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Bengals defense stops Indy
Yahoo Sports
CINCINNATI —The NFL’s top-ranked defense wouldn’t let Indianapolis get
that elusive first win.
Cornerback Nate Clements(notes) blocked a late field goal try that
would have tied the game, and Carlos Dunlap(notes) returned a Colts
fumble 35 yards for the clinching score Sunday, helping the Cincinnati
Bengals hold on for a 27-17 victory that kept Indianapolis winless.
The Bengals (4-2) matched their victory total from last season and
ended a seven-game losing streak against the Colts, who had never lost
to Cincinnati with Peyton Manning(notes) at quarterback. Manning was on
the sideline again Sunday, watching helplessly as the Colts fell to 0-6
for the fifth time in franchise history.
Curtis Painter(notes) rallied Indianapolis from a 20-7 deficit in the
second half, getting the Colts in range for Adam Vinatieri’s(notes)
52-yard field goal try to tie with 5:38 left. Clements swatted it away.
After the Bengals missed a field goal, Pierre Garcon(notes) was
stripped of the ball after a reception and Dunlap ran it back to finish
it off.
It was the second straight Bengals win capped by a defensive lineman in
the end zone. Geno Atkins’(notes) 10-yard fumble return completed a
30-20 victory in Jacksonville a week earlier.
Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton(notes) sent the Bengals into their bye
week on an upbeat note, putting together an impressive performance
against the Colts’ hard-charging defense. He was 25 of 32 for 264 yards
and one touchdown without a sack, completing 13 straight throws over
one stretch.
Clements got it going by stripping Dallas Clark(notes) of the ball on
Painter’s first completion, setting up Dalton’s 11-yard touchdown pass
to A.J. Green(notes).
The Colts’ mess of an offense took two more hits Sunday.
Already missing Manning, the Colts also were without injured running
back Joseph Addai(notes) and left tackle Anthony Castonzo(notes).
Indianapolis had to shuffle its line, moving Jeff Linkenbach(notes)
from right to left tackle. Guard Ryan Diam, hobbled by an ankle injury,
moved from guard to right tackle.
Not a good way to go against the NFL’s top-ranked defense.
Still, the Colts had a chance at the end.
Painter’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Clark cut it to 20-17 with 9:33
left. He would get them in range for the tying field goal, only to have
Clements—a free agent acquisition who replaced Johnathan
Joseph(notes)—slap it away. Dunlap’s fumble return with 2:22 to go
ended Indy’s chances.
Painter was 23 of 34 for 188 yards with his first interception in 115
attempts.
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