Cincinnati Bengals are AFC North champs
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20091...ampionship
There are plenty of games that have tried the patience of Bengals fans this year, but most of the time when they have needed the game-winning drive late they have produced.
After struggling for 53 minutes against the Chiefs, the Bengals produced a 98-yard, 14-play drive to put them over the top for a 17-10 victory at Paul Brown Stadium and after three weeks finally wrap up the AFC North.
It is the seventh division title in franchise history and their second in five seasons. The Bengals (10-5) will host a first-round game the weekend of Jan. 9-10.
Tied at 10 and with the ball at their own 2, the Bengals slowly started driving. Carson Palmer, who had struggled for most of the game, was 6 of 7 for 63 yards on the drive, including a six-yard strike to Chad Ochocinco with 2:05 remaining that gave them the lead.
The Chiefs (3-12) were driving late when Leon Hall picked off Matt Cassel at the Kansas City 20.
Palmer finished 17 of 25 for 139 yards. Cedric Benson set a team record with his sixth 100-yard game of the season with 133 yards on 29 carries.
Jamaal Charles became the second running back to run for 100 yards on the Bengals this season with 102 yards on 24 carries. Cassel was 22 of 37 for 180 yards.
After producing nothing in their first five drives (four punts and a turnover), the Bengals got the ball on the Chiefs 7 after a high snap on a Dustin Colquitt punt. It appeared as if they had a touchdown on a 7-yard Palmer to Ochocinco connection, but Ochocinco stepped out of bounds on the back of the end zone before the reception and was ineligible. They had to settle for a Shayne Graham 29-yard field goal.
The Chiefs evened the score on the ensuing drive with a 13-play drive, capped by a Ryan Succop 30-yard field goal with five seconds remaining.
The Bengals scored on the opening drive of the third quarter, going 77 yards in 10 plays. Palmer capped off the drive with a 10-yard TD pass to Laveranues Coles