On the same day their division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, clinched the top playoff seed in the AFC, the Cincinnati Bengals were able to clinch something as well.
Entering a game against the tanking Miami Dolphins with the worst record in the league, the one-win Bengals were able to eke out their third straight loss — but they needed overtime to do it.
Trailing Miami (4-11) for much of the day by double digits, the Bengals (1-14) were able to score 16 points in the final 29 seconds of regulation to tie the game and send it into extra time.
However, Miami was able to right the ship in overtime and won the game on a 37-yard field goal from Jason Sanders.
For the win 🙌#CINvsMIA #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/eIW3WnOhjh
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 22, 2019
“There was no way it was going to happen,” Miami quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who threw four touchdowns, said after the win. “And then all of a sudden it became disbelief because it did happen. That’s a wild, crazy finish; I’ve probably never seen one like that. It was nice for us to step up at the end.”
Benched earlier in the season, quarterback Andy Dalton threw for 396 yards and four touchdown passes in what was probably his penultimate game as Cincinnati’s starting QB.
Though a win may have prevented it, the Bengals are now guaranteed to finish with the worst record in the NFL and have officially clinched next year’s No. 1 draft pick. Cincinnati is also assured of at least tying for the worst record in club history (they went 2-14 in 2002).
Had the Bengals won, the Dolphins and Redskins would have still had a shot at tying Cincy for the worst record in the NFL. Now, that’s off the table and the No. 1 pick is all Cincinnati’s.
In all likelihood, the Bengals will select Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow out of LSU.
The Cincinnati Bengals are officially on the clock! pic.twitter.com/VEQHp4iaGZ
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 22, 2019
The Bengals will close their season at home Sunday against Cleveland while the Dolphins will finish up on the road against the Patriots in New England.
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