Sunday, September 14, 2014 01:00 PM (ET)

Recap: Bengals 24, Falcons 10

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 14, 2014

Bengals 24, Falcons 10: Cincinnati stymied Matt Ryan and Atlanta while Giovani Bernard collected a career-high 169 yards from scrimmage as the Bengals continued their home dominance.

Andy Dalton played a strong game, completing 15-of-23 passes for 252 yards and a TD as the Bengals (2-0) won their 10th straight regular-season contest at "The Jungle." With star receiver A.J. Green watching from the sideline after a first-quarter toe injury ended his day, Cincinnati turned to Bernard, who gained 90 yards on 27 carries and caught five passes for an additional 79 yards.

Cincinnati's defense, which led the AFC last season in fewest yards and points allowed, limited the Falcons (1-1) to 309 yards - most of which came after the outcome had been decided - picked off Ryan three times and harassed him most of the day. Ryan, who threw for a franchise-record 448 yards last week against the Saints, was 24-of-44 for 231 yards and a touchdown.

After the teams traded first-quarter field goals, Bernard keyed a 91-yard TD drive in the second with a nifty 46-yard run-and-catch down the sideline after a dump-off from Dalton, and capped the drive by plunging off right tackle from 4 yards out. Ryan was sacked once and limited to 60 passing yards as Atlanta's offense was held to just 98 yards in the first half.

On Cincinnati's second possession after intermission, Dalton beat an all-out blitz by hitting Mohamed Sanu on a quick slant for a 76-yard TD. Ryan then threw two consecutive interceptions, the first by Leon Hall leading to a 1-yard plunge by Jeremy Hill for a 24-3 lead before Ryan got the Falcons into the end zone in the fourth quarter with a 14-yard pass to Julio Jones.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Due to his injury, Green did not catch a pass for the first time in his four-year career (51 games, including playoffs). … Bernard's first-half rushing score was the first TD by the Bengals this season in 12 trips inside the opponent's territory. … Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict,who suffered a concussion last week against the Ravens, left in the fourth quarter with a stinger.









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