CINCINNATI — Myles Garrett had to wait until the final moments of the season finale to set the NFL single-season sack record, but it was Cleveland’s kicker that won the game as time expired to lift the Browns to a 20-18 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Andre Szmyt, who missed a short field goal and an extra point against Cincinnati in the season opener, won the game with a 49-yard field goal as time expired. By contrast, Cincinnati kicker Evan McPherson missed a pair of extra points that turned out to be the difference.
Garrett got his record-setting sack on a day when his defensive teammates added a pair of touchdowns. With 22 sacks after 16 games, Garrett needed one sack to pass Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt (22.5) for the single-season record.
With 5:04 left in the fourth quarter, Garrett rushed up the middle and Burrow slid to the turf for his 23rd sack. The Cleveland sideline rushed onto the field to congratulate Garrett, delaying the game for a minute.
Trailing 17-12 late, Burrow led the Bengals on a seven-play, 61-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard scoring strike to Ja’Marr Chase in the left side of the end zone for an 18-17 lead with 1:29 left. Chase finished with a game-high eight receptions for 96 yards.
Rookie Shedeur Sanders completed 11 of 22 passes for just 111 yards but improved to 3-4 as a starter for the Browns (5-12), who finished with back-to-back wins against AFC North rivals. The Browns, who struggled offensively all afternoon, lost starting center Luke Wypler to a knee injury.
Joe Burrow completed 29 of 39 passes for 236 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Chase Brown reached the 1,000-yard rushing milestone for the first time and caught a scoring pass for the Bengals (6-11).
The Bengals appeared to be in line for another easy day before the home crowd when Burrow found a wide-open Brown for a 4-yard score in the flat. The touchdown, followed by a blocked extra point, was set up by Cam Sample’s strip-sack of Sanders and Howard Cross’ recovery at the Cleveland 29.
Needing 53 yards for a 1,000-yard campaign, Brown concluded his best season to date with 72 yards on 13 carries.
Cleveland’s Devin Bush returned a Burrow interception 97 yards for a first-quarter score in the final minute of the first quarter. Then, a minute into the second, Sam Webb recovered Noah Fant’s fumble and scored on a 47-yard return for a 14-6 lead.
Tee Higgins caught a 13-yard TD pass from Burrow shortly before halftime to pull the Bengals within 14-12. McPherson then missed his second extra point.
Browns top cornerback Denzel Ward sustained a neck injury in the first half and did not return.
–Mike Petraglia, Field Level Media
