Ravens-Bengals Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Flacco, Ravens Light It Up In 34-3 Win Over Bengals

SCOUTING REPORT

Cincy lacks arsenal to hold off Baltimore's DThe last time these teams met, in the season opener, Bengals QB Carson Palmer was healthy and Ravens QB Joe Flacco was making his first career start. Things have changed plenty since. Last week Baltimore broke open a tight game in the second half and hammered the Eagles in crunch time. Cincinnati may be a nine-loss team, but it has played well lately (including a win, a tie and a tough loss at Pittsburgh in the past three weeks). The Bengals face a nasty division rival, but at least they will be well-rested (after playing on Thursday in Week 12) and have home-field advantage.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
BAL	11-5	385	244	6-2	5-3	4-2	8-4
CIN	4-11	204	364	3-4	1-7	1-5	3-9
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Baltimore Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Flacco 63.1 3613 21 12 Smith 55.6 24 0 1

Cincinnati Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Palmer 60.5 3094 21 13 O'Sull... 36.4 40 0 0

Baltimore Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Rice 254 1339 5.3 7 McGahe... 109 544 5.0 12

Cincinnati Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Benson 301 1251 4.2 6 Scott 74 321 4.3 0

Baltimore Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Mason 73 1028 14.1 7 Rice 78 702 9.0 1

Cincinnati Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Ochoci... 72 1047 14.5 9 Coles 43 514 12.0 5

Full Player Stats: Baltimore | Cincinnati

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	BAL	324.0
	CIN	245.0
Yards Passing	BAL	175.5
	CIN	150.4
Yards Rushing	BAL	148.5
	CIN	95.0
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	BAL	261.1
	CIN	325.5
Pass Yds Allowed	BAL	179.7
	CIN	205.4
Rush Yds Allowed	BAL	81.4
	CIN	120.1

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Series tied 8-8
Sep 7, 2008	BAL 17, @CIN 10
Nov 11, 2007	BAL 7, @CIN 21
Sep 10, 2007	BAL 20, CIN 27
Nov 30, 2006	BAL 7, CIN 13
Nov 5, 2006	BAL 26, @CIN 20
Nov 27, 2005	BAL 29, CIN 42
Nov 6, 2005	BAL 9, @CIN 21
Dec 5, 2004	BAL 26, @CIN 27
Sep 26, 2004	BAL 23, CIN 9
Dec 7, 2003	BAL 31, @CIN 13
Oct 19, 2003	BAL 26, CIN 34
Dec 1, 2002	BAL 27, CIN 23
Nov 10, 2002	BAL 38, @CIN 27
Dec 23, 2001	BAL 16, @CIN 0
Sep 23, 2001	BAL 10, CIN 21

If the Baltimore Ravens expect to reach the postseason, they can't look past their next opponent -- especially with a grueling schedule ahead of them.

Looking to stay on track for the playoffs, the Ravens seek their sixth win in seven games on Sunday as they face the struggling Cincinnati Bengals.

Baltimore (7-4) didn't look like a postseason team during a three-game slide from Sept. 29-Oct. 12, but has rebounded by winning five of six -- a stretch capped by a 36-7 victory over visiting Philadelphia last Sunday.

Though the Ravens are in good position, they've managed to keep things in perspective with five contests remaining -- three coming against other playoff contenders, including a Dec. 14 matchup versus AFC North-leading Pittsburgh, which owns a one-game edge on Baltimore.

But before focusing on next month's critical contests, the Ravens must first get past the last-place Bengals (1-9-1). Baltimore is trying to halt its three-game losing streak at Paul Brown Stadium and sweep the season series from the Bengals for the first time since 2002.

"I just know the next team on our schedule is the Bengals, and that's the way our guys are approaching the game," linebacker Ray Lewis told the Ravens' official Web site. "We're just fighting and not taking anybody lightly.

"Also, they're in our division, bottom line. So any time you come up on a division foe, it's always extra attention that you pay to your opponents and just keep going from there."

Lewis and the defense have been doing their part to keep Baltimore in the win column.

The Ravens' unit, which has been among the best in the NFL this decade, ranks among the league's leaders in total defense (277.0 yards per game) and points allowed (17.0). It turned in another dominant effort last weekend by holding Philadelphia to 206 yards -- the fewest yielded since a Week 2 win over Cleveland.

The Ravens also came away with four interceptions for the second time in three games, giving them a NFL-high 19 takeaways. Safety Ed Reed accounted for two of those picks, returning the first 43 yards and the second an NFL-record 107 for a touchdown -- surpassing his own record by one yard.

Baltimore doesn't figure to be challenged by a Cincinnati offense that has managed a league-low 258.2 yards per game and averages 13.5 points. In its most recent game, Cincinnati totaled 208 yards -- and tied a season worst with 43 on the ground -- in a 27-10 loss at Pittsburgh on Nov. 20.

The Ravens held the Bengals to 154 yards in a 17-10 home victory in the teams' season opener as quarterback Joe Flacco went 15-for-29 for 129 yards in his debut. Baltimore had 229 yards rushing in that contest.

Flacco has been efficient in taking care of the ball with nine touchdowns and two interceptions in his last six games.

Cincinnati's offense, meanwhile, is led by Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has been taking the snaps in place of injured Pro Bowler Carson Palmer.

While the Ravens faced Palmer in the opener, they'll be getting their first look at Fitzpatrick, who has thrown six touchdowns in seven starts. Fitzpatrick went 20-for-37 for 168 yards and a TD versus Pittsburgh.

"(He) can throw it, and he's a big, strong, talented guy. And he can run with the ball, too," Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. "He's a threat to scramble out of the pocket, makes throws on the run, so we think he's a very dangerous quarterback."

Fitzpatrick's top receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh leads the team with 746 yards and four touchdowns, but the quarterback could also have a target in Chad Ocho Cinco, who may be back in the lineup after being benched for the Bengals' last game.

The former Chad Johnson, who has totaled 383 yards with four TDs, was punished for showing up late for a team meeting and exchanging words with a coach. Coach Marvin Lewis, though, said Ocho Cinco would play if his sore right knee allows.

"I think he'll be good," Lewis said. "If he's healthy and he goes through the week and we feel like he's our best, he'll get an opportunity."

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Hoppes: Into the mind of Chad Ochocinco

Page 2 takes a glimpse into the mind of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco

Scouts Inc.: AFC offseason needs

You can think of this as the ultimate primer for the NFL offseason, or at least the AFC offseason: Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. breaks down all the squads in the AFC and tells you their top three needs to address, be it via the draft or free agency.

Sources: Bengals' Maualuga will enter rehab

Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga will check into the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., later this month for at least 30 days, according to multiple NFL sources.

Ravens' Figurs out until training camp after surgery

The Ravens' Yamon Figurs will be sidelined for the rest of the offseason minicamps because he recently had surgery on his foot.

Troy Smith gets work as receiver

With several wide receivers excused from voluntary minicamp, backup quarterback Troy Smith made a temporary position change to wide-out, running routes and making some impressive catches Tuesday.

McGahee Heads Sparse List of Vets at OTA

The Ravens have had a solid turnout of veterans at all of their voluntary Organized Team Activities this offseason, but running back Willis McGahee was the most notable of those players that opted to attend this week.

Smith Running Routes as Receiver

On one of the final drills of todaya s OTAs, the Ravens faced fourth-and-8 at midfield, and backup quarterback Troy Smith joined a four-receiver set.

Birk Bustling in Baltimore

Matt Birk , the Ravens' newly-acquired center, brings 11 years of NFL experience, six Pro Bowl invites and a reputable charitable foundation to the team.

Chad Ochocinco: I will be at Bengals minicamp

Besides warmer weather, what is another sure sign that Bengals minicamp is drawing closer? Talk about a wide receiver not at the team?s OTAs starts to dominate the conversation.

Palmer: We still need Chad

Carson Palmer has always been about loyalty, which is why during the past two weeks he has talked about the progress of the receivers who are participating in the Bengals offseason program.

Bengals' Hall pleads guilty to reduced charge in DUI case

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Leon Hall pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in his drunken-driving case Monday, allowing him to avoid jail time.

Odom: I know I have to play better

You would expect when someone adds 28 pounds, that it would slow a player. Not in the case of Antwan Odom.

Bengals counting heavily on Henry

This time last year, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was entering a dark period of his NFL career.