Both team’s kicked field goals on their first possessions of overtime to extend the game before Nugent missed on the final play to send the Bengals to 3-1-1. The Panthers moved to 3-2-1.
Bernard’s touchdown was the second-longest run in Bengals history behind a 96-yarder by Corey Dillon in 2001. And Jones’ kick return came after the Panthers had taken a 31-24 lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Carolina quarterback Cam Newton to tight end Greg Olsen with 4:50 left in the game.
It was the longest kick return in franchise history that did not result in a touchdown and was tied for the fifth-longest overall.
The return led to Hill’s TD run that tied the game at 31-31, and three plays later Reggie Nelson picked off Newton to set up a Nugent 38-yard field goal that put the Bengals up 34-31 with 2:11 to go.
But Newton drove the Panthers 54 yards in 12 plays and Graham Gano hit a 44-yarder as time expired to force OT.
The Bengals won the overtime coin toss, took the ball and drove 56 yards in 13 plays to set up a Nugent 42-yarder. Carolina answered with a 12-play, 55-yard drive that Gano capped with a 36-yard field goal that tied the game 37-37 with 2:11 to go.
Andy Dalton hit James Wright with a 24-yard pass and a roughing-the-passer call put the Bengals in position for the game-winner, but Nugent was wide right.
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