CLEVELAND — The last-minute Cincinnati Bengals pulled one out in extra time.
Shayne Graham’s 31-yard field goal — set up by Carson Palmer’s 15-yard run on fourth down — on the last play of overtime gave the Bengals a 23-20 win over the winless Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Not wanting to settle for a tie, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis gambled and decided to go for it on fourth-and-11 from the Cleveland 41 with 1:04 remaining. Palmer dropped back to pass and then tucked it away and scampered up the middle for the first down. Cincinnati ran two plays to get Graham in position, and the kicker, who had an extra point and field goal blocked, drilled it through the uprights.
The Bengals (3-1) have had all four games come down to the wire. They beat the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers last week by the identical 23-20 score when Palmer threw a 4-yard TD pass with 14 seconds to go.
The Browns (0-4) lost their 10th straight dating to last season. Quarterback Derek Anderson sparked Cleveland in his first start this season, throwing one TD pass and running for another.
Graham’s kick capped the Bengals’ fourth possession in OT, and it salvaged the day for Cincinnati’s offense, which sputtered for three quarters and was fortunate to have the extra 15 minutes to pull it out.
Palmer finished 23 of 44 for 230 yards and threw two touchdown passes to Chad Ochocinco, who only had three receptions.
Just as he was last week, Palmer was at his best with the stakes at their highest.
He completed two third-and-10 passes on Cincinnati’s final drive, hooking up on a 20-yard pass to Chris Henry over the middle and then another one to Laveranues Coles. But it was his decision to take off and run for the game’s biggest first down that will be remembered.
If that play had backfired, the Browns would have gotten the ball back near midfield with a chance to win and Lewis, who has the Bengals off to their best start since 2006, would have been second-guessed for weeks.
Anderson, making his first start since coach Eric Mangini decided to bench Brady Quinn, completed 26 of 48 passes for 269 yards and threw a 2-yard TD pass to Steve Heiden. Anderson also found instant chemistry with rookie Mohamed Massaquoi, who had eight catches for 148 yards.
As usual Anderson had some bad moments. He threw an interception in the end zone with the Browns down 14-7, but later atoned for it with a 1-yard scoring run.
The Bengals did nothing on offense for three quarters and then suddenly awakened with a possible loss looming.
After gaining 156 yards in the first quarter, Cincinnati went seven straight possessions without picking up a first down and the Bengals found themselves trailing 20-14 in the fourth quarter. Palmer then drove the Bengals 70 yards and bought time in the pocket before throwing a 2-yard TD pass to Ochocinco with 1:55 left to tie it 20-20.
The Bengals were seemingly on the verge of another dramatic win, but Graham’s point after was low and blocked by nose tackle Shaun Rogers, who deflected a 23-yard attempt in the first quarter.
Cleveland’s defense was able to keep the Bengals boxed in for three quarters, but late in the fourth, the Bengals began to find running and passing lanes.
Browns running back Jerome Harrison, starting for the injured Jamal Lewis, rushed for 121 yards on 29 tries.
Billy Cundiff kicked two field goals for Cleveland. The Browns’ Joshua Cribbs had 230 return yards.
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