CINCINNATI (AP) — A.J. Green’s one-handed catch in the middle of an end zone scrum highlighted Cincinnati’s day full of big plays, and the Bengals pulled away to another lopsided victory over their intrastate rival, beating the winless Browns 31-17 on Sunday.
Green’s 48-yard touchdown catch on the final play of the first half helped the Bengals (3-4) regain their footing in the injury-depleted AFC North.
The defending division champions piled up their most points since they beat the Browns 37-3 last December. Jeremy Hill had a 74-yard touchdown run as part of his 168-yard effort, the best by a Bengals running back in seven years.
The Browns (0-7) extended their worst start since 1999, when they were a first-year expansion team. The NFL’s only winless team also lost yet another quarterback — the theme of their season.
Cody Kessler got hit hard while throwing a shovel pass in the second quarter, then went to the locker for a concussion evaluation and was ruled out.
That left the offense in the hands of undrafted rookie Kevin Hogan, the Browns’ sixth quarterback of the season.
Hogan — Cleveland’s last quarterback standing — kept it close for a while by scrambling 28 yards for his first NFL touchdown. He finished as the Browns’ top rusher with 104 yards.