Minnesota Vikings vs Cincinnati Bengals Match Player Stats On Dec 22, 2013

Bengals 42, Vikings 14: Andy Dalton threw four touchdown passes, including a pair to A.J. Green, as host Cincinnati clinched its third consecutive playoff berth.

Jermaine Gresham and Mohamed Sanu also hauled in scoring tosses while BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for a TD for the Bengals (10-5), who secured a spot in the postseason with the win and Miami's loss in Buffalo and can win the AFC North with a New England victory over Baltimore later Sunday. Dalton completed 27-of-38 passes for 366 yards, joining Carson Palmer as the only quarterbacks in team history to reach the 4,000-yard plateau in a season.

Matt Cassel was 13-of-27 for only 114 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions for the Vikings (4-10-1), who at 0-7-1 went winless on the road for the third time in club history. Jarius Wright had a 36-yard TD reception and Cordarrelle Patterson ran for 54 yards and a score.

Green-Ellis opened the scoring just 1:48 into the contest with a 4-yard run and Dalton connected with Green for a 29-yard TD in the final minute of the first quarter for a 14-7 lead. It was the first of five consecutive touchdowns for Cincinnati, which improved to 7-0 in its own building and can complete its first perfect season at home since 1988 with a triumph over Baltimore next week.

Linebacker Vincent Rey returned an interception 25 yards for a score early in the second quarter and Dalton hit Gresham with a 16-yard scoring strike with 2:22 left for a 28-7 advantage. Dalton and Sanu hooked up for a 7-yard touchdown 4 1/2 minutes into the third before the quarterback completed a 2-yard TD pass to Green with 3:19 remaining in the quarter to make it 42-7.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Minnesota RB Adrian Peterson was back in the lineup after sitting out last week's victory over Philadelphia with a foot injury and gained 45 yards on 11 carries. ... The Bengals have been an offensive juggernaut at home of late, scoring more than 40 points in each of their last four games in Cincinnati. ... The home team has won five straight meetings and seven of the last eight in the all-time series.