Bengals clinch division with victory over Chiefs

CINCINNATI (AP) — The head coach was dry as he ran off the field after clinching a title — no celebratory sideline dousing. Players’ eyes were dry, too — all the tears had been wrung out.

In their finest moment, the Cincinnati Bengals didn’t act like champions. Maybe it was the ugly way they won. Maybe those tearful practices and wrenching eulogies had something to do with it as well.

Either way, they were in the playoffs.

Carson Palmer’s touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco completed a 98-yard drive in the closing minutes Sunday, sending Cincinnati to a 17-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs that clinched the AFC North title five days after the Bengals buried teammate Chris Henry.

They wore the receiver’s No. 15 on their helmets and their hearts.

“I’m not jumping for joy or glee, just thinking about 15 once that clock hits zero,” Ochocinco said. “That was everybody’s mindset, to go out and win this one for him.”

The Bengals (10-5) reached the playoffs for only the second time in the past 19 years after dealing with Henry’s death.

His wooden locker stall still has his shoulder pads resting on the top shelf, an assortment of shoes on the bottom rack and his helmet hanging from the side — almost as though he would show up at any moment and suit up.

Given the mood, the Chiefs (3-12) stayed close in a ragged game against a team finishing a very rough week. The Bengals lost in San Diego on Sunday, had a late flight home, then flew to New Orleans on Tuesday to attend Henry’s funeral.

The receiver died from injuries suffered during what police describe as a domestic dispute in North Carolina last week.

“It was a long week,” Palmer said. “We didn’t have an off day. We fly back from the coast, and the time change got us. Then we fly to New Orleans and don’t get back until like 7:30 p.m.

“That was a long, emotional day. We were drained and tired.”

One good drive at the end was enough.

Cincinnati took over at its 2-yard line with 9:21 to go and put together its longest drive of the season.

On the 14th play, Palmer threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Ochocinco, who ran to the stands and touched a poster of Henry, pausing for a brief prayer.

Fans wearing No. 15 decals chanted “Who Dey!” after Matt Cassel’s final pass was intercepted and a burst of snow fell on a windy, raw afternoon.

Palmer threw for a pair of touchdowns, and Cedric Benson ran for 133 yards in an offense that managed only two drives all day.

“To win this game, no matter how ugly, makes you closer as a team,” defensive lineman Tank Johnson said, wearing a gray division champion baseball cap. “Winning makes everything feel better — a broken leg, a broken heart.”

The Chiefs have one game left in their third straight season with four or fewer wins.

“I know we’re making progress,” said Cassel, who was 22 of 37 for 180 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. “We’re fighting and continuing to get better. We had a chance. It just didn’t go our way at the end.”

Palmer finished 17 of 25 for 139 yards with two touchdowns passing and an interception.

Even the intriguing subplot fizzled. The Chiefs released running back Larry Johnson on Nov. 9, and he signed with Cincinnati a week later for a reserve role.

He was looking forward to running over his former team, and got a handful of chances that didn’t pan out — four carries for 11 yards.

The Bengals played a pregame videoboard tribute to Henry.