CINCINNATI — After a slow start, Joe Burrow went on to throw two touchdown passes as the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Cleveland Browns 23-10 on Sunday.
For Burrow, it wasn't his prettiest of games, but he did enough to earn his first victory in the Battle for Ohio rivalry after losing the five previous meetings. The Bengals quarterback finished 18 for 33 for 239 yards. His only real blemish on the day was a fourth-quarter interception.
Cincinnati's defense bottled up Browns running back Nick Chubb, picked off Deshaun Watson and stopped the Browns on three fourth-down plays.
Watson's performance was much better than in his debut with the team last week. When he connected with David Njoku for a 13-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, it marked the first time in 707 days, that Watson have thrown a scoring.
However the Cleveland quarterback also threw a fourth-quarter interception and failed to hook up with Donovan Peoples-Jones on fourth-and-goal late in the fourth quarter which would have made it a one-score game.
Watson finished the game completing 26 of 42 passes for 276 yards, and his touchdown pass was the only time the Browns reached the end zone.
Burrow and Bengals took full control of the game in the third quarter, when he hit Trenton Irwin for an easy 45-yard scoring pass when the Browns defense fell for a flea-flicker.
Burrow had to rely heavily on Ja'Marr Chase after his other top receivers, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, sustained injuries and left the game. Chase hauled in 10 receptions for 119 yards in his second game back after missing a month with a hip fracture.
Joe Mixon returned to the lineup after missing the last two games due to a concussion. Mixon finished the day with 96 yards rushing, including a 40-yard dash that led to a Cincinnati field goal to open the fourth quarter.
The Bengals (9-4) have now won five in a row and nine of their last 11, but remain tied with Baltimore for the AFC North lead. The Ravens defeated Pittsburgh 16-14 on Sunday.
The loss was a tough one for Cleveland (5-8), whose playoff hopes are now all but nonexistent.
Cincinnati will travel next Sunday to face Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Browns will be back home as they face off with AFC North rival Baltimore on Saturday.
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