's defense wasn't a problem early. During Denver's first three possessions, the Broncos generated only two first downs and failed to reach midfield in the first quarter. With 2:23 remaining in the first quarter, Vincent Rey read C.J. Anderson's run and dropped the running back for a five-yard loss.

With third and eight and 1:40 remaining from their own 20-yard line, Manning attempts to hit Emmanuel Sanders on a screen that lost two yards. Safety Reggie Nelson quickly read the play and forced the Broncos to punt.

BENGALS TAKE 10-7 LEAD

The Bengals took a 10-7 lead with 10:23 remaining in the second quarter, concluding a ten-play possession that took out 5:23 off the clock. Cincinnati also converted a fourth down when Jeremy Hill bounced off a pile to find enough room for a first down conversion.

REGGIE NELSON INTERCEPTION

With 9:57 remaining in the second quarter, Peyton Manning tries hitting tight end Julius Thomas on a quick out towards the left sidelines. Safety Reggie Nelson out-muscled Thomas for the football, securing the football and interception.

The Bengals have the football at the Broncos 22-yard line.

BENGALS TAKE 17-7 LEAD

Cincinnati decides to keep the football on the ground, playing zone-read run by Andy Dalton, generating 10 yards. After a Jeremy Hill gain, Dalton picked up another nine yards and the first down on a run near the goalline. Cincinnati takes a 17-7 lead on a naked boot rollout pass to Jermaine Gresham.

BENGALS EXTEND LEAD 20-7

Mike Nugent converted his 13th consecutive field goal with 1:03 remaining in the first quarter, giving Cincinnati a 20-7 lead. Denver moved downfield and put Connor Barth in position to add a 49-yarder but hooked it wide left.

THEN IT WENT DOWNHILL
BENGALS STILL LEAD 20-14

Omar Bolden returned the opening kickoff in the third quarter 77 yards to the Bengals 21-yard line. Peyton Manning strikes with a 19-yard pass to a wide open DeMaryius Thomas, reaching the Bengals two-yard line with 14:24 remaining in the third. After an incomplete and defensive pass interference on Terence Newman, the Broncos reduced Cincinnati's lead on C.J. Anderson's one-yard touchdown.

YET THE BENGALS RESPOND, AGAIN

Adam Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the Broncos 27-yard line...

...and Giovani Bernard scored the touchdown two players later.

INACTIVE

BENGALS BRONCOS
LB Emmanuel Lamur LB Brandon Marshall
WR James Wright OT Paul Cornick
QB AJ McCarron RB Ronnie Hillman
DT Devon Still CB Tony Carter
WR Greg Little TE Dominique Jones
CB Chris Lewis-Harris DE Quanterus Smith
OL Tanner Hawkinson OT Michael Schofield

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