Bengals QB Carson Palmer’s 15-yard run on fourth-and-11 late in overtime put the Bengals in position to win the game 23-20.
The Bengals defense tightened up in the red zone twice and forced the Browns to settle for field goals that kept them in the game.
Said Bengals S Chris Crocker, “We don’t have to make it this hard on ourselves. I would say that nothing good happens when you let people hang around, but we did, and we won. The last four weeks [were] some of the strangest, craziest games I’ve been in.”
A strip by Bengals CB Leon Hall led to DE Robert Geathers returning a fumble 75 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
After catching a touchdown, it looked like Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco would leap into the Dawg Pound but he was restrained by T Anthony Collins in what he said was a planned manuever.
Said Browns coach Eric Mangini, “I couldn’t be prouder of how they played and competed through five quarters.”
Browns rookie WR Mohammed Massaquoi had a breakout game with eight catches for 148 yards.
Patrick McManamon of the Akron Beacon Journal criticized Mangini’s use of the final Browns timeout and his decision to punt at the end of the fourth quarter.
Browns QB Derek Anderson completed 26 of 48 passes for 269 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but felt he could have done more to help the team win.
The Browns used WR Mike Furrey at safety, a position he last played with the Rams in 2005.