CINCINNATI — Five days after burying a teammate, the emotionally drained Bengals had barely enough energy to win a division championship.
Carson Palmer’s touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco completed a 98-yard drive in the closing minutes Sunday, sending Cincinnati to a 17-10 victory over Kansas City that secured the AFC North title at the end of a rough week.
The Bengals (10-5) moved into the playoffs for only the second time in the past 19 years after dealing with the death of receiver Chris Henry. The teary practices and locker-room grief seemed to show against the Chiefs (3-12), who stayed close in a mistake-filled game.
One good drive at the end was enough. Cincinnati took over at its 2-yard line with 9:21 left and put together its longest drive of the season. On the 14th play, Palmer threw a 6-yard TD pass to Ochocinco, who ran to the stands and touched a poster of Henry.
“I’m not jumping for joy or glee, just thinking about 15 (Henry) once that clock hits zero,” Ochocinco said. “That was everybody’s mind-set, to go out and win this one for him.”
Bengals fans chanted “Who Dey!” after Matt Cassel’s final pass for the Chiefs was intercepted. Palmer threw for a pair of touchdowns and the Bengals’ Cedric Benson rushed for 133 yards.
“To win this game, no matter how ugly, makes you closer as a team,” defensive lineman Tank Johnson said.
