Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap sacks Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning
Dec 22, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 37-28. Reuters

The Cincinnati Bengals clinched a fourth straight playoff appearance beating the Denver Broncos, 37-28 on the National Football League (NFL) Monday Night Football (MNF). Dre Fitzpatrick returned an interception for a touchdown late in the game to assure the Bengals of the postseason berth.The Bengals play the Pittsburgh Steelers in their final game of the regular season with the winner taking the AFC North title.

Rookie Jeremy Hill had his best game of the season rushing for 147 yards on 22 carries with one touchdown while Andy Dalton threw 146 passing yards on 17 of 26 completions and finished with 2 TD and an interception. Tight end Jermaine Gresham made nine catches for 62 yards and a TD and Giovani Bernard only had 36 yards on 8 catches but one came on a touchdown score that gave the Bengals a big 27-14 lead in the middle of the third quarter.

"I shouldn't have thrown it," Manning said of the Fitzpatrick interception with 67 seconds to go in the game via ESPN.com. "Four interceptions, you're not going to beat many good football teams."

The game was tied at 7-7 after the opening quarter but the Bengals scored a TD and a field goal in the second quarter to bring a 20-7 at halftime. The Broncos fought back in the third scoring three touchdowns— a couple from Manning’s TD passes— to give the 28-27 lead to Denver entering the fourth quarter. Cincinnati responded by dominating the fourth quarter.

Denver dropped to 11-4 and the chance to keep up with the New England Patriots (12-3) atop the AFC. The Broncos face the lowly Oakland Raiders (3-12) in the final game in their regular season schedule while the Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills (8-7). The Broncos cannot afford an upset loss to the Raiders but a win will give them the first round bye in the postseason. Star QB Peyton Manning ended up with 28-of-44 for 311 yards and two touchdowns but threw 4 interceptions. Demaryius Thomas caught seven passes for 115 yards while Emmanuel Sanders had six receptions for 70 yards and two TDs.

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