Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Michael Vick completed 20-of-28 passes for
291 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 29-27 victory
over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Vick also rushed for 55 yards while Alge Crumpler caught four passes for 72
yards and a score for the Falcons (5-2), who have won eight of their last 10
games against AFC opponents.
Carson Palmer threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns for the Bengals (4-3),
who haven't won home games in consecutive weeks since November 9-16, 2003.
Embattled wide receiver Chris Henry caught five passes for 81 yards and a
touchdown in his return to action after he was suspended two games for
violating the NFL's personal conduct and substance abuse policies.
Chad Johnson finished with six catches for 78 yards and a score.
Down 17-13 at halftime, the Falcons defense forced Cincinnati to go three-and-
out and Vick led the Atlanta offense on a quick 65-yard scoring drive to take
the lead.
Faced with a third-and-nine on the Bengals 26-yard line, Vick scrambled out of
the pocket to his left before lofting a pass to Michael Jenkins in the end
zone that put the Falcons up 20-17.
Cincinnati then marched down to the Falcons' eight-yard line, but the drive
stalled and the Bengals had to settle for a 26-yard Shayne Graham field goal
that evened the score with 4:34 left in the third.
However, Graham sent the ensuing kickoff out-of-bounds and the Falcons quickly
took advantage of the good field position.
After a short Warrick Dunn run, Vick hooked up with Crumpler for a 22-yard
gain. A roughing the passer penalty tacked on 15 more yards and three plays
later, Vick connected with Justin Griffith for an eight-yard score.
Matt Schaub was unable to handle the snap on the extra point try and Atlanta
led 26-20.
The Falcons forced the Bengals to go three-and-out and Morten Anderson's 39-
yard field goal made it a two possession game with 7:42 left to play.
Then, with just under four minutes left, Palmer hit a streaking Henry for a
55-yard score that brought the Bengals within two.
Atlanta, though, was able to run off most of the clock from there. Cincinnati
got the ball back with just 19 seconds and no timeouts, but Patrick Kerney
sacked Palmer and forced him to fumble. The Falcons fell on the ball to ice
the game.
On the Falcons' opening drive, Vick hooked up with Ashlie Lelie for a 28-yard
gain and a first down at the Cincinnati 45-yard line before running for 14
yards himself. However, the drive stalled and Atlanta settled for a 42-yard
kick by Anderson.
The Bengals responded with a 10-play, 74-yard scoring drive that was capped by
a short Rudi Johnson touchdown dive. The march was ignited by a personal foul
penalty on the Falcons after Chris Crocker leveled Chad Johnson late on
Cincinnati's first play.
Anderson's 40-yard boot on Atlanta's next possession made it 7-6, but the
Bengals came back with an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive in the second
quarter that gave Cincinnati a 14-6 lead.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh ran for 13 yards on a reverse on the first play of the
drive before hauling in a 19 yard catch from Palmer. Chris Perry then took the
Bengals 22 yards on the next three plays with two runs and a catch. Three
plays later, Palmer hit Johnson with a screen pass and the flamboyant receiver
ran it into the end zone with 7:13 left in the second quarter
Atlanta responded with a 10-play, 81-yard scoring drive of its own that
resulted in Crumpler's 16-yard touchdown. Vick completed passes of 11,
18 and 32 yards to set up Crumpler's TD.
Graham's 51-yard kick with 20 seconds remaining gave Cincinnati a 17-13 lead
at the break.
