Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker
The longstanding Battle of Ohio has had its share of wild and unpredictable games, and the first installment of 2009 was no different.
In a division game many expected to be a mismatch, the Cincinnati Bengals needed all four quarters and the entire overtime period to secure a 23-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Cincinnati kicker Shayne Graham barely sailed a 31-yard field goal inside the uprights with 4 seconds left in overtime. Before that, both teams had possession several times with a chance to win the game.
The Bengals improved to 3-1, but continue to make things hard on themselves as all four games have come down to the final drive. Cincinnati nearly put Sunday's game away in regulation, but a blocked extra point by Browns defensive tackle Shaun Rogers kept the score tied at 20-20.
The Browns showed their first signs of life this season. The switch to quarterback Derek Anderson (269 yards, one touchdown, one interception) ignited an offense that struggled in the first three games. Tailback Jerome Harrison also rushed for a career-high 121 yards as Cleveland took some steps in the right direction.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati recorded its third straight win, and the Bengals will meet the Baltimore Ravens (3-1) next week in a huge battle for first place in the AFC North division.
Sort comments by: Most Recent | First Posted
Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after three seasons covering the Cleveland Browns for the Columbus Dispatch. He also covered the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Cavaliers at the Dispatch. Walker grew up in Hyattsville, Md., before attending Temple University, graduating in 2001 with a B.A. in communications and mass media. He resides in the Cleveland area.