Week 9 Game Recap: Cincinnati Bengals 20, Baltimore Ravens 26

What you need to know

Cincinnati Bengals

QB Carson Palmer was only sacked twice in this game, but he was hit hard and often by the Baltimore pass rush. He wasn’t able to step into throws resulting in lots of high passes. Palmer’s lack of time in the pocket prevented him from being able to get the ball downfield to his receivers.

RB Rudi Johnson looked fast and strong running hard and breaking tackles. However, with the Ravens posting a 14 point lead before he had his second carry, the Bengals didn’t get the chance to try and control the game with their rushing attack.

The Bengals’ defense wasn’t able to generate any sort of pass rush. They allowed QB Steve McNair to stand in the pocket far too long on many plays allowing him to calmly deliver passes. Making matters worse, they weren’t able to consistently shut down the run putting McNair in obvious passing situations. They routinely allowed RB Jamal Lewis to grind out three yards.

Baltimore Ravens

QB Steve McNair was able to utilize play action passes for the second week in a row due to an effective running game and a double-digit lead. Baltimore also threw on first down effectively as Cincinnati was expecting run on almost every play.

RB Jamal Lewis was the featured facet of the Baltimore attack (28 touches) and is beginning to look healthier each week. He ran with power breaking tackles mostly between the tackles. RB Mike Anderson and RB Musa Smith have been regulated to purely backup roles and third down specialists.

WR Michael Clayton led Baltimore receivers with 12 targets, and was QB Steve McNair’s first look on most third down plays. However, TE Todd Heap was McNair’s big play man getting down field averaging 21 yards on four receptions.

What you ought to know

QB Carson Palmer, Pass: 12 - 26 - 195 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0

After getting sacked on his first play from scrimmage Palmer dropped back two plays later on a third and long. He wasn’t under pressure and overthrew WR Chad Johnson. The pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown putting the Bengals down by 14 points only three and a half minutes into the game. Palmer faced a heavy pass rush through the bulk of the first half. He continued to throw the ball high and nearly had several other passes intercepted. He rebounded just before halftime hitting WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh for a 26 yard touchdown. Palmer did a nice job with a pump fake and looking off the safety to the left before coming back to Houshmandzadeh deep to his right. The second half looked much like the start of the game. Palmer was sacked on their first series on a three and out. Two series later at the start of the fourth quarter Palmer took a big hit standing in the pocket from up the middle, but unloaded a deep pass down the right sideline that WR Chris Henry pulled in for a long gain putting the Bengals at the four yard line setting up the touchdown for RB Rudi Johnson.

RB Rudi Johnson, Rush: 18 - 77 - 1, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (2 targets)

Johnson ran well between the tackles picking up solid chunks of yardage. If not for the game situation (down 14 points early and playing from behind) the Bengals likely would have been able to control the ball much more effectively running Johnson. He only had 18 carries in the game. Johnson scored his touchdown late in the game on a run up the middle. He met LB Ray Lewis at about the one yard line, but was able to drive him back into the end zone. Johnson got his shoulder pads lower than Lewis did and used the leverage to bull forward for the score.

RB Chris Perry, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0

Perry put the Bengals in a hole fumbling on the opening kickoff setting up the first Raven touchdown. He nearly turned the game into a blowout by fumbling another return during the second quarter, but the ball bounced back to him.

WR Chad Johnson, Rec: 4 - 32 - 0 (7 targets)

Johnson was targeted on the first pass from QB Carson Palmer. The pass was overthrown on a third and long deep slant. Johnson got his hands on the pass tipping it up into the air. It ended up getting intercepted and returned for a touchdown. Johnson made a fine leaping grab on the left sideline literally leaping out of a shoe while flashing his athleticism later in the first quarter. He wasn’t targeted again until midway through the second quarter when Johnson drew a pass interference flag on a play deep over the middle. He was only able to manage two short receptions after that play. Each was near the line of scrimmage as they tried to get him the ball in open space so he could attempt to beat a defensive back own his own.

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Rec: 3 - 66 - 1 (9 targets)

Houshmandzadeh’s first target on the second Cincinnati drive drew a pass interference flag keeping the Bengal drive alive. He didn’t make his first reception until just before halftime on a fourteen yard out to the right sideline. Houshmandzadeh followed that play up with a deep 26 yard touchdown over the top. QB Carson Palmer did a great job of looking off the safety and Houshmandzadeh beat the corner straight down the field. The Bengals’ offense stalled until late in the game when Palmer hit Houshmandzadeh with a deep 26 yard pass leading to a field goal that pulled the Bengals within six points. On their next possession the Bengals went for it on fourth down, but came up empty when Houshmandzadeh couldn’t handle a short pass from Palmer. A pass interference flag could have easily been thrown on the play, but an argument could also be made that an obvious offensive holding penalty also occurred. After the play, Houshmandzadeh lost his composure and threw his helmet down on the field and drew a penalty.

WR Chris Henry, Rec: 2 - 79 - 0 (5 targets)

Henry dropped his first target on a third down pass from QB Carson Palmer at the start of the second quarter. The pass was a bit high over the middle of the field, but should have been a catch. Henry made his first two catches at the start of the fourth quarter. The first was a short 8 yarder, but the second was a bomb down the right side line. Henry simply outran the defense and QB Carson Palmer laid a beautiful ball in his hands for the 71 yard gain. Henry was caught from behind and fumbled on the play, but both his knees were down and he lost the ball when it slammed into the ground. He did make a half hearted effort on the last play of the game where Palmer threw a Hail Mary up for grabs and got an earful from Palmer as they walked off.

TE Reggie Kelly, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (2 targets)

Kelly caught both of his targets in the game. Each was a short cross just behind the defensive line.

PK Shayne Graham 2 - 2 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 8 points

Graham made a long FG of 51, another shorter FG and both his extra points.

CIN Rush Defense

The Cincinnati front seven shut down the Baltimore rushing attack by over-committing to RB Jamal Lewis. They held him to only three yards per carry, but by putting their focus there it kept them from rushing the passer. Also, play action from QB Steve McNair was particularly effective in freezing linebackers. This allowed TE Todd Heap to get wide open downfield for big plays.

CIN Pass Defense

The Bengals’ pass rush was non-existent. QB Steve McNair’s uniform looked clean and well pressed as he left the field at halftime. An effective Baltimore running game combined with well timed play action passing kept the Cincinnati pass rush in limbo while McNair had lots of time to survey the field from the pocket. The Bengals did record two sacks in the second half, but each was due to a Baltimore mistake. McNair muffed a ball in the shotgun and fell on the ball. Later in the game he tripped when he got his legs crossed up with an offensive lineman on his drop back.

QB Steve McNair, Pass: 21 - 31 - 245 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 7 - 2 - 0

McNair was able to utilize play action passing effectively to move the sticks in the Ravens short passing game. RB Jamal Lewis was able to set up manageable short third down passes for McNair. Further, he had ample time to stand tall in the pocket with a non-existent pass rush from the Bengals. However, McNair nearly threw an interception on their final drive in the first half on a pass that hit a defensive back in the chest. McNair was very good on third downs keeping drives alive with his arm, and his legs as well. He ran when he had to in order to move the sticks.

RB Jamal Lewis, Rush: 24 - 72 - 1, Rec: 3 - 15 - 0 (4 targets)

Lewis got his first two carries once the Ravens were inside the ten yard line. He powered between the tackles from inside the five yard line on consecutive carries to score the first Baltimore touchdown. The Baltimore offense leaned heavily on Lewis for the second week in a row. Lewis had at least one carry during every Ravens’ possession in this game.

RB Mike Anderson, Rush: 4 - 9 - 0

Anderson lined up as the Ravens’ quarterback on the second and third plays from scrimmage. On both plays he took the snap in the shotgun and ran forward between the tackles. The two plays gained only a combined four yards. He had one carry for five yards in the second quarter, but fumbled at the end of the play. Luckily the ball bounced directly back into his hands.

RB Musa Smith, Rush: 3 - 46 - 0

Smith entered the game just before halftime when the Ravens entered their two minute offense trying to move quickly and set up a field goal. Smith got a handoff on a delay up the middle and looked quick and nimble picking up 14 yards. The Ravens’ offense stalled and chose to end the half with a running play. Smith took the ball on a similar play to his first carry and went up the middle for 30 yards on the final play before half.

WR Mark Clayton, Rec: 8 - 73 - 0 (12 targets)

QB Steve McNair leaned on Clayton on third downs. His first four targets all came on third downs on short slants and outs converting three into first downs. Clayton dropped what would have been a fourth conversion. He was targeted on two deep passes just before halftime as the Ravens were looking to move down the field quickly to get into field goal range. He opened up the second half with a quick hitch at the line of scrimmage for a short gain, but followed that up on their next possession with a great leaping grab back across his body on a deep in.

WR Derrick Mason, Rec: 2 - 20 - 0 (4 targets)

Mason caught both of his first half targets. The first one came on third and 11. Mason fought hard with the defensive back breaking a tackle and lunging forward for the first down. On their second drive in the third quarter Mason got open deep behind the defense. QB Steve McNair threw him a beautiful deep corner route. He caught the ball in the end zone, but only got one foot down. He made a solid effort to get the second foot down, but it was barely out of bounds on the near score. Mason made a huge play on an incomplete pass midway through the fourth quarter. He was McNair’s outlet in the left flat. McNair went though his progression and pivoted to throw the ball to Mason. The defensive back jumped the route and might have had a path for an easy pick-six, but Mason broke the play up turning into the defender on the play.

WR Demetrius Williams, Rec: 2 - 31 - 0 (2 targets)

Williams caught both of his targets. The first was a slant that he quickly turned up the field for a big gain of 20 yards. He looked quick making his cut breaking into the second layer of the defensive backfield. His other reception came early in the fourth quarter leading to the final Stover field goal making it a two possession game for the Bengals.

WR Clarence Moore

Moore was listed as probable with a foot injury, but didn’t see a target in the game.

TE Todd Heap, Rec: 4 - 84 - 0 (5 targets)

Heap pulled in the first pass of the game from QB Steve McNair off a play action fake. The pass was high on the right sideline, but Heap did a nice job of going up to get it leading to the first Ravens’ touchdown. He pulled in his second target at the start of the second quarter that would have converted a third down, but a defensive back ripped the ball out of his hands making it an incompletion. Heap turned into the big play receiver for the Ravens in the second half. He pulled in receptions of 20, 28, and 21 yards during the third quarter. Each was off play action. Heap was just too fast to be covered by linebackers sprinting across the field.

TE Daniel Wilcox, Rec: 1 - 19 - 0 (1 targets)

Wilcox caught his only target at the start of the second quarter. QB Steve McNair hit him on a quick slant in the right flat. Wilcox used his speed and athleticism to break it up field making a big run after the catch.

PK Matt Stover 4 - 4 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 14 points

Stover ran his streak to 34 consecutive field goals in this game, but it was close to ending on attempt number 33. Stover hit the left upright from 36 yards out, but the ball deflected down and forward between the uprights.

BAL Rush Defense

Baltimore held RB Rudi Johnson to only 77 yards, but could have yielded much more if not for the early 17 point lead. Johnson repeatedly gashed the Ravens for four and five yard carries, but the urgent need for points forced the Bengals to go to the air. LB Ray Lewis missed a chance to make a big play. He met Johnson near the goal line and stood him up, but because he tried to make the tackle too high Johnson was able to push him into the end zone.

BAL Pass Defense

The Ravens’ pass rush put serious bruises on QB Carson Palmer. He was hit in the chest too many times to count just as he was delivering passes. The secondary intercepted two passes. The first came at the start of the game. CB Samari Rolle picked off the pass that was tipped by WR Chad Johnson and quickly moved toward the end zone. As he was being taken down he flipped the ball to S Ed Reed that took it the rest of the way for the score. The secondary got their hands on lots of passes in this game nearly intercepting several others.