Bengals vs. Vikings score, takeaways: Jake Browning leads frantic comeback as Cincinnati wins in overtime

Evan McPherson hit a game-winning 29-yard field goal in overtime to give the Cincinnati Bengals a thrilling 27-24 comeback victory over the Minnesota Vikings to keep Cincinnati alive in the wild AFC playoff race. The Bengals rallied from a 17-3 fourth-quarter deficit to win and take over the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff race (for now). 

Jake Browning went 13 of 19 for 184 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime to bring the Bengals back. Tee Higgs caught both fourth-quarter touchdowns, including an improbable snag with 39 seconds left to tie the game at 24-24 and force overtime. Higgins finished with four catches for 61 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Bengals were able to snag the win in overtime on their second possession of the extra quarter, after stopping the Vikings on consecutive Nick Mullens quarterback sneaks that failed to gain a yard from the Bengals’ 42-yard line. After the fourth-and-1 stop, Browning found Tyler Boyd on third-and-9 for a 44-yard gain that took Cincinnati to the Minnesota 13-yard line and set McPherson up for the winning field goal. Boyd had two catches for 53 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime, as he and Higgins stepped up in the absence of Ja’Marr Chase (left the game with a shoulder injury). 

The Vikings fall to 7-7 with the loss, tied with five other teams with seven losses in the NFC (still remain the No. 6 seed for now). Here are the takeaways from the first game of Saturday’s tripleheader.

Why the Bengals won

Give Jake Browning all the credit in the world for getting an offense that had three points on their first six possessions (including halftime) back on track. Browning led the Bengals on three consecutive touchdown possessions and scores on four of their final five possessions (excluding kneel downs), including the game-tying touchdown drive in the final minute of regulation and the game-winning field goal drive in overtime. 

Browning went 19 of 25 for 240 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 132.1 passer rating on the final six possessions. The Bengals defense also game up large in the fourth quarter and overtime, allowing just seven points and 103 yards while holding Minnesota to 0 of 3 on third down. 

Why the Vikings lost

Minnesota left points on the table in the first half, as Nick Mullens threw two interceptions — one in the red zone and one at the Cincinnati 22-yard line — that took at least six points off the table. The Vikings had a 17-3 lead in the third quarter, but those miscues being avoided could have resulted in a bigger lead. 

Minnesota was also 2 of 5 in the red zone and 0 of 1 on fourth down. Kevin O’Connell called two consecutive “Tush Push” plays in overtime on the Bengals’ 42-yard line, but lost yards on the fourth-down play and turned the ball over on downs. Situational football eluded the Vikings in a game they appeared poised to win early in the middle of the third quarter. 

Turning point

Browning set the Bengals up for victory with a third-down throw to Tyler Boyd that resulted in a 44-yard gain that took the Bengals to the Vikings’ 13-yard line with 5:31 left in overtime. Browning used his legs to buy time out of the pocket and somehow find Boyd between two defenders.

The threw was one quarterbacks likely shouldn’t make, but Browning threaded the needle in a desperate point in overtime and the Bengals receiver rewarded him after both defensive backs missed the ball. The huge play set up the field goal needed to win.

Play of the game

Tee Higgins had one of the best catches of the year when he was able to haul in a 21-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of regulation that ended up forcing overtime. Browning rolled outside the pocket and threw off his back foot with pressure in his face, leaving the pass up for grabs. 

Higgins was able to get the ball before the Vikings could, then reached his arm over the plane of the end zone for score. Somehow Higgins got both feet in, got the ball first, and reached over the plane of the end zone. The pass was a play made when a team is down a touchdown with a minute left, trusting one of the better pass catchers in the game in that spot. 

Higgins came up big for the Bengals when they needed him most. 

The quote

“They should have never cut me.” — Jake Browning admitted he yelled into a camera after Evan McPherson kicked the field goal in overtime to give the Bengals the win, via Paul Dehner of The Athletic. Browning was cut by the Vikings in 2021 and downplayed the revenge factor earlier in the week. 

Up next

The Bengals (8-6) will face the Steelers in Week 16 on Saturday, Dec. 23 while the Vikings (7-7) get the Lions on Sunday, Dec. 24.