Final
Bengals hold off Falcons
Aug 17, 2012 - 3:52 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Andy Dalton found A.J. Green for a 50-yard touchdown strike as the Cincinnati Bengals held off the Atlanta Falcons, 24-19, in a preseason matchup on Thursday at the Georgia Dome.Dalton, in his second season under center out of TCU, went 8-for-14 for 125 and a score, while Green finished with two catches for 59 yards. Cincinnati's third-round pick this season, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu of Rutgers, added two catches for 11 yards and a touchdown.
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan finished 18-of-21 for 174 yards and a touchdown, while second-year wide receiver Julio Jones caught three passes for 41 yards and Roddy White hauled in four passes for 54 yards.
Rookie signal-caller Dominique Davis out of East Carolina went 11-for-17 for 121 yards and a touchdown in fourth-string duties for the Falcons.
After Dalton barely overthrew Green in the back of the end zone on third down during Cincinnati's second drive, Mike Nugent drilled a 54-yard field goal late in the first quarter to give the Bengals a 3-0 lead.
Ryan started the game a perfect 11-of-11 for 90 yards, but the Falcons third drive of the game stalled deep in Cincinnati territory and Atlanta settled for a 20-yard field goal from Matt Bryant to tie the game at 3-3.
The Bengals responded with a 9-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Dalton's 50-yard touchdown to Green for a 10-3 advantage.
Atlanta answered on its next drive as Ryan drove the Falcons 88 yards down the field, finding Lousaka Polite for a two-yard touchdown reception to tie the game before Bryant nailed a 22-yarder later in the second quarter to send Atlanta into the locker room with a 13-10 lead.
The Bengals scored on their first possession of the second half as backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski scrambled for 31 yards before finding Sanu three plays later for a 12-yard score to take a 17-13 edge.
Neither team would crack the scoreboard again in the second half until rookie running back Jourdan Brooks' one-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter gave Cincinnati a 24-13 lead.
Davis led the Falcons down the field on their ensuing possession and found LaMark Brown for a seven-yard touchdown to account for the final margin.
It was the first time the Bengals have beaten the Falcons in exhibition play since a 13-7 overtime victory on Aug. 17, 1974. Atlanta has lost its last seven preseason contests.
- CINCINNATI: 24
ATLANTA: 19
Final
Aug 16 11:33 PM - CINCINNATI: 24
ATLANTA: 19
End of Regulation
Aug 16 11:33 PM - Atlanta Touchdown - Dominique Davis pass to LaMark Brown for 7 yards.
Bengals 24, Falcons 19 4th - 2:03Aug 16 11:13 PM - Cincinnati Touchdown - Jourdan Brooks rushed right for 1 yard.
Bengals 23, Falcons 13 4th - 5:46Aug 16 11:01 PM - CINCINNATI: 17
ATLANTA: 13
End of 3rd
Aug 16 10:36 PM - Cincinnati Touchdown - Bruce Gradkowski pass to Mohamed Sanu for 12 yards.
Bengals 16, Falcons 13 3rd - 11:55Aug 16 10:06 PM - CINCINNATI: 10
ATLANTA: 13
Halftime
Aug 16 9:58 PM - Atlanta Touchdown - Matt Ryan pass to Pat Schiller for 2 yards.
Bengals 10, Falcons 9 2nd - 5:49Aug 16 9:18 PM - Cincinnati Touchdown - Andy Dalton pass to A.J. Green for 50 yards.
Bengals 9, Falcons 3 2nd - 10:38Aug 16 9:00 PM - CINCINNATI: 3
ATLANTA: 0
End of 1st
Aug 16 8:44 PM - Thomas Weber kicked off 60 yards from the Cincinnati 35 to the Atlanta 5. Jacquizz Rodgers to the Atlanta 34 for 29 yards. Atlanta has the ball, 1st and 10 on the Atlanta 34.
Bengals 3, Falcons 0 1st - 1:56Aug 16 8:39 PM - CINCINNATI: 0
ATLANTA: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Aug 16 8:10 PM
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