Bengals remain in wild-card hunt

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA

One Pennsylvania team down, one to go for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Andy Dalton threw one touchdown pass and ran for another score, an opportunistic defense forced five turnovers and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Philadelphia Eagles 34-13 Thursday night.

The Bengals (8-6) took a half-game lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) for the last playoff spot in the AFC. But their game at Pittsburgh next week is far more important in the standings than this one.

The Bengals would clinch their second straight playoff berth with a win over the Steelers if Pittsburgh loses to Dallas this Sunday.

A loss to the Steelers, though, would likely ruin Cincinnati’s chances.

The Eagles’ season was lost a long time ago. They fell to 4-10, losing double-digit games for the first time since 2005.

Dalton scrambled 11 yards for a touchdown and Wallace Gilberry returned a fumble 25 yards for a score just 49 seconds later, helping the Bengals build a 27-13 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Eagles snapped a drought of 22 quarters without a turnover by recovering two fumbles in the second. Both led to field goals by Alex Henery, helping Philadelphia to a 13-10 halftime lead.

An interception by Leon Hall set up Dalton’s go-ahead TD in the third quarter. Then Gilberry picked up Bryce Brown’s fumble and ran it back for an 11-point lead. Josh Brown tacked on a field goal early in the final period.