SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 2, 2012
Bengals 20, Chargers 13: Andy Dalton threw for one touchdown and ran for another and BenJarvus Green-Ellis went over 100 yards rushing for the third straight game as visiting Cincinnati outlasted San Diego.
Dalton completed 25 of 39 passes for 211 yards, Green-Ellis finished with 118 yards on 25 carries and A.J. Green made nine catches for 85 yards for the Bengals (7-5), who have won four straight to keep themselves in the AFC wild-card race.
Demorrio Williams ran one of Daltonกฏs two interceptions back 31 yards for San Diegoกฏs lone touchdown. Philip Rivers went 26-of-48 for 280 yards but was picked off in the end zone by Reggie Nelson with 49 seconds left to finish the Chargersกฏ final drive.
Cincinnati grabbed an early lead with 7:39 left in the first quarter, when Dalton capped the opening drive of the game with a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jermaine Gresham. San Diego (4-8) cut it to 7-3 on Nick Novakกฏs 20-yard field goal on the ensuing drive and Williams gave the Chargers the lead two plays later.
The Bengals were trailing 13-10 in the fourth quarter when Dalton drove them 51 yards in 14 plays, carrying it up the middle for a 6-yard score and a 17-13 lead. Rivers was sacked and fumbled on the ensuing drive, and Mike Nugent kicked a 24-yard field goal to increase the lead.
GAME NOTEBOOK: San Diego was held to a total of 46 yards rushing on 11 carries. กญ The Bengals are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the final wild-card spot. Cincinnati visits Pittsburgh in Week 16. กญ The Bengals were without rookie WR Mohamed Sanu (left foot). Sanu could be placed on injured reserve Monday after suffering the injury in practice last week.