Cedric Benson rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown and Bernard Scott added a rushing score as the Cincinnati Bengals kept their playoff hopes alive with a 20-13 victory over the host St. Louis Rams.

Andy Dalton passed for 179 yards and A.J. Green caught six passes for 115 yards for the Bengals (8-6), who moved into a tie with the New York Jets (8-6) for the final wild card spot in the AFC.

The Rams (2-12) have dropped five straight and have been inept on offense, averaging just over 11 points.

It was Cincinnati struggling on offense in the first half, having two straight drives end in three-and-outs after an interception. The Bengals went into the half trailing 6-3.

But Dalton directed a field goal drive out of the locker room and Cincinnati got great field position on its first touchdown after Brandon Tate returned a kick 56 yards. The Bengals needed just three plays from there, with Scott punching it in for a 1-yard score.

Cincinnati put it away on the next drive, capped by Benson’s 4-yard scoring run that made it 20-6.

Sam Bradford was ruled out due to an ankle injury, leaving Kellen Clemens to start at quarterback for St. Louis. Clemens finished with 229 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Danario Alexander with 1:03 left.