Bengals-Ravens Preview

[redlegsfan21]

By KATE HEDLIN
A coaching change provided the Baltimore Ravens with an answer to their offensive struggles. The Cincinnati Bengals are still searching for the solution to their problems on offense.

The division rivals face off Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, with the Ravens trying to prevent the Bengals from rejoining them atop the AFC North at the midway point of the season.

Coach Brian Billick took over as Baltimore's offensive coordinator two weeks ago, firing Jim Fassel during the bye week in order to take a more hands-on approach with a floundering offense. Billick took over after the Ravens (5-2) had lost consecutive games and were ranked 22nd in the NFL with 18.3 points per game, 29th with 284.5 total yards per game and 30th in total first downs with 94.

With a dual leadership role, Billick led the team to an impressive 35-22 win over the New Orleans Saints last Sunday at the Superdome, one of the NFL's toughest stadiums for visiting teams this season. The Ravens had a 28-7 halftime lead after producing 16 first downs before running a conservative run-based offense in the second half.

"Once things went a certain way and we got up, the head coach came over to me and said, 'Psst! Run the ball, OK?' So that's what the coordinator did, he ran the ball because we were in pretty good shape," Billick joked.

The potent offense the Bengals (4-3) displayed last season en route to their first playoff appearance since 1990 has not been nearly as consistent this year. They have lost three of their last four contests to fall one game back of the first-place Ravens.

Though it hardly seems to be all his fault, Carson Palmer is taking the blame. His rehabilitation from knee surgery has limited his mobility this year, and injuries to the offensive line have further hindered the team.

Palmer has been sacked 21 times, fifth-most in the NFL, and has thrown only 11 touchdown passes through seven games after finishing last season with a league-high 32.

"A lot of the people are pointing the finger at (offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski)," Palmer said. "You can point one at me because I'm calling a large percentage of the plays. He's taking a lot of unfair criticism and a lot of that should be pointed at me. Being the quarterback and being in the situation we're in with the no-huddle that we run, I do end up calling most of the plays."

He better call some good ones against the Ravens, who are third in the NFL in total defense with 273.6 yards allowed per game and are tied for fifth with 21 sacks. However, that unit gave up an average of 30 points and more than 400 yards in losing the last three meetings with Cincinnati.

Baltimore's defense hasn't been at its best recently, allowing more than 400 yards in back-to-back games, but it won't have to carry the team anymore if Steve McNair and the offense keep playing as they did last Sunday.

McNair entered the game with one of the league's worst passer ratings and more interceptions (seven) than touchdowns (five). He went 17-of-23 for 159 yards with two touchdowns, did not commit a turnover and ran for his first TD in a Ravens uniform.

Jamal Lewis, meanwhile, ran for a season-high 109 yards on 31 carries. It was the first time in nine games since Dec. 19 he had a 100-yard performance, but Billick wants to see more from Lewis.

"Jamal ran hard, but we left some yards on the table. That could have very easily been a 160-170 yard rushing day," said Billick, whose team is averaging 100.4 rushing yards per game. "That comes down to the reads, the blocking schemes. It could have been better, and that's what we're going to try to do."

McNair said his coach's offensive scheme has had a big impact, helping to raise the intensity of a team that a few weeks ago seemed on the verge of a meltdown.

"I thought the energy of the whole team was there," McNair said. "We just fed off each other."

Palmer and Chad Johnson have not been feeding off each other as they did last season. Johnson had 1,432 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2005, but has been held to 36 catches for 451 yards with two scores this year.

The running game hasn't been too good, either, failing to gain 90 yards in four of the last five games.

Rudi Johnson has run for more than 65 yards only once in that span, limited to 3.5 yards per carry. He had his second consecutive 1,400-yard season in 2005.

"We need to pull together, stick together and stay together as a team," Bengals defensive tackle John Thornton said. "If one side of the ball doesn't play well ... don't make excuses."

http://sports.myway.com/news/11012006/v8726.html

[redlegsfan21]

BALTIMORE (AP) -The Baltimore Ravens enjoyed an outstanding start against the Cincinnati Bengals, then spent the next 55 minutes protecting the advantage.

The Ravens prevailed, and now they'll try to maintain a commanding lead in the AFC North over the next eight weeks.

Baltimore scored two quick touchdowns off turnovers and never trailed in a 26-20 victory Sunday, their second straight since coach Brian Billick took control of the offense.

"Huge win for us in the division," Billick said. "It puts us in a position to go forward and do some good things."

Steve McNair passed for 245 yards, Jamal Lewis scored a touchdown and Matt Stover kicked four field goals for the Ravens (6-2), who took a two-game lead over second-place Cincinnati.

Since Billick fired offensive coordinator Jim Fassel and assumed playcalling duties, the Ravens have scored 61 points and McNair has played brilliantly. He was 21-of-30 against the Bengals after going 17-of-23 in a 35-22 win at New Orleans last week.

McNair fared far better than Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer, who went 12-of-26 for 195 yards. His first pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, and his last pass was also intercepted, ending any hope the Bengals (4-4) had of finishing a comeback from a 17-0 deficit.

"In order to win, we needed to play our best - and we didn't," Palmer said.

Chad Johnson caught four passes for 32 yards to pass Cris Collinsworth and Issac Curtis and move into second place on the Bengals' career list with 419 receptions. Carl Pickens tops the list with 530.

But Johnson was in no mood to celebrate his accomplishment after Cincinnati lost for the fourth time in five games. The Bengals are at .500 for the first time since 2004.

"We, as a team, are not playing well enough to come away with victories. No explaining necessary. No beating around the bush. As a whole, we are not playing well at all," Johnson said.

He was particularly upset about being held to four catches.

"Four? Four? That's substandard. I'm supposed to be the best player and I can't even get the ball," he said. "No excuses, I didn't get the job done."

Cincinnati, which had won three straight over Baltimore, made it interesting at the end. A 71-yard pass from Palmer to Chris Henry set up a touchdown run by Rudi Johnson that made it 23-17 early in the fourth quarter, but Baltimore responded with a field goal by Stover with 8:25 left.

After Shayne Graham kicked a 31-yarder for the Bengals, Baltimore punted and Cincinnati took over at its own 24 with 3:21 to go. On fourth-and-4 from the 30, Ronnie Prude broke up a pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Houshmandzadeh screamed for an interference call, then displayed his frustration by taking off his helmet and angrily slamming it to the ground.

"A penalty is a penalty. If it's too much pressure to call it on fourth down, you shouldn't be refereeing," Houshmandzadeh said. "He hit me before the ball got there."

That wasn't the only subject Houshmandzadeh broached after the game.

"We're just a better team than they are. We didn't win the game and I'm sure they'll get a laugh over that," he said. "But deep down, we know we're better than Baltimore and they know it. We've got better players than they do."

The game couldn't have started better for the Ravens. Six plays after Cincinnati's Chris Perry fumbled the opening kickoff at his 34, Lewis scored from the 2.

Minutes later, the Ravens went up 14-0 with their fourth defensive touchdown of the season.

On Cincinnati's third offensive play, Samari Rolle intercepted Palmer's overthrown pass at the Cincinnati 49 and ran 24 yards. As he was being tackled, he gave the ball to Ed Reed, who took it into the end zone.

"It was just a great play on his part," Reed said. "Just good awareness letting it go and knowing it was me."

Baltimore made it 17-0 in the second quarter when Stover kicked a 43-yard field goal to conclude a drive of 8 minutes, 20 seconds. It was the Ravens' longest drive since their first of the season, in Tampa Bay.

A 26-yard touchdown pass from Palmer to Houshmandzadeh enabled Cincinnati to close to 17-7 late in the half.

Two field goals by Stover made it 23-7 before Graham kicked a 51-yarder for the Bengals, the first third-quarter points against Baltimore this year.

http://sports.myway.com/news/11052006/v3074.html