NFL game summary for 12/05/1971:
Cleveland became the first team in the NFL to clinch a 1971 divisional title by wrapping up the AFC's Central competition in a see-saw battle with Cincinnati. Leroy Kelly's second TD, with 1:48 remaining, clinched the issue. A 53-yard pass-and-run from Bill Nelsen to Frank Pitts and an 80-yard fourth quarter drive that consumed five minutes were key factors in the Browns' late victory. Kelly carried 23 times for 127 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 149.6 (9) | 148.5 (17) | 298.1 (9) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 114.5 (7) | 144.9 (8) | 259.5 (6) | 31 | |
 | OFFENSE | 106.8 (23) | 160.8 (9) | 267.6 (18) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 156.3 (23) | 141.6 (6) | 297.9 (16) | 31 |
Line: Browns by 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals (4-8-0) | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
| Cleveland Browns (7-5-0) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
( 0- 7) CLE Leroy Kelly 1 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
( 3- 7) CIN Horst Muhlmann 46 yard field goal
(10- 7) CIN Doug Dressler 4 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(17- 7) CIN Fred Willis 9 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(20- 7) CIN Horst Muhlmann 24 yard field goal
(20-14) CLE Fair Hooker 39 yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Don Cockroft kick)
(20-21) CLE Frank Pitts 53 yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Don Cockroft kick)
(27-21) CIN Essex Johnson 86 yard rush (Horst Muhlmann kick)
(27-24) CLE Don Cockroft 12 yard field goal
(27-31) CLE Leroy Kelly 4 yard rush (Don Cockroft kick)
CIN CLE
First Downs: 15 22
Rushes-yards: 34-232 38-182
Yards/rush: 6.8 4.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-23-118-1 14-28-224-2
Sacked-yards: 1-4 0-0
Net pass yards: 114 224
Net yards/pass: 4.8 8.0
Total net yards: 346 406
Total plays: 58 (58% run) 66 (57% run)
Yards/play: 6.0 6.2
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-1
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 6-47 4-20
Attendance: 82,705
Passing:
CIN: Virgil Carter, 13 of 23 for 118 yards (1 int) CLE: Bill Nelsen, 14 of 28 for 224 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
CIN: Fred Willis, 17 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Doug Dressler, 12 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Essex Johnson, 4 for 109 yards and 1 TD; Virgil Carter, 1 for 5 yards CLE: Leroy Kelly, 23 for 127 yards and 2 TDs; Bo Scott, 12 for 61 yards; Bill Nelsen, 3 for -6 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Doug Dressler, 6 for 26 yards; Bob Trumpy, 3 for 43 yards; Chip Myers, 3 for 26 yards; Essex Johnson, 1 for 23 yards CLE: Frank Pitts, 5 for 103 yards and 1 TD; Fair Hooker, 5 for 80 yards and 1 TD; Milt Morin, 3 for 35 yards; Bo Scott, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Paul Robinson, 3 for 71 yards; Fred Willis, 3 for 49 yards CLE: Ken Brown, 2 for 50 yards; Stan Brown, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Speedy Thomas, 2 for 2 yards; Lemar Parrish, 1 for 16 yards CLE: Leroy Kelly, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Al Beauchamp, 2 for 12 yards CLE: Ernie Kellermann, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CIN: Dave Lewis, 5 for 229 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 5 for 211 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 2/3 CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1
CIN: Virgil Carter, 13 of 23 for 118 yards (1 int) CLE: Bill Nelsen, 14 of 28 for 224 yards and 2 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
CIN: Fred Willis, 17 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Doug Dressler, 12 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Essex Johnson, 4 for 109 yards and 1 TD; Virgil Carter, 1 for 5 yards CLE: Leroy Kelly, 23 for 127 yards and 2 TDs; Bo Scott, 12 for 61 yards; Bill Nelsen, 3 for -6 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Doug Dressler, 6 for 26 yards; Bob Trumpy, 3 for 43 yards; Chip Myers, 3 for 26 yards; Essex Johnson, 1 for 23 yards CLE: Frank Pitts, 5 for 103 yards and 1 TD; Fair Hooker, 5 for 80 yards and 1 TD; Milt Morin, 3 for 35 yards; Bo Scott, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Paul Robinson, 3 for 71 yards; Fred Willis, 3 for 49 yards CLE: Ken Brown, 2 for 50 yards; Stan Brown, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Speedy Thomas, 2 for 2 yards; Lemar Parrish, 1 for 16 yards CLE: Leroy Kelly, 2 for 10 yards
Interceptions:
CIN: Al Beauchamp, 2 for 12 yards CLE: Ernie Kellermann, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CIN: Dave Lewis, 5 for 229 yards CLE: Don Cockroft, 5 for 211 yards
Field Goals:
CIN: Horst Muhlmann, 2/3 CLE: Don Cockroft, 1/1