NFL: Cincinnati 20, St. Louis 13

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ST. LOUIS, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Cedric Benson ran for 76 yards and a late touchdown for Cincinnati Sunday and the Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a 20-13 win over St. Louis.

Benson's 4-yard TD with 9:14 remaining put Cincinnati ahead 20-6 and assured the result for the Bengals (8-6), who broke a two-game losing skid.

Cincinnati came into the contest one game behind the New York Jets for last AFC playoff berth.

Andy Dalton went 15-of-26 through the air for 179 yards with one interception for Cincinnati.

Kellen Clemens, filling in for injured St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford, made it close with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Danario Alexander with 1:08 to play.

But the Rams (2-12) could get no closer and went down to their fifth straight loss.