Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning. Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bengals QB Jake Browning makes history in Week 15 OT win

QB Jake Browning has the Bengals (8-6) clicking on all cylinders after their third straight win in Week 15. The five-year veteran has been playing so well on the win streak that he made history in Cincinnati's Week 15 overtime win against the Vikings.

According to ESPN's Field Yates, Browning became the first quarterback since the NFL began tracking quarterback starts in 1950 to have 1,000+ passing yards and complete over 75 percent of his passes in his first four starts.

Many believed the Bengals' 2023 season was over when QB Joe Burrow was ruled out for the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his right wrist. 

That has been far from the truth, however, as Browning has completed 98-of-129 passes for 1,180 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions during the span.

The 27-year-old has certainly been one of the biggest surprises this season and Cincinnati must be thankful it gave Browning, an undrafted rookie in 2019, a chance.

Browning has the Bengals sitting as the AFC's No. 6 seed and a real shot to make the playoffs with just three weeks left in the regular season. Although, the team will need to earn its way into the postseason with its difficult remaining schedule.

All three of Cincinnati's final three opponents are .500 or better (7-7 Steelers, 9-5 Chiefs and 9-5 Browns), which begins with a road trip to Pittsburgh in Week 16.

The Bengals lost to the Steelers 16-10 in Week 12, but that was Browning's first start since taking over for Burrow and he has been much better since.

Pittsburgh's defense has also been struggling as of late, allowing 25 points per game over the past three weeks. Cincinnati is surely looking forward to having the opportunity to kick its division rival further out of the playoff race and better its odds of making it.

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