CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase continue to deliver remarkable performances on the field, yet the Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in need of assistance if they hope to secure a playoff berth. On Sunday, Burrow threw three touchdown passes, one even while falling to the ground, leading the Bengals to a crucial 24-6 victory against the Cleveland Browns, thereby keeping their postseason ambitions alive.
“This one just keeps us in the race,” Burrow remarked after the game. “It feels good to play in big games. It’s exciting to still be in it.” The Bengals, now holding a 7-8 record, have achieved three consecutive victories. To qualify for the playoffs, they must win their final two games and rely on favorable outcomes from other teams.
Completing 23 of 30 passes for 252 yards, Burrow etched his name in the NFL record books as the first quarterback to throw for three or more touchdown passes and 250 or more passing yards in seven consecutive games, breaking the previous record of six set by Tom Brady during New England’s perfect season in 2007. Chase contributed significantly as well, recording six catches for 97 yards and a late touchdown, bringing his season total to 1,510 yards—surpassing the franchise record of 1,455 yards he set in 2021.
“It feels good, something I wanted to do,” Chase stated. He currently leads the league with 108 receptions, 1,510 receiving yards, and 16 touchdown catches. “Me being competitive, I wanted to compete with myself.” Meanwhile, Burrow leads the NFL in both passing yards and touchdown passes, with totals of 4,229 yards and 39 touchdowns, respectively.
The Browns, who replaced Jameis Winston with Dorian Thompson-Robinson as quarterback, struggled to capitalize on opportunities in the red zone. Jerome Ford opened the game with an explosive 66-yard run, yet the Browns’ drive faltered after D’Onta Foreman fumbled on first-and-goal, and Vonn Bell recovered. “It’s a 14-point swing,” Cincinnati’s coach Zac Taylor reflected. “Not only did it take the life out of them a little bit, getting the stop on the 1-yard line then going 99 yards gave us a lot of confidence and set the tone.”
In the third quarter, the Browns’ potential scoring was hindered by a holding penalty that nullified a touchdown run by Thompson-Robinson, who also threw an interception in the end zone. “Obviously, you turn the ball over in the red zone, especially the first one, you’re not going to put yourself in position to get a win on the road,” reflected Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. “Not a lack of effort. It’s a lack of protecting the ball.”
The Bengals took full advantage of Foreman’s turnover when Burrow, while falling down, completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins, finalizing an impressive 99-yard drive. The Bengals’ defense, which had struggled earlier in the season, has demonstrated improvement by forcing nine turnovers in their past two games. “The guys have done a great job on that side of the ball getting us extra possessions on offense,” Taylor remarked.
Thompson-Robinson finished the game with 157 passing yards and two interceptions after being named the starter ahead of Winston, who was sidelined due to a shoulder injury. He also added 49 rushing yards but was sacked five times. Ford ran the ball for 93 yards and scored a touchdown on 11 carries.
Burrow later connected with Chase on a 32-yard touchdown pass with just 1:44 remaining, even though the Bengals were primarily looking to run out the clock.
In a noteworthy moment, Cincinnati’s Cade York, a former draft pick of the Browns, tied the franchise record for the longest field goal with a 59-yard kick just before halftime, extending the Bengals’ lead to 17-0. This matched Evan McPherson’s 59-yard kick from September 2022, with McPherson currently on injured reserve due to a groin injury. “There was no ill will,” York commented about his time with the Browns. “I really enjoyed my time over there. It was nice to beat them, though.”
On the defensive side, Myles Garrett achieved a significant milestone by recording the 100th sack of his career in the second quarter. “It made my dad proud,” Garrett said. “He’s been telling me through my last three weeks. I’m happy to get it done. There is no quitting in my blood.” With this milestone, Garrett joins Lawrence Taylor as one of the only players to have 12 or more sacks in five consecutive seasons.
In terms of injuries, two key players returned for the Browns: tight end David Njoku and cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. For the Bengals, right tackle Amarius Mims left the game with an ankle injury and did not return, while left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. was inactive due to a fibula injury.
Looking ahead, the Browns are set to host Miami next Sunday, while the Bengals will welcome Denver to their home field on Saturday.