CINCINNATI (AP) – AJ McCarron overcame a rough start and threw a pair of touchdown passes Sunday, rallying Cincinnati to a sloppy 24-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
The Bengals (12-4) matched the best record in franchise history — they also won 12 games during the 1981 and 1988 seasons when they reached the Super Bowl.
The AFC North champions lost their chance for a first-round bye when Denver beat San Diego 27-20 later Sunday. They’ll host Pittsburgh next weekend, facing their biggest rival for the third time (Sat. 8:15 p.m./CBS).
Cincinnati won two of three after McCarron took over for Andy Dalton, who broke his right thumb during a 33-20 loss to Pittsburgh on Dec. 13. Dalton is hoping to return at some point in the postseason.
The Ravens (5-11) finished a season that went sour early with more injuries than any other team in the league.