Bengals' big comeback comes up short in loss to Lions

CINCINNATI — David Montgomery tossed a touchdown pass and ran for another in his return to his hometown as the Detroit Lions hung on to beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 37-24, on Sunday before a disgruntled home crowd.

The Lions (4-1) were rolling to their fourth straight blowout win before the Bengals made it close with Jake Browning’s three fourth-quarter touchdown passes. Two went to Ja’Marr Chase, who finished with six catches and 110 yards; he also made three tackles on the day, bringing down the defender after all three Browning interceptions.

The Lions have scored at least 30 points in all four wins. The Bengals (2-3) lost their third straight without Joe Burrow.

Montgomery, a running back, grew up in the Cincinnati area and was a star high school quarterback. He threw a 3-yard option pass to tight end Brock Wright in the second quarter and ran 8 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Detroit quarterback Jared Goff completed 19 of 23 passes on the day for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Goff completed his first eight passes for 103 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown toss to tight end Sam LaPorta to cap a seven-play, 58-yard opening drive.

Browning made his third straight start for the injured Burrow, and it was his ugliest. He threw three interceptions in the first two-plus quarters, though he finished the game 26-for-40 for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Derrick Barnes brought Browning down in the end zone with 1 minutes, 49 seconds left for the game’s final two points.

Browning and the Bengals offense were booed loudly from the start of the game through halftime. For a third straight game, the Bengals could muster only three points in the first half, and they’ve been outscored 69-9 in the first halves of the past three games.

Browning found Chase for a 15-yard touchdown pass 9 seconds into the fourth quarter. Chase’s toe-tap on the right side of the end zone ended a drought of 20 possessions without a touchdown for the Bengals, dating back to the fourth quarter Sept. 21 in Minnesota.

On Cincinnati’s next possession, facing third-and-14 from their own 36, Browning found Chase, who beat corner Amik Robertson down the left sideline for a 64-yard score.

The Lions put the game away with a 12-yard pass from Goff to Isaac TeSlaa with 5:14 left. Tee Higgins hauled in Cincinnati’s final garbage-time TD.