By MARK LONG
updated 4:54 p.m. ET Oct. 9, 2011
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Cincinnati Bengals used a poor punt to spark a come-from-behind victory.
Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes, Bernard Scott scored with 1:56 remaining and the Bengals beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-20 Sunday.
The Bengals (3-2) took advantage of Matt Turk's 22-yard punt into the wind to set up the winning score, a touchdown that was needed because Mike Nugent missed an extra point in the first half.
Dalton hooked up with Jermaine Gresham on a fourth-and-6 play to keep the short drive alive, then found Andre Caldwell for an 8-yard gain.
With the Jaguars (1-4) expecting a pass on third down, Dalton handed to Scott, who weaved his way into the end zone to make it 23-20.
Jacksonville had a chance to tie, but Blaine Gabbert fumbled a bad snap and the Bengals ended up with the ball. Cincinnati also scored on a fumble return on the final play.
The Jaguars have lost four in a row, and seven of eight dating to last season, putting coach Jack Del Rio's future further in doubt.
Jacksonville looked as if it might snap its losing streak when Gabbert found Jason Hill running alone behind Cincy's secondary.
Gabbert hit Hill in stride for a 74-yard score with about eight minutes remaining. Former Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson was the culprit. He bit on an underneath route, leaving Hill to run free.
Turk got Nelson off the hook.
The Jaguars forced a punt, but rookie receiver Cecil Shorts failed to field the bouncing ball at the 10. It rolled dead at the 2. Jacksonville did little, putting pressure on Turk to flip the field. He failed miserably, and since he's been a problem all season, he probably will get released in a day or two.
He was booed loudly as he trudged off the field.
The Bengals wasted little time taking advantage.
They added to Jacksonville's misery with a touchdown on the final play. Jacksonville had the ball with 7 seconds remaining and nearly the entire field to go for a touchdown, so the Jaguars started a circus play. Gabbert hit Hill, who pitched to Jarett Dillard, who threw backward to Maurice Jones-Drew.
Jones-Drew fumbled trying to get rid of the ball, and Geno Atkins picked it up for a 10-yard score after time expired.
Dalton completed 21 of 33 passes for 179 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception.
Gabbert was 15 of 28 passing for 201 yards and a score.
The Bengals looked as if they would take a lead into the locker room for halftime, but Nugent's extra-point attempt clanged off the crossbar.
Dalton hooked up with A.J. Green on fourth down, then scrambled right on third-and-goal and found tight end Gresham in the back of the end zone.
That was Cincinnati's best drive since its first possession. Dalton completed three third-down passes, the last one a third-and-17 floater to Green at the goal line.
Green slipped behind cornerback Drew Coleman for his third touchdown of the season.
The Jaguars scored on three of their first four possessions and could have had a big lead. But Cincinnati's defense, ranked No. 1 in the NFL for the first time since 1983, forced short field goals.
(This version CORRECTS Bengals 30, Jaguars 20. Corrects to Jaguars having lost 7 of 8.)
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/44832880/ns/sports-nfl/
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