Andy Dalton threw four touchdown passes in a comfortable 42-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings to clinch a playoff spot for the Cincinnati Bengals this evening.
The Bengals opened the scoring early on when BenJarvus Green-Ellis wriggled through a gap and into the endzone from four yards after Matt Cassel had gifted the ball back to the hosts with a fumble on the previous play.
Jermaine Gresham committed a fumble of his own shortly afterwards, giving Cassel a chance to make up for his earlier error. He took full advantage of the mistake, finding Jarius Wright with a 36-yard touchdown pass while on the run.
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The Bengals were back in front late in the first quarter, however, as AJ Green latched onto Dalton's first touchdown pass of the night to complete a 29-yard score.
Cassel was at fault again in the second quarter when he threw a pass straight to Vincent Rey, who returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to open up a 14-point gap.
That lead was extended even further late in the quarter as Gresham atoned for his earlier fumble by collecting a 16-yard Dalton pass up the middle for a score.
The hosts continued to dominate the Vikings in the third quarter and scored their fifth touchdown of the match shortly after the second half got underway, Mohamed Sanu collecting Dalton's seven-yard pass on the left side of the endzone.
Green claimed his second touchdown of the night later in the third as he managed to hold on to a two-yard pass from Dalton with just one hand.
The Vikings did get a score back at the end of the quarter when Cordarrelle Patterson found his way around the defense and sprinted up the touchline for a 35-yard score.
The final quarter ended scoreless as the Bengals comfortably maintained their unbeaten record at home this season.
Barney Corkhill
