Bengals slide past Broncos to grab share of AFC North lead

Cincinnati Bengals nose tackle D.J. Reader (98) tackles Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (25) in the first half the NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, at Empower Field in Denver, Co.

Cincinnati Bengals At Denver Broncos 371

Cincinnati Bengals nose tackle D.J. Reader (98) tackles Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon (25) in the first half the NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, at Empower Field in Denver, Co. Cincinnati Bengals At Denver Broncos 371

Joe Burrow was 15-of-22 passing for 157 yards and a touchdown, Tyler Boyd had five receptions for 96 yards and a score, and the visiting Cincinnati Bengals beat the Denver Broncos 15-10 on Sunday.

Evan McPherson kicked three field goals, including a franchise-record 58-yarder, for Cincinnati (8-6), which snapped a two-game skid and moved into a tie for first place in the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens.

Drew Lock was 6-of-12 passing for 88 yards and a score for the Broncos in relief of injured quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater was 12-for-22 passing for 98 yards before leaving with a head injury in the third quarter.

Tim Patrick had three catches for 42 yards and a TD for Denver (7-7).

McPherson kicked a 53-yard field goal in the first quarter and Brandon McManus nailed a 54-yarder to tie it in the second quarter.

McManus missed wide left on a 51-yard attempt with nine seconds left in the half, giving Cincinnati the ball at its 41-yard line. Burrow’s 19-yard completion to Boyd set up McPherson’s record field goal and a 6-3 halftime lead.

The Bengals went ahead 9-3 on McPherson’s third field goal, this one from 26 yards, with 6:21 left in the third quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Bridgewater was hurt when he scrambled. He dove for the first-down yardage as Bengals linebacker Joe Bachie hit his legs and defensive lineman B.J. Hill hit him in the back, propelling propelled Bridgewater face first into the turf.

Bridgewater laid on the ground motionless as he was attended to by Denver’s medical personnel. He was taken off the field on a cart with his head and neck immobilized with 5:34 left in the quarter.

The Broncos announced he suffered a head injury and had movement in all extremities. He was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Lock came in and finished the drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Patrick and a 10-9 lead. Cincinnati answered when Burrow hit Boyd with a 56-yard TD pass. The Bengals’ 2-point conversion failed and they led by five.

In the fourth quarter, Denver drove to the Cincinnati 9 but Lock fumbled when he was stripped by Khalid Kareem.

–Field Level Media

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