CLEVELAND, OH - The Cincinnati Bengals came to town with much speculation surrounding rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, as Carson Palmer continues to hold out on the team.
Wide receiver AJ Green did not travel with the team due to an injury sustained in the preseason.
Then came a defensive battle on both sides of the ball, the Browns looking to test the inexperienced Dalton as they sent blitzes early and often. Dalton would be caught out on a first down after the Browns stacked the box and he failed to read the blitz.
On the very next play, the Browns' mindgames worked. While Dalton had been intercepted earlier in the game on a deep bomb, he had looked solid on offense and took care of the ball - but in his desperation to regain the yards lost on the sack he threw a ball straight at rookie cornerback Joe Haden, who knew exactly what to do.
The Browns' continued success in the running game was a concern for Bengals coach Mike Brown, but on the ensuing possession after the pick the Browns were caught out as they tried to convert a 3rd and 1 through rookie fullback Owen Marecic.
Marecic made amends for his error on the next Browns possession as he made a brilliant open-field tackle on a punt return, but the Bengals would score through a long field-goal and an easy Cedric Benson run from 5 yards out before the half, to be ahead 10-7.
Mike Nugent started off the third with another field goal, his second of three on the day, and the Bengals then marched back to the end zone. After being shown up on Benson's touchdown as he ran left tackle and crossed over untouched, the Browns' red zone defense stiffened up - stuffing the Bengals and sending them backwards on two consecutive plays. It was 3rd and 6, and Dalton would have to make a play.
Bengals' backup running back Bernard Scott looked to be contained but brushed off Haden to have the Browns down 29-7. Brown did not hesitate in telling his team to go for the two-point conversion, giving the Browns' D another shot at redemption, but Dalton made a clutch play after being flushed out of the pocket to ensure the Browns would have to score two touchdowns to level it.
The fourth quarter began with a silent crowd in Cleveland. There were some bright spots on offense - Hillis was continuing to tear the Bengals' linebackers to shreds, McCoy had been 100% for the first quarter, and tight end Benjamin Watson was converting on third down time and again.
The Bengals had struggled to key in on Watson the whole game and it would come back to bite them as he snagged a six yard pass from McCoy for a touchdown early in the fourth.
The Bengals again managed to snag a Nugent field goal, but the Browns marched up field on the ensuing possession and looked unstoppable until Mohamed Massaquoi had his fifth drop of the day on a 3rd and short in the red zone.
The Browns needed two yards to convert, with four minutes on the clock and a 10 point deficit. The decision is obvious.
But Shurmur bucked the trend, sending out his field goal team to a sea of boos from the home crowd. Phil Dawson would make the attempt, and it would rest on the shoulders of the Browns' defense.
They had played exceptionally when in the Bengals' half all game, and the fourth quarter was no different - holding the Bengals to another 3 and out to receive the ball with two and a half minutes and 2 timeouts left.
From there, it all started to go right. First, Josh Cribbs managed to make a 20 yard punt return - justifying Shurmur's decision to save Cribbs for special teams and spread plays.
Next, Hillis broke another 20 yard gain to be in the red zone once more. Then the Bengals were called for a facemask. Then Watson caught a 15 yard pass to have the Browns on the 8 yard line with 90 seconds to go.
Shurmur ran clock on the first play and seemed to be taking his time to ensure the game would head to overtime. This plan went astray as Hillis crossed over on second down, but not to worry as the Bengals would surely take a knee and hope for better luck in the extra quarter.
Not so. On first down after receiving the kickoff, Andy Dalton dropped back to pass...
After throwing two earlier interceptions and getting away with them, Dalton's luck had run out. The Bengals were now down by 7, with 40 seconds and no timeouts left.
They played the four downs, but were unable to convert. Shurmur took a knee, then kicked a field goal as time expired in a move which will definitely have angered Brown and the Bengals defense - something to watch the next time these two teams meet.
The Cleveland Browns made a number of savvy moves in the draft, with rookies starting in a number of positions. Running back Peyton Hillis was looking to continue his form from the 2010 season, and coach Pat Shurmur made no secret of the fact Hillis will be a workhorse for the team this season.
The Bengals won the toss and elected to receive, looking to score some early points, but the Browns defense let them know whose house they were in, as they got the Dawg Pound fired up with an early 3-and-out.
Minutes later Shurmur's prediction had come true as Hillis crossed the line from five yards out to score the opening touchdown.
Then came a defensive battle on both sides of the ball, the Browns looking to test the inexperienced Dalton as they sent blitzes early and often. Dalton would be caught out on a first down after the Browns stacked the box and he failed to read the blitz.
On the very next play, the Browns' mindgames worked. While Dalton had been intercepted earlier in the game on a deep bomb, he had looked solid on offense and took care of the ball - but in his desperation to regain the yards lost on the sack he threw a ball straight at rookie cornerback Joe Haden, who knew exactly what to do.
The Browns' continued success in the running game was a concern for Bengals coach Mike Brown, but on the ensuing possession after the pick the Browns were caught out as they tried to convert a 3rd and 1 through rookie fullback Owen Marecic.
Marecic made amends for his error on the next Browns possession as he made a brilliant open-field tackle on a punt return, but the Bengals would score through a long field-goal and an easy Cedric Benson run from 5 yards out before the half, to be ahead 10-7.
Mike Nugent started off the third with another field goal, his second of three on the day, and the Bengals then marched back to the end zone. After being shown up on Benson's touchdown as he ran left tackle and crossed over untouched, the Browns' red zone defense stiffened up - stuffing the Bengals and sending them backwards on two consecutive plays. It was 3rd and 6, and Dalton would have to make a play.
Bengals' backup running back Bernard Scott looked to be contained but brushed off Haden to have the Browns down 29-7. Brown did not hesitate in telling his team to go for the two-point conversion, giving the Browns' D another shot at redemption, but Dalton made a clutch play after being flushed out of the pocket to ensure the Browns would have to score two touchdowns to level it.
The fourth quarter began with a silent crowd in Cleveland. There were some bright spots on offense - Hillis was continuing to tear the Bengals' linebackers to shreds, McCoy had been 100% for the first quarter, and tight end Benjamin Watson was converting on third down time and again.
The Bengals had struggled to key in on Watson the whole game and it would come back to bite them as he snagged a six yard pass from McCoy for a touchdown early in the fourth.
The Bengals again managed to snag a Nugent field goal, but the Browns marched up field on the ensuing possession and looked unstoppable until Mohamed Massaquoi had his fifth drop of the day on a 3rd and short in the red zone.
The Browns needed two yards to convert, with four minutes on the clock and a 10 point deficit. The decision is obvious.
But Shurmur bucked the trend, sending out his field goal team to a sea of boos from the home crowd. Phil Dawson would make the attempt, and it would rest on the shoulders of the Browns' defense.
They had played exceptionally when in the Bengals' half all game, and the fourth quarter was no different - holding the Bengals to another 3 and out to receive the ball with two and a half minutes and 2 timeouts left.
From there, it all started to go right. First, Josh Cribbs managed to make a 20 yard punt return - justifying Shurmur's decision to save Cribbs for special teams and spread plays.
Next, Hillis broke another 20 yard gain to be in the red zone once more. Then the Bengals were called for a facemask. Then Watson caught a 15 yard pass to have the Browns on the 8 yard line with 90 seconds to go.
Shurmur ran clock on the first play and seemed to be taking his time to ensure the game would head to overtime. This plan went astray as Hillis crossed over on second down, but not to worry as the Bengals would surely take a knee and hope for better luck in the extra quarter.
Not so. On first down after receiving the kickoff, Andy Dalton dropped back to pass...
After throwing two earlier interceptions and getting away with them, Dalton's luck had run out. The Bengals were now down by 7, with 40 seconds and no timeouts left.
They played the four downs, but were unable to convert. Shurmur took a knee, then kicked a field goal as time expired in a move which will definitely have angered Brown and the Bengals defense - something to watch the next time these two teams meet.
| Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns | |||||
| Sep 11, 2011 | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | SCORE |
| Cincinnati Bengals (0-0) | 0 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 24 |
| Cleveland Browns (0-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 34 |
| Team Stats Comparison | ||
| CIN | CLE | |
| Total Offense | 292 | 379 |
| Rushing Yards | 48 | 145 |
| Passing Yards | 244 | 234 |
| First Downs | 13 | 23 |
| Punt Return Yards | 35 | 20 |
| Kick Return Yards | 88 | 59 |
| Total Yards | 415 | 458 |
| Turnovers | 3 (-2) | 1 (+2) |
| 3rd Down Converstion | 7-16 (43%) | 7-18 (38%) |
| 4th Down Conversion | 0-1 (0%) | 2-2 (100%) |
| 2-Point Conversion | 1-1 (100%) | 0-0 (0%) |
| Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals | 2/1 | 3/2 |
| Penalties | 3-20 | 3-23 |
| Posession Time | 19:06 | 28:54 |
| Scoring Summary | |||
| FIRST QUARTER SCORING | CIN | CLE | |
| 8:12 | (CLE) P.Hillis, 5yd run (P.Dawson kick) | 0 | 7 |
| SECOND QUARTER SCORING | CIN | CLE | |
| 5:49 | (CIN) C.Benson, 6yd run (M.Nugent kick) | 7 | 7 |
| 1:47 | (CIN) M.Nugent, 55yd FG | 10 | 7 |
| THIRD QUARTER SCORING | CIN | CLE | |
| 3:48 | (CIN) M.Nugent, 40yd FG | 13 | 7 |
| 1:15 | (CIN) B.Scott, 6yd run (M.Nugent kick) | 20 | 7 |
| FOURTH QUARTER SCORING | CIN | CLE | |
| 10:26 | (CLE) B.Watson 6yd pass from C.McCoy (P.Dawson kick) | 20 | 14 |
| 6:53 | (CIN) M.Nugent, 35yd FG | 24 | 14 |
| 3:18 | (CLE) P.Dawson, 33yd FG | 24 | 17 |
| 0:42 | (CLE) P.Hillis, 3yd run (P.Dawson kick) | 24 | 24 |
| 0:34 | (CLE) A.Dalton, pass intercepted by K.Bulluck. Returned 27yds for a TD (P.Dawson kick) | 24 | 31 |
| 0:00 | (CLE) P.Dawson, 32yd FG | 24 | 34 |
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