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Bengals dominate bumbling Eagles

 
Published Dec. 14, 2012

PHILADELPHIA — One Pennsylvania team down, one to go for the Bengals.

Andy Dalton threw for a touchdown and ran for one, and Cincinnati forced five turnovers to beat Philadelphia 34-13 on Thursday.

The Bengals took a half-game lead over the Steelers for the last AFC playoff spot. The teams meet Dec. 23, and the Bengals clinch a playoff berth with a win if the Steelers lose to the Cowboys on Sunday.

The Eagles' season was lost long ago. They fell to 4-10, losing double-digit games for the first time since 2005, the season after they lost to New England in the Super Bowl.

An interception by Leon Hall set up Dalton's 11-yard run that put Cincinnati up 17-13 with 1:10 left in the third. Less than a minute later, defensive end Wallace Gilberry returned a fumble 25 yards for a score.

The Eagles fumbled again on their next possession, leading to a Cincinnati field goal. Then they fumbled the ensuing kickoff when defensive lineman Cedric Thornton let the ball fall through his hands on a short kick. Dalton hit A.J. Green for a 5-yard touchdown that made it 24 points in 3:23 and put the Bengals up 34-13.

The Eagles have committed a league-high 34 turnovers. They did end a drought of 22 quarters without forcing one by recovering two fumbles in the second quarter. Both led to field goals by Alex Henery, helping them to a 13-10 halftime lead.

Cowboy impaired in crash, report says

DALLAS — Cowboys linebacker Josh Brent had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18 at the time of the car crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown, the Dallas Morning News reported. That's more than twice the level at which Texas presumes a driver is impaired, 0.08.

Brent faces a charge of intoxication manslaughter in the Dec. 8 death of the practice squad linebacker and is free on a bond of $500,000. Police in the Dallas suburb of Irving said they are waiting on results from the blood-alcohol test.

Police said they have met with prosecutors from the Dallas County district attorney's office. "They talked about the case and where we are in the investigation," police spokesman John Argumaniz said. "They also discussed things the D.A. would need to file the case."

Heath Harris, the first assistant Dallas County district attorney, said he hopes a grand jury can hear the case this month.

More Cowboys: Receiver Dez Bryant and linebacker DeMarcus Ware said they will play Sunday against the Steelers. Bryant broke his left index finger last weekend. Coach Jason Garrett said Bryant caught passes with a padded glove. Ware missed a second straight practice with a hyperextended elbow. Also, starting defensive tackle Jay Ratliff likely is out for the season after surgery for a sports hernia.

Falcons: Receiver Roddy White missed his second straight practice with a knee injury but is expected to play Sunday against the Giants.

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Jets: QB Tim Tebow, unavailable for the past three games because of two broken ribs sustained Nov. 11, will be active Monday against the Titans. But the former Gator will not take snaps as a wildcat quarterback or punt protector.

Patriots: Receiver Deion Branch, released twice by the team this season, re-signed, three days after Donte' Stallworth sustained a high right ankle sprain against Houston.

Redskins: Coach Mike Shanahan said quarterback Robert Griffin III moved better on his sprained right knee during practice. Shanahan said he planned to wait as long as possible to determine if Griffin, hurt Sunday, or Kirk Cousins will start.

Bounties: Saints interim coach Joe Vitt denied he overruled then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' request to shut down the team's bounty program. The Associated Press reported Williams made the accusation while testifying during four players' appeal of their bounty penalties before former commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The penalties were overturned this week.

Blackout: The Chargers said because about 11,000 tickets remain, Sunday's home game against the Panthers will be blacked out. It's San Diego's fourth blackout this season.