Game recap: Bengals hammer Colts, muddying AFC playoff race

The Indianapolis Colts go for their fifth straight win during a trip in NFL Week 14 to play the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Colts (7-5) would be in the AFC playoffs if they started today and are coming off a wild overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans. The Bengals (6-6) are coming off Monday night's overtime victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars behind quarterback Jake Browning that broke a three-game losing streak.

Joel A. Erickson, Nate Atkins and Gregg Doyel are your best Colts follows, so stick with them all season. We will have highlights and score updates, so please remember to refresh.

Final: Bengals 34, Colts 14

The Colts' vaunted pass rush doesn't get near Jake Browning, who goes 18-of-24 for 275 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also rushes for a score.

The Bengals, who struggle rushing and stopping the run, have the advantage on both sides of the line of scrimmage. They gain 111 yards and allow 46.

Other than one second-quarter drive, the Colts can't generate much. Gardner Minshew completes 26-of-39 passes for 240 yards and 1 TD. Their other TD comes on a pick-6.

Left tackle Bernhard Raimann has a rough day as Trey Hendrickson harasses Minshew throughout, sacking him twice. Hendrickson has 13.5 sacks this season.

Colts kicker Matt Gay misses a field goal and a PAT. The Colts muff a punt, setting up a Cincinnati field goal.

The Colts commit 9 penalties for 66 yards.

The Colts (7-6) host the Steelers (7-6) Saturday afternoon.

In other AFC South news, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud leaves their loss to the Jets with concussion symptoms, and the Jaguars lose to the Browns.

10 thoughts: How Colts' humbling loss to the Bengals affects playoff positioning

More: Colts fall apart in every area in 34-14 loss to Bengals with playoff implications

1:57 left 4Q: Bengals add a field goal

Evan McPherson hits from 35 yards. Bengals 34, Colts 14

9:23 left 4Q: Colts commit a turnover

The Colts get to 1st-and-goal but commit 2 penalties before the Bengals force an interception. The Bengals take over.

11:14 left 4Q: Bengals at a field goal

Evan McPherson hits a 32-yarder. Bengals 31, Colts 14

13:32 left 4Q: Colts fumble away a punt

Isaiah McKenzie collides with Ameer Speed and can't handle the punt. The Bengals recover at the Colts 12.

14:24 4Q: Jake Browning (thumb) leaves game

Bengals QB Jake Browning heads to the locker room, holding his right thumb. A.J. McCarron is in.

1:29 left 3Q: Colts go 3-and-out

First-down runs are going nowhere, leaving the Colts in tough situations. After a punt, Cincinnati has it at its 23.

2:59 left 3Q: Bengals are up 2 touchdowns again

Jake Browning scores from 1 yard. Bengals convert on 4th down to get to the 1. Browning has 8 straight completions for 114 yards in the 3rd quarter. Bengals 28, Colts 14

Browning hits Tee Higgins for 46 yards to the Colts 24.

11:38 left 3Q: Bengals retake lead

Jake Browning hits Tanner Hudson from 11 yards to open the second half. It's Hudson's first career TD. Browning is 3-of-3 for 51 yards on the drive, and the Colts have yet to record a sack today. Bengals 21, Colts 14

Halftime: Colts 14, Bengals 14

After struggling well into the second quarter, the Colts have a long touchdown drive and get a fortunate bounce for a defensive TD.

Gardner Minshew is 14-of-21 for 124 yards with a TD to Mo Alie-Cox. Pittman has 5 catches for 40 yards and also a 2-point conversion. Zack Moss has 11 carries for 28 yards.

Jake Browning has 2 screen passes that gain 99 yards and TD. Overall, he is 8-of-13 for 135 yards, a TD to Chase Brown and Ronnie Harrison's pick-6.

Joe Mixon has 9 carries for 25 yards and a TD, and 3 catches for 46 yards.

1:31 left 2Q: Ronnie Harrison gets a pick-6

That's his second interception in his short time with the Colts, and he returns it 36 yards off the carom. That's 18 straight games with a Colts takeaway. Gardner Minshew hits Michael Pittman for the 2-point conversion. Colts 14, Bengals 14

1:57 left 2Q: Colts cut into their deficit

Gardner Minshew hits Mo Alie-Cox from 2 yards on 4th down. The drive is 17 plays for 79 yards over 8:22. However, Matt Gay misses a PAT for the first time as a Colt. Bengals 14, Colts 6

CBS announcers wondered whether Gardner Minshew should be checked for a concussion after this play.

Trey Hendrickson is called for a late hit on Gardner Minshew, giving the Colts a 1st down on what would've been 4th down.

10:18 left 2Q: Bengals extend lead

Joe Mixon scores from 1 yard, his 4th straight game with a touchdown. Bengals 14, Colts 0

Colts commit holding, giving the Bengals another 1st-and-goal. Taven Bryan's personal foul on a field goal try gives Cincinnati a 1st-and-goal. A Jake Browning screen to Joe Mixon goes 45 yards to the Colts 16.

1:15 left 1Q: Colts miss a field goal

Doink! Matt Gay's 38-yard try bounces off the left upright, snapping a 61-kick streak of successful tries inside 40 yards. The Bengals take over at their 28.

Gardner Minshew had Kylen Granson open for a touchdown, but the pass was just short, bouncing off a Bengals defender's helmet.

6:31 left 1Q: Bengals take the lead

Jake Browning hits Chase Brown on a screen, and Brown takes it 54 yards for his first NFL touchdown. Bengals 7, Colts 0

11:18 left 1Q: Bengals go 3-and-out

Indy starts its second drive from its 20 after a Cincinnati punt.

13:19 left 1Q: Colts go 3-and-out

Gardner Minshew is sacked on the game's first play. The Bengals have it at their 18after a Rigoberto Sanchez punt.

Colts inactives

C Jack Anderson, CB JuJu Brents, DT Eric Johnson II, DE Isaiah Land, T Braden Smith, LB E.J. Speed, RB Jonathan Taylor

Bengals inactives

RB Chris Evans, LB Devin Harper, C Trey Hill, T D'Ante Smith, DT Jay Tufele

Colts vs. Bengals storylines

∎ Several key Colts are out: RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb), who missed last weekend; T Braden Smith (knee), who left the game against the Titans; LB E.J. Speed (knee), and CB JuJu Brents (quad), who has missed five games.

∎ The Bengals allow the most yards in the NFL (388.2 per game, 6.1 per play), but they are 17th in opponents' red zone touchdowns (54.4%). The Colts are 8th in scoring (25.0), and 14th in yardage (342.5) and red zone TDs (55%).

∎ Cincinnati is last in rushing (82.5 yards) and next-to-last in rushing attempts (20.9). The Colts have struggled recently defending the run, but nose tackle Grover Stewart is returning from a suspension.

∎ The Bengals are 3rd in turnover margin (+0.8 per game) and penalties committed (5.1). The Colts are in middle of the pack in both.

∎ The Colts have sacked opposing quarterbacks 42 times, 2nd-most in the NFL.

AFC playoff standings

Seeds, records through Week 13, and Week 14 opponent

Colts start time vs. Bengals in NFL Week 14

1 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

What channel is Colts vs. Bengals on?

TV: CBS, with Tom McCarthy (play-by-play), James Lofton and Jay Feely (analysis), and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline reporting)

Radio: 93.5, 97.1, 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Rick Venturi (analysis), Larra Overton (sideline reporting)

Streaming: SiriusXM Channels 384 and 813, ESPN+, Fubo, Paramount+, Sling, Dish, Amazon, NFL+

Colts vs. Bengals favorite, betting odds

via BetMGM

Favorite: Bengals by 3 points (Colts are 8-4 against the spread; Bengals are 5-7 ATS)

Over/under: 44.5 total points (8 Colts games have gone over, 4 under; 6 Bengals games have gone over, 6 under)

Moneyline: Colts +155, Bengals -130

ESPN's matchup predictor gives the Bengals a 53.4% chance of winning.

Colts vs. Bengals predictions: Go with the overachieving team or quarterback?

Colts weather forecast

Rain and temperatures in the 40s are forecast for Cincinnati on Sunday.

Colts news from IndyStar

More: Colts K Matt Gay's mad dash after Titans win to make birth of his daughter

Tyquan Lewis' journey: Two years, two repaired tendons, one kind spirit

Insider: How Colts coach Shane Steichen has a top 10 offense with a backup QB

NFL power rankings: Colts coach Shane Steichen could be NFL Coach of the Year

Insider: Everybody gave up on Alec Pierce too soon

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts vs. Bengals in NFL Week 14 score updates, highlights, analysis