Browning Magic Continues, Leads Bengals to Another OT Win
It's getting nearly impossible for anyone to think Jake Browning can't get the job done in the NFL. A few doubters remain, but not many.
On Saturday, the former University of Washington quarterback guided the Cincinnati Bengals to a third consecutive victory in as many outings as a replacement starter — and second in overtime — by beating the Minnesota Vikings 27-24.
Since stepping in for the injured Joe Burrow, Browning has directed Cincinnati to a 34-31 overtime win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, a 34-14 rout of the Indianapolis Colts and now this extra-session victory over the Vikings, all teams with winning records coming in.
The outcome kept the Bengals (8-6) in contention for a playoff berth.
After four seasons of serving as a dutiful practice squad player for the Bengals and Vikings and not seeing any game action, Browning has been the talk of the NFL for his repeated clutch performances.
In his postgame news conference, Browning said when it was over, he yelled into a TV camera, "They never should have cut me."
Against Minnesota, he completed 29 of 42 passes for 324 yards and 2 touchdowns, bringing his team back from a 17-3 deficit entering the fourth quarter.
With 39 seconds left in regulation play, Browning threw a 21-yard TD pass to Tee Higgins, who alertly reached the ball over the goal line while he was tackled on the 1, to the game at 24.
In overtime, the Bengals had to punt on their first possession, but held the Vikings on third- and fourth-and-1 at the Cincinnati 42 to get the ball back.
Browning next put his team in position to win with a 44-yard pass to Tyler Boyd to the Minnesota 13 and Evan McPherson kicked a 29-yard field goal for the win with 3:11 left in overtime.
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