NFL game summary for 12/13/1970:
Essex Johnson broke a tie with a pair of second half TDs to send Cincinnati into the lead for the AFC Central Division championship. Johnson provided the clincher with a 15-yard TD run in a contest in which the lead changed hands four times. Lemar Parrish intercepted his fifth pass for a Bengal record and Al Beauchamp returned a fumble 25 yards for a TD in the Bengals' sixth straight victory.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 135.5 (8) | 128.2 (24) | 263.8 (19) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 119.4 (13) | 186.9 (23) | 306.3 (22) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 118.9 (14) | 177.6 (6) | 296.5 (7) | 29 |
| DEFENSE | 115.9 (9) | 176.7 (22) | 292.6 (18) | 22 |
Line: n/a
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals (7-6-0) | 0 | 6 | 14 | 10 | 30 |
| Houston Oilers (3-9-1) | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
( 0- 3) HOU Roy Gerela 46 yard field goal
( 3- 3) CIN Horst Muhlmann 25 yard field goal
( 6- 3) CIN Horst Muhlmann 25 yard field goal
( 6- 6) HOU Roy Gerela 31 yard field goal
( 6-13) HOU Charlie Joiner 87 yard pass from Jerry Rhome (Roy Gerela kick)
(13-13) CIN Al Beauchamp 25 yard fumble return (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(20-13) CIN Essex Johnson 15 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(27-13) CIN Essex Johnson 49 yard pass from Virgil Carter (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(30-13) CIN Horst Muhlmann 30 yard field goal
(30-20) HOU Charlie Joiner 4 yard pass from Jerry Rhome (Roy Gerela kick)
CIN HOU
First Downs: 17 19
Rushes-yards: 39-194 21-43
Yards/rush: 5.0 2.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-21-164-0 27-54-315-2
Sacked-yards: 2-20 1-5
Net pass yards: 144 310
Net yards/pass: 6.3 5.6
Total net yards: 338 353
Total plays: 62 (62% run) 76 (27% run)
Yards/play: 5.5 4.6
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 3-2
Turnovers: 1 4
Penalties-yards: 6-87 4-56
Attendance: 34,435
Passing:
CIN: Virgil Carter, 7 of 14 for 114 yards and 1 TD; Sam Wyche, 3 of 6 for 41 yards; Dave Lewis, 1 of 1 for 9 yards HOU: Jerry Rhome, 27 of 54 for 315 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
CIN: Jess Phillips, 13 for 39 yards; Paul Robinson, 12 for 83 yards; Essex Johnson, 11 for 58 yards and 1 TD; Virgil Carter, 2 for 8 yards; Sam Wyche, 1 for 6 yards HOU: Mike Richardson, 10 for 28 yards; Joe Dawkins, 8 for 9 yards; Jerry Rhome, 2 for 3 yards; Jerry LeVias, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Chip Myers, 3 for 45 yards; Essex Johnson, 2 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Bob Trumpy, 2 for 20 yards; Speedy Thomas, 2 for 19 yards; Paul Robinson, 1 for 22 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for -1 yards HOU: Mike Richardson, 7 for 65 yards; Charlie Joiner, 6 for 143 yards and 2 TDs; Mac Haik, 6 for 43 yards; Joe Dawkins, 4 for 15 yards; Alvin Reed, 3 for 36 yards; Jim Beirne, 1 for 13 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Paul Robinson, 1 for 25 yards; Doug Dressler, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Zeke Moore, 1 for 45 yards; Elbert Drungo, 1 for 25 yards; Benny Johnson, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Lemar Parrish, 2 for 3 yards HOU: Ken Houston, 2 for 10 yards; Mike Richardson, 1 for 3 yards; Joe Dawkins, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Lemar Parrish, 1 for 7 yards; Ken Riley, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CIN: Dave Lewis, 6 for 264 yards HOU: Spike Jones, 4 for 195 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 3/3 HOU: Roy Gerela, 2/4
CIN: Virgil Carter, 7 of 14 for 114 yards and 1 TD; Sam Wyche, 3 of 6 for 41 yards; Dave Lewis, 1 of 1 for 9 yards HOU: Jerry Rhome, 27 of 54 for 315 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
CIN: Jess Phillips, 13 for 39 yards; Paul Robinson, 12 for 83 yards; Essex Johnson, 11 for 58 yards and 1 TD; Virgil Carter, 2 for 8 yards; Sam Wyche, 1 for 6 yards HOU: Mike Richardson, 10 for 28 yards; Joe Dawkins, 8 for 9 yards; Jerry Rhome, 2 for 3 yards; Jerry LeVias, 1 for 3 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Chip Myers, 3 for 45 yards; Essex Johnson, 2 for 59 yards and 1 TD; Bob Trumpy, 2 for 20 yards; Speedy Thomas, 2 for 19 yards; Paul Robinson, 1 for 22 yards; Jess Phillips, 1 for -1 yards HOU: Mike Richardson, 7 for 65 yards; Charlie Joiner, 6 for 143 yards and 2 TDs; Mac Haik, 6 for 43 yards; Joe Dawkins, 4 for 15 yards; Alvin Reed, 3 for 36 yards; Jim Beirne, 1 for 13 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Paul Robinson, 1 for 25 yards; Doug Dressler, 1 for 0 yards HOU: Zeke Moore, 1 for 45 yards; Elbert Drungo, 1 for 25 yards; Benny Johnson, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Lemar Parrish, 2 for 3 yards HOU: Ken Houston, 2 for 10 yards; Mike Richardson, 1 for 3 yards; Joe Dawkins, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Lemar Parrish, 1 for 7 yards; Ken Riley, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CIN: Dave Lewis, 6 for 264 yards HOU: Spike Jones, 4 for 195 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 3/3 HOU: Roy Gerela, 2/4