The Cincinnati Bengals clinched a playoff spot yesterday for the second year in a row with a 13-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. It is the first time the Bengals have gone to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since 1981 and ’82. The Bengals jumped on the Steelers early as Leon Hall returned an interception 17 yards for a touchdown and Josh Brown nailed a 41-yard field goal to give Cincinnati a 10 point lead in the second. However, Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown for a 60-yard touchdown pass just before the half to cut the lead to three and Shaun Suisham hit a 40-yarder to tie it in the third. But in the fourth, Cincinnati would take advantage of a late Reggie Nelson interception with a 43-yard field goal to win the game from Josh Brown. The Bengals clinch a wild card spot with a win and will wrap up the regular season on Sunday against Baltimore. The game can be heard on 970 WATH with pre game at 11:30 AM and kick off at 1.

The Cleveland Browns lost their second in a row yesterday, falling to the Denver Broncos, 34-12. Denver marched right down the field on their first possession, finishing off the drive with a Peyton Manning to Demaryius Thomas 22-yard touchdown pass. The Browns answered with a Phil Dawson 27-yard field goal, but it was all Denver from then on. The Broncos added to their lead in the second on an Eric Decker 10-yard touchdown catch. The Browns would give up 17 unanswered points in the second half before the only Cleveland touchdown of the afternoon came on a Colt McCoy to Greg Little six-yard touchdown pass. Cleveland starting quarterback Brandon Weeden left in the third quarter with a shoulder injury. The Browns fall to 5-10 and will finish the season on Sunday in Pittsburgh at 1.

Elsewhere in the NFL yesterday, New Orleans outlasted Dallas, 34-31 in overtime. Green Bay dominated Tennessee, 55-7. Indianapolis ousted Kansas City, 20-13. Miami topped Buffalo, 24-10. San Diego bested the New York Jets, 27-17. Washington snuck past Philadelphia, 27-20. St. Louis toppled Tampa Bay, 28-13. Carolina defeated Oakland, 17-6. New England hung on to beat Jacksonville, 23-16. Minnesota blew past Houston, 23-6. Chicago topped Arizona, 28-13. Baltimore rolled over the New York Giants, 33-14 and Seattle blasted San Francisco, 42-13.

The Cleveland Indians have signed free agent outfielder Nick Swisher to a four-year contract. The deal is reportedly worth $56 million over four-years with a $14 million option for a fifth season. The 32-year old spent the last four seasons with the New York Yankees and was lured to Cleveland by his roots in Ohio, having been born in Columbus and played for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The switch-hitting Swisher fills the hole in right field for Cleveland coming off a season in which he hit .272 with 24 homers and 93 RBIs.

In NBA action yesterday, Sacramento ousted Portland, 108-96. The LA Clippers dominated Phoenix, 103-77. San Antonio blew past Dallas, 129-91. Utah edged Orlando, 97-93. New York clipped Minnesota, 94-91 and Brooklyn bested Philadelphia, 95-92.

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