Burrow shakes off calf injury, throws for a season-high 259 yards as Bengals beat the Rams

Associated Press
Monday, Sept. 25, 2023 11:54 p.m. | Monday, Sept. 25, 2023 11:54 p.m.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase runs with the ball as Los Angeles Rams defensive back Russ Yeast (2) defends during the second half in Cincinnati.

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Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson celebrates after making a 54-yard field goal during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Cincinnati.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, right, throws over Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Byron Young (0) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Cincinnati.

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Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates along with teammate B.J. Hill, left, during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Cincinnati.

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Los Angeles Rams defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon (44) runs with the ball after intercepting a pass as Cincinnati Bengals guard Cordell Volson (67) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Cincinnati.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon celebrates getting a first down during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, in Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow shook off a lingering calf injury, throwing for 259 yards as the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Los Angeles Rams 19-16 on Monday night to get their first win after starting the season with two losses.

Joe Mixon’s 14-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the reigning AFC North champs their first lead of the season. Meanwhile, Logan Wilson picked off Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford twice and the Bengals sacked him six times.

Stafford threw a 1-yard scoring pass to Tutu Atwell with just over a minute left in the game, and the PAT got the Rams to within three points, but Mitchell Wilcox fell on the ensuing onside kick to seal the win for the Bengals (1-2).

Burrow seemed to get better as the game went on and completed passes to nine different receivers.

It wasn’t clear until just before the game whether Burrow would play. The star quarterback has been dealing with a calf injury but was a full participant in warmups without any obvious discomfort and went out for the Bengals’ first offensive series. The injury occurred early in training camp, and he aggravated it late in the Bengals’ loss to Baltimore last week. Burrow returned to practice on Thursday on a limited basis, and on Saturday the team listed him as questionable.

Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase had 12 catches for 141 yards, including a 43-yarder during a third-quarter drive that led to the third of four field goals in the game by Evan McPherson.

The Cincinnati defense was outstanding. Stafford was sacked twice by defensive end Trey Hendrickson, and Wilson intercepted him once in each half.

Stafford finished 18 for 39 for 269 yards as the Rams slipped to 1-2.