Week 1: Ravens at Bengals

Mike HempelSep 11, 2007

Week 1: Ravens at Bengals - Score One for the Home Team…

The turnovers were seen early, as Baltimore fumbled on their second possession of the game, on a play where it seemed the exchange between McNair and off-season acquisition Willis McGahee showed some preseason rust. After Shayne Graham’s blocked field goal, Baltimore again fumbled on their following possession, when Ahmad Brooks came up the middle forcing a fumble, and the week-1 star of the Bengals Robert Geathers recovered on Baltimore’s 39 yard line. On the following play, Carson Palmer hooked up with Chad Johnson for one of his two touchdown passes on the night for a 39-yard touchdown, beating safety Dawan Landry in the corner of the end zone. Shortly after, Johnson brought out a yellow HOF jacket, delivering on his preseason vow of bringing the spirited, exuberant style of play back this year. With Graham seemingly shaken up on the earlier field goal attempt, punter Kyle Larson attempted the PAT, only to have it blocked. The Ravens offense again came to a halt when Alabama rookie Le’Ron McClain was stood up several Bengals, allowing Marshall, a key off-season pickup from the Redskins, to stick his helmet on the ball, forcing Baltimore’s third fumble in as many possessions. After getting down to the 5 yard line, Shayne Graham kicked a shaky 23 yard field goal as the Bengals took a 9-0 early lead.

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On Baltimore’s first possession of the second quarter, 5^th-year running back Musa Smith punched it in the end zone on a 6-yard run that capped an 8-play drive spanning 88 yards. Then, on Cincinnati’s last drive of the half, one in which Carson Palmer hit Houshmandzadeh and Johnson on alternate plays, Graham’s 40 yard field goal sent the Bengals into halftime with a 12 – 10 lead.

The Bengals came out of halftime, only to have their first and only sack of the game ruin a drive in which they reached midfield. On the following possession, Baltimore picked up where it left off as Cincinnati’s relentless pressure forced its 4^th turnover of the game as Robert Geathers beat rookie Jared Gaither, getting to McNair and jarring the ball loose, landing in the hands of Bengals LB Landon Johnson, who returned the fumble for a 34 yard touchdown, the first of his career. Gaither, at right tackle, took over early in the game for perennial Pro-Bowler Jonathan Ogden, who left the game with an ailing foot injury. The rest of the quarter went on fairly uneventful, as it was clear Baltimore made several halftime adjustments, slowing down Cincinnati’s offense.

Baltimore opened the 4^th quarter as they drove down to the Cincinnati 5, only to have a 3^rd and 4 pass go incomplete, leaving Stover to knock in a 23 yard field goal. Baltimore’s second half defense continued to fluster the Bengals offense, where it seemed as if Palmer was forcing passes into tight zone coverage. The Bengals punted on their second consecutive 3-and-out, only to have backup punt returner and Pro-Bowl safety Ed Reed return it 63 yards for his first punt return touchdown of his career. Stover’s extra point sent the Ravens to their first lead of the game at 20-19. The momentum took a severe swing in Baltimore’s favor after the touchdown return, and the defense did its part, forcing Cincinnati into its 3^rd consecutive 3 and out. The key play of the game may have occurred on Baltimore’s next possession, when DE Robert Geathers picked off Steve McNair’s 3^rd and 1 pass, a play upheld after Baltimore’s challenge. Geathers returned the interception to the 22 of Baltimore, where the Bengals made short work as Rudi Johnson’s 15 yard run set up Carson’s second touchdown pass, a 7-yarder to Houshmandzadeh. Rudi then ran in the two-point conversion on the left side, following FB Jeremi Johnson. The Bengals vaulted to a 27-20 lead, in which Baltimore’s offense would not be able to overcome. On Baltimore’s final drive, with reserve QB Kyle Boller taking over for an injured Steve McNair, a game- tying touchdown pass to Todd Heap was called back for offensive interference. On the following 4^th- & - 10, Cincinnati returned the favor as Madeiu Williams was called for defensive holding, giving the Ravens a 1^st down on the 5 yard line. After two plays resulting in 1 yard, Boller’s 3^rd down attempt was picked off by newly-acquired Michael Myers, as it bounced off Heap’s facemask and into safe hands. The opening win took Cincinnati’s overall record in the month of September to 7-0 spanning the last three years. It’s last loss, to the same Ravens, in 2004. The Bengals also improved their record to 5-1 in their last 6 meetings with Baltimore. These two teams will meet again during week 10, in which Baltimore will host Cincinnati in a game that will go a long way towards deciding the AFC North champions. That game will have a 4:05ET kickoff time.