(Cincinnati) Trailing by 14 points in the third quarter at the helm of an offensive unit that struggled to advance the ball, Jake Browning had to be almost perfect. And he was.
Browning led the Bengals to three touchdowns in the fourth quarter while leading the game-clinching overtime drive, shining once again in relief of Joe Burrow in a 27-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings.
Browning was starting his third straight game and is 3-1 since Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury against the Baltimore Ravens.
This time, he threw for 184 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime, becoming the fourth center in the last two years to have that many yards after three quarters and score two touchdowns in two straight games.
“I feel like I need a beer,” said Browning, who scored the win against the team that released him from its practice squad two years ago.
Tee Higgins stretched out his arm for a touchdown to force overtime with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. He caught a 21-yard pass from Browning just outside the end zone. The receiver managed to put the ball over the line, behind him, before being tackled into touch.
In overtime, a 44-yard aerial play completed by Tyler Boyd and a four-yard run by Joe Mixon allowed Evan McPherson to score a decisive 29-yard field goal. The Bengals (8-6) started this sequence at their own 41-yard line after stopping the Vikings (7-7) on a fourth down.
“Jake is so steady, you know,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. He really is. He doesn’t let negative play shake him. He doesn’t overreact. »
Browning completed 29 of 42 passes for 324 yards, two majors – all scored by Higgins – and an interception. He joined 11 different receivers.
Nick Mullens, the fourth quarterback to start a game this season for the Vikings, passed the ball for 303 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“Absolutely grueling game,” Mullens said. But this is the kind of game you want to be a part of. »
The Vikings lost their third game in four outings, signing their only victory at 3-0 against the Las Vegas Raiders during this stretch. This gain was the reason for the replacement of quarterback Joshua Dobbs by Mullens.
Jordan Addison had six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Jefferson, for his part, caught seven balls for 84 yards in his first full game since suffering a thigh injury.
“Nick did a fantastic job today,” Jefferson said. Especially with only a week of preparation before being the starting quarterback. I have the impression that he had confidence in himself on the pitch. »
Reserve running back Ty Chandler ran for a career-high 132 yards, scoring a major for the Vikings.
This defeat places the Minnesota club in a bad position for the playoffs, while the Bengals can still believe in it with this victory.
“Very unfortunate,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said. You’re on the road and you’re playing a team that’s playing well right now. It was as if we had left one. »