Bengals beat Payments, 49ers finish Cowboys’ hopes in NFL playoffs
The Cincinnati Bengals shrugged off driving snow to defeat the Buffalo Payments 27-10 and return to the AFC Championship recreation whereas the San Francisco 49ers beat the Dallas Cowboys 19-12 on Sunday to go to the NFC title contest.
The Bengals win units up a repeat of final 12 months’s AFC Championship conflict with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs whereas the 49ers will face the Philadelphia Eagles for a spot within the NFL’s Tremendous Bowl.
Whereas the Bengals will once more be slight underdogs in opposition to Patrick Mahomes and firm, they confirmed all their qualities of robust, no-nonsense soccer, with their offensive line giving excellent safety to quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow accomplished 23 of 36 passes, throwing for 242 yards and two touchdowns whereas running-back Joe Mixon put up 105 yards and a landing on 20 carries.
“It was an entire recreation from everyone, offense, protection, particular groups, domination from begin to end, that’s what we anticipated,” Burrow instructed CBS tv.
The Bengals set the tone from the opening collection with Burrow main his workforce on a six-play, 79-yard drive accomplished with a 28-yard landing go to Ja’marr Chase.
Cincinnati quickly had a 14-0 first quarter lead with Burrow discovering an open Hayden Hurst with a 15-yard TD go.
Injured Payments security Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest within the deserted common season recreation in opposition to the Bengals earlier this month, was watching the sport from a collection and acquired a standing ovation when he was launched to the gang.
However regardless of the house discipline benefit, the Payments struggled to get their offense shifting till quarterback Josh Allen bought them on the scoreboard with a one-yard rush on the finish of a 15-play drive within the second quarter.
The Bengals thought they’d a 3rd landing simply earlier than half-time with an outstanding Burrow go to Chase in the back of the end-zone however the catch was dominated incomplete after evaluation and Cincinnati needed to accept a discipline purpose which despatched them in 17-7 up at half-time.
A Payments discipline purpose introduced them inside a rating of levelling the sport however the Bengals have been taking part in with a sensible, disciplined method and so they prolonged their lead when the tireless Mixon completed off a 12 play drive with a one-yard rush.
-Cowboys wait continues-
The Cowboys’ 27 12 months watch for a return to the Tremendous Bowl continues after they as soon as acquire didn’t get previous the divisional spherical.
Dallas have misplaced on every of the final seven events they’ve reached the divisional spherical and in a gruelling recreation, dominated by the defenses, they have been hampered by dropping their lead running-back Tony Pollard with an ankle damage within the second quarter.
After San Francisco opened the scoring with a discipline purpose, Dallas responded with a second quarter four-yard landing go from Dak Prescott to Dalton Schultz.
However troubled kicker Brett Maher missed the extra-point conversion — the sixth miss in his final seven kicks — and two interceptions from Prescott earlier than the half did not assist.
Robbie Gould had no such issues, changing from 47-yards and 50-yards earlier than half-time to offer the 49ers a 9-6 lead on the break.
Maher’s reduction was evident after he was profitable together with his discipline purpose try from 25 yards within the third quarter.
However San Francisco, led by rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, then produced the very best drive of the sport with George Kittle juggling the ball to finish a vital 29 yard catch earlier than the collection ended with Christian McCaffrey’s two-yard burst into the end-zone.
Down seven factors, Dallas got here up in opposition to a formidable San Francisco protection, residing as much as their rating because the league’s primary.
Maher struck a 43-yard effort between the sticks however with Gould responding and the 49ers not providing Cowboys any presents, Dallas have been left with 45 seconds to attempt to conjure up a miracle that did not materialise.
Purdy, a seventh spherical draft decide, did not throw a landing however nor did he throw an interception as he threw for 214 yards finishing 19 of 29 passes and notched up his seventh straight win since being thrust into the beginning function.
“He is taking part in at a excessive degree,” Kittle stated of his quarterback. “Getting our greatest gamers the ball. He is superior and assured within the huddle. He is simply doing an incredible job.”
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