The Bengals opened the second quarter by finishing off a 91-yard touchdown drive begun in the first quarter, the game-tying score coming on an 18-yard Cedric Benson run with 12:52 left in the half.
Cleveland got the ball back and stalled at their 39, and were forced to boot the ball back to the Bengals. Cincinnati took over at their 25
From there the Bengals again blasted down the field, and this time settled for a 25-Yard Clint Stitser field goal to go up 10-7 after finally being stopped inside the Browns’ 10.
As the two-minute warning arrived the Browns were on the move at the Cincinnati 37. The Browns drive ended at the Bengals’ 34, where, with twenty-three ticks left until halftime, the Browns were penalized five yards and punted the ball away rather than risk a long field goal and possible good field position for a Hail Mary for the Bengals after a miss.
The half ended with Cincinnati leading 10-7. Colt McCoy was 11-of-16 for 108 yards in the half, with 55 of those yards coming on the opening drive. The rushing game was quiet with only 26 yards on seven Peyton Hillis runs.