Bengals vs. Browns score, takeaways: Joe Burrow ends skid vs. Cleveland, helps banged-up Cincy win 5th in row

Despite losing two of his top three wide receivers and already missing his top tight end, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow did enough to snap their five-game losing streak to the Cleveland Browns and his personal four-game losing streak against the in-state rival with a 23-10 win on Sunday afternoon. Wide receiver Tee Higgins exited early with a hamstring injury, wide receiver Tyler Boyd left the game with a finger/hand injury issue and tight end Hayden Hurst didn't suit up in Week 14 with a calf injury. 

Burrow did just enough, throwing for 239 yards, two passing touchdowns and an interception on 18-of-33 passing. The same couldn't be said for Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. He threw for 276 yards, an interception for the second straight game, and his first Browns touchdown pass, a 13-yarder to tight end David Njoku, on 26-of-42 passing.  

The action started slowly with five of the first six possessions for the Browns and Bengals resulting in punts, with the exception of a Cleveland turnover on downs from the Cincinnati 25. The Bengals' first touchdown came when Burrow connected with his go-to-guy Ja'Marr Chase for a 15-yard score. Chase's receiving touchdown was the 20th of his career, making him and Hall of Famer Randy Moss the only players in NFL history with 2,000 or more receiving yards and 20 or more receiving touchdowns at age 22 or younger. Chase finished with 119 receiving yards and the 15-yard touchdown on 10 catches. 

Cincinnati was aided by plenty of Browns bungles on the drive, with three penalties resulting in first downs, including a roughing penalty on the Browns when Cincinnati punted the football away on fourth-and-15. Cleveland was called for seven penalties in the first half, which resulted in 83 free yards to the Bengals. Cincinnati struck again with 24 seconds left in the half as backup running back Samaje Perine bounced a run outside for a six-yard rushing score. A missed extra point resulted in the 13-3 halftime score. 

The Bengals appeared to have the game in control following a perfectly executed flea-flicker for a 45-yard touchdown from Burrow to receiver Trenton Irwin that put them up 20-3 halfway through the third quarter. A Watson interception to Bengals safety Jessie Bates III came only four plays after a Bengals field goal put Cincinnati ahead by 13 points, 23-10, after he stared down his intended target, Donovan Peoples-Jones, for way too long. His inability to get the ball out quickly indicated there's still plenty of rust yet to be cleaned off him after he missed a season-and-a-half of NFL action. 

However, Burrow countered with an interception of his own five plays after Watson's when Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage, causing the ball to fall into the arms of Browns linebacker Deion Jones. Watson couldn't make the most of his defense's takeaway, throwing three consecutive incompletions after reaching second-and-goal from the Bengals' six. The last ill-fated throw appeared to hit Peoples-Jones in the chest, but a hit from Cincinnati cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt jarred the football loose and to the ground. 

The Bengals defense brought their A+ game Sunday, which was needed with the offense struggling without its primary playmakers. Holding Browns running back Nick Chubb, who entered Sunday as the NFL's second-leading rusher, to 34 yards on 14 carries is an impressive feat. The victory allowed Cincinnati to win its fifth straight game to keep pace with the Baltimore Ravens, also 9-4, atop the AFC North through 14 weeks of football. 

Why the Bengals won

Their defense won over and over again at the line of scrimmage Sunday, shutting down Nick Chubb, the heart of the Browns' offense. Putting the game squarely in Deshaun Watson's hands in just his second NFL game in 707 days was likely their game plan, and it was executed perfectly. The Cleveland quarterback just couldn't make the game-swinging play in the red zone when the Browns desperately needed him to do so. 

With their offense looking very streaking down three key pass-catchers, running back Joe Mixon returned from a two-game absence due to injury with 96 yards on 14 carries, nearly seven yards a rush. His production helped the Bengals offense bleed away enough clock at critical moments to secure a double-digit triumph. 

Why the Browns lost

When the Browns beat the Bengals back in Week 8 on "Monday Night Football," Nick Chubb was the star of the show, running for 101 yards and two touchdowns. On Sunday: 34 yards on 14 carries for 2.4 yards a run. That's not going to cut it for a Browns team trying to assimilate a new quarterback in the final quarter of the season, especially one that hadn't played NFL football for a year-and-a-half until last week. 

Turning point and play of the game

The perfectly executed flea-flicker for a 45-yard touchdown from Joe Burrow to wide receiver Trenton Irwin that put them up 20-3 halfway through the third quarter stands as both the turning point and the play of the game. The way both teams were struggling to score, a three-possession lead felt like a 35-point advantage. Even the most optimistic Browns fan had to know deep down their squad wasn't winning, trailing by three scores the way Nick Chubb and their offensive line struggled all afternoon. 

What's next

Up next, the Bengals hit the road and head down to Tampa to face Tom Brady and the NFC South-leading Buccaneers. The Browns are now down and out in the AFC playoff hunt, dropping to 5-8, with a showdown against those 9-4 Ravens in Cleveland looming in Week 15. 

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Another stop from by the Bengals defense, forcing another Watson incompletion on fourth down. The Bengals defense played an A+ game today, shutting down Nick Chubb and coming up clutch in key spots. 

 
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Just when it looked like the Bengals were about to pull away, Joe Burrow had his pass tipped by defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, leading to an interception by Browns linebacker Deion Jones. Cleveland has new life down 13, 23-10, with about 10 minutes left in the game.

 
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Huge interception by safety Jessie Bates III after Watson stared down Donovan Peoples-Jones. That may do it with the Bengals up 13, 23-10, with 13:48 left to play 

 
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Evan McPherson's 30-yard field goal is good, still a two-possession game, as their lead increases to 13, 23-10. Browns will have a chance to strike back with essentially the entire final quarter remaining. 

 
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Deshaun Watson completes the first touchdown pass of his Browns career 13 yards to tight end David Njoku. Cleveland still hanging around and now down 10, 20-10, with 2:17 remaining in the third quarter. Njoku just took an underneath route the distance, leaving a Bengals linebacker in the dust.  

 
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Game hanging in the balance if the Browns don't convert on fourth and five, but Deshaun Watson rifled a pass into tight end David Njoku just beyond the line to gain. Huge first down to keep Cleveland in the game. 

 
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The Bengals run a perfectly-executed flea-flicker as Joe Burrow hits a wide open wide receiver, Trenton Irwin, for a 45-yard touchdown. 20-3 Bengals on top with 7:26 left to play. Incredible play-call. Yes, there's a lot of ball game left, but that could be a dagger with the way the Browns are struggling to move the football today.

 
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Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson wraps up Deshaun Watson the blitz, Browns forced to punt facing fourth-and-11. Three punts on the second half's first three possessions. 13-3 Bengals lead as they take over at their own 44 with 8:10 left in the third quarter. Nick Chubb needs more than 30 yards on 11 carries if the Browns are going to have a chance in this game. 

 
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Both teams start with punts in the third quarter, a strong defensive slugfest brewing in Cincinnati. Bengals lead 13-3 as the Browns take possession on their own 17 with 10:11 left in the quarter. 

 
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Excluding the end of the first half, the Browns offense has strung together three punts, a turnover on downs and a field goal on five full possessions. Another punt starts the Bengals on their own 15 for their first second-half possession. 

 
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Deshaun Watson's Hail Mary heave falls incomplete. The Bengals take a 13-3 lead into the locker room. After being stifled for most of the half, seemed like Joe Burrow figured something out about the Browns secondary, leading two touchdown drives to end the half. 

 
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Backup running back Samaje Perine bounces outside after an up-the-middle run was stuffed for a six-yard touchdown. Following the missed extra point by kicker Evan McPherson, the Bengals lead by 10, 13-3.  

 
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Replay overturns a 15-yard gain on a pass from Joe Burrow to wide receiver Trent Taylor, so Cincy now faces a third and 10 from their own 47. 

 
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The Browns settled for a field goal this time around with Cade York draining a 26-yarder on fourth-and-six from the Bengals eight. 7-3 Cincy leads with 2:59 left in the half. 

 
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There are points in Cincinnati! Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow connects with his go-to-guy Ja'Marr Chase for a 15-yard touchdown in the middle of the end zone. Their chemistry is good the football just appeared in Chase's chest the second his head turned around. 7-0 Bengals on top with 9:43 left in the half. 

 
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Browns penalty yards: 78, Bengals offensive yards 54. 

 
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There have been five consecutive punts by both teams since the Browns threw an endzone shot on fourth and one at the Bengals 25. Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski is probably beside himself he didn't take the points. Bengals take possession at their own 15. 

 
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No score after a quarter. The Browns have out-gained the Bengals 69-40. Cleveland has three first downs to Cincinnati's two. The Browns are facing a third-and-13 from their own 27 to begin the second quarter. 

 
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Three drives, three punts for the Bengals. A much different start than a week ago when they scored touchdowns on their first two drives against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. 

 
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Another three-and-out. The Browns gained a total of one yard on their drive after a loss of two on a pass to tight end David Njoku, a three-yard run by Nick Chubb, and a zero-yard sack of Deshaun Watson. Bengals take over on their own 10 after blocking penalty on their return team. No score with 4:43 left in the first quarter. 

 
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Another Bengals drive comes to a close after a short Joe Mixon run on first down, one yard, followed by an incompletion and a seven-yard throw to Ja'Marr Chase short of the line to gain. Browns about to start drive number tow on their own 19 with 7:02 left in the first quarter, no score. 

 
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The Browns inserted backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett on fourth and one from the Bengals 25 with the expectation of a QB sneak, but instead his play-action deep shot to wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones in the end zone was overthrown. Turnover on downs. Still scoreless in Cincinnati with 9:50 left in the first quarter. Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense returns for their second drive of the game from their own 25.  

 
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A quick three-and-out for the Bengals after gaining a combined three yards on the opening drive. Two Burrow incompletions followed a short Joe Mixon run. Browns have the ball out to the 42 after Deshaun Watson's completion on his first pass to Amari Cooper for 18 yards. 

 
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Joe Burrow vs Myles Garrett to start the game a big matchup. Garrett had 1.5 of the Browns' five sacks of Burrow during Cleveland's win vs Cincy on Monday Night Football. 

 
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While filling in for an injured Joe Mixon since Week 11, Bengals running back Samaje Perine has the fourth-most scrimmage yards in NFL in past 3 weeks, 330, trailing only Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (727), Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (463), and Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (356). 

 
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The Bengals re-tooled offensive line is working as Joe Burrow has the third-lowest pressure rate in NFL this season behind only Tom Brady and Tua Tagovailo after having a league average or below league average pressure rate in each of his first two seasons.

Joe Burrow Pressure Rate by Season

                       NFL Rank

2020    33%     18th

2021    33%     16th

2022    26% <<  3rd <<

>> Only Tom Brady & Tua Tagovailoa have been pressured at lower rate this season

 
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Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow  leads the NFL in passer rating since Week 3 after having the 5th-worst in the NFL in Cincinnati's 0-2 start. He has 22 passing touchdowns and only four interceptions since Week 3 after throwing three pass TD touchdowns and four interceptions in the first two games of 2022. 

Joe Burrow This Season

           Week 1-2   Since Week 3

Comp pct     64%      70%

Yds/att      6.0      8.3

TD-INT       3-4      22-4

Passer rtg   73.1     111.4 <<

>> Leads NFL in span (5th-worst prior)

 
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The Bengals have caught fire and are on a four-game winning streak since starting the season 4-4. It's their longest winning streak since 2015  when they started 8-0 including 2021 Super Bowl Run (won 3 straight between Week 18 loss & Super Bowl loss).

Cincinnati is 17-3 ATS in past 20 games including playoffs, the best in the NFL in that span, and they have covered in nine of the past 10 games.

 
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Browns running back Nick Chubb averages 5.3 yards per rush in his career, the most in a player's first five NFL seasons in NFL history, min. 1,000 rushes.

Most Yards Per Rush in First 5 NFL Seasons

NFL History (Min. 1,000 Rushes)

2018-22  Nick Chubb        5.3

1957-61  Jim Brown         5.1

2016-20  Derrick Henry     5.0

2007-11  Adrian Peterson   4.8

 
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The Cleveland Browns are coming off a unique 27-14 win at the Houston Texans as 7.5-pt road favorite where they became the first team since the 2017  New Orleans Saints with three non-offensive TD in a game as well as the first team since the 2014 Green Bay Packers to return a punt, a fumble and an interception for touchdowns.

Cleveland did not score any offensive touchdowns in quarterback Deshaun Watson's Browns debut, his first NFL start in 700 His 131 passing yards and an interception on 12-of-22 passing resulted in his worst passer rating in any start of his career (53.4).

Deshaun Watson Week 13 vs Texans

                               Career Rank

Comp pct     55%     5th-worst

Pass yds     131     3rd-worst

Passer rtg   53.4    Worst

>> 1st game in 700 days

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