Bills rally to beat Bengals

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Down 31-14 at halftime, the one-win Buffalo Bills got angry.

Angry at the officials for giving Cincinnati another play to kick a field goal. Angry at themselves for getting in such a big hole in front of such a small crowd.

Angry enough to pull off their best comeback in 13 years.

Ryan Fitzpatrick matched his career high with four touchdown passes, and the Bills rallied for their second straight win on Sunday, 49-31 over the bumbling Bengals.

“We could’ve easily folded out tent,” said cornerback Drayton Florence, who returned a fumble 27 yards during the comeback. “It looked like they folded their tents on their sideline.”

Buffalo (2-8) took advantage of Cincinnati’s depleted secondary for its biggest comeback since it overcame a 26-0 deficit and topped the Colts 37-35 on Sept. 21, 1997, according to STATS LLC. The turning point came at the end of the first half, when the clock ran out but the officials ruled Cincinnati had called timeout with one second to go.

The Bengals (2-8) used that restored second to kick a field goal for that huge cushion. The Bills complained to the officials while running off the field, then vented to each other.

“In the locker room at halftime, it was louder than what their stadium was the entire game,” safety Donte Whitner said.

Fitzpatrick took advantage of a defense down to four healthy defensive backs by game’s end. Steve Johnson caught three of his touchdown passes, including an 11-yarder that put Buffalo ahead 35-31 early in the fourth quarter. Johnson finished with eight catches for 137 yards.

“It was awesome,” Fitzpatrick said.