By Dean Michaels

Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton connected with fellow rookie A.J. Green on a 51-yard bomb with under a minute left to set-up Mike Nugent's 26-yard game-winning field goal and carry the surprising Bengals over the bumbling Cleveland Browns 23-20 Sunday.

A botched Browns snap on a 55-yard field goal attempt with 1:51 left set up the Bengals game-winning possession. Phil Dawson was short on the try after the snap skipped along the ground, the second time in three games a botched snap cost the Browns a late lead.

A bad snap ruined Dawson's 22-yard field goal with 2:13 left and sent Cleveland to a 13-12 loss two weeks ago against St. Louis.

Dalton finished 21-for-31 for 270 yards and a touchdown and Green, who sat out last Sunday's loss to the Ravens with a bruised knee, had three catches for 110 yards. It was the first time this season the Browns allowed a 100-yard receiver.

Cincinnati trailed 20-10 when Dalton and Cedric Benson, who carried 21 times for 106 yards, helped power the comeback. Benson charged down the heart of the Browns defense, eventually setting up Dalton's Bengals rookie record 16th pass touchdown to Jermaine Gresham late in the third quarter.

Browns (4-7) quarterback Colt McCoy didn't do much to prevent what many believe will be an eventually benching, going 16 of 34 for just 151 yards with a pair of touchdowns, but added an interception and a dismal 67.2 rating.

Cincinnati (7-4) has won 12 of the past 15 meetings against their division and state rivals and six of seven at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals stayed in the thick of the race in what many consider the NFL's toughest division, just a game behind the Steelers and Ravens for first in the AFC North.

The Bengals face a tough challenge in a game that could go a long way in deciding the division at Pittsburgh for Week 13.

 

NFL 2011 Week 12 - Game-Winning Field Goal Lifts Bengals Over Bumbling Browns