The Bengals, who are not yet assured of a playoff spot, have gotten off to a solid start Sunday against Minnesota.
A.J. Green’s 29-yard TD catch gave the Bengals a 14-7 lead against the Vikings after one quarter in Cincinnati.
On the play, Green lined up in the slot, ran toward the near corner of the endzone, secured the Andy Dalton pass and got his feet inbounds for the score.
The Vikings had tied the game at seven on a 36-yard TD catch from Jarius Wright, who beat Dre Kirkpatrick on the play. The drive was set up when Vikings safety Jamarca Sanford recovered a fumble by Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham.
The Bengals scored the game’s first TD on a four-yard run by BenJarvus Green-Ellis after defensive end Carlos Dunlap’s 42-yard return of a Matt Cassel fumble. Cassel was sacked by linebacker Vincent Rey and safety Reggie Nelson, and when Rey dislodged the ball, Dunlap picked it up and returned it all the way to the Minnesota 4.
The Bengals (9-5) are one game ahead of the Ravens in the AFC North.