CINCINNATI (AP) — Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes to Tyler Eifert and played lead blocker on Mohamed Sanu’s reverse Thursday night, keeping the Cincinnati Bengals unbeaten with a 31-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
The Bengals improved to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history, their longest winning streak within a season.
Coming off an emotional 16-10 victory in Pittsburgh on Sunday that gave them control of the AFC North, the Bengals dominated the Browns (2-7) and Johnny Manziel in the second half.
Manziel had some of his best moments in the opening half, which ended with Cincinnati up only 14-10. In the second half, the Browns managed only 32 yards and two first downs.
Dalton was 21 of 27 for 234 yards. Eifert’s three touchdown catches gave him nine for the season, tying the club record for a tight end.
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Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict injured his left knee during the second quarter Thursday night and got treatment on the sideline before returning for the next series.
It’s the same knee he had operated on twice last year. Burfict missed training camp and the first six games while recovering, and returned last Sunday in Pittsburgh and had five tackles during a 16-10 win over the Steelers. He limped off after one series, had the knee examined, then returned the next time the Browns got the ball.
Cincinnati was already missing linebacker Rey Maualuga, who hurt his right calf in Pittsburgh and was inactive for Thursday’s game.