Much-maligned unit posts second straight solid outing 

A bullying defense dominated last night’s Bengals-Baltimore Ravens game. Just not the one everyone expected.

The Bengals’ oft-criticized defense smothered the Ravens last night in a 13-7 victory in rainy Paul Brown Stadium, keeping alive Cincinnati’s faint chances of defending their AFC North title and giving a major boost to its wild-card hopes.

When the Bengals (7-5) smothered the Browns last week, the shutout was attributed mainly to Cleveland’s ineptitude. A second straight similar performance can’t be dismissed as a fluke. Cincinnati came within 61 seconds of logging back-to-back shutouts for the first time in team history.

A flea-flicker gives Cincy its only TD in a 13-7 win over the Ravens; team's defense is suddenly stout.

Neither wind nor rain nor slick footing on Paul Brown Stadium's FieldTurf could stop the Bengals on Thursday night.

The Baltimore Ravens couldn't stop 'em, either.

The Bengals used a little trickery to pull off a 13-7 victory over the AFC North Division leaders in front of 65,973 spectators and millions watching on NFL Network.

Who were those untested, unknown and previously castigated Bengals who — in a night of nonstop rain that ended up like some kind of glorious baptismal waters — became the most unlikely of heroes against the high-flying Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night at Paul Brown Stadium?
 
If you didn't see Cincinnati's 13-7 victory over the Ravens, you wouldn't believe it. In the most critical game the Bengals have played this season, lots of players deserved props afterward, but none more so than the usually uncelebrated:

• There was the Bengals defense that mostly stymied the 9-3 Ravens and came within 61 seconds of recording back-to-back shutouts, something never done in franchise history.

As it was, the defense — led by eight-tackle safety Dexter Jackson, the MVP of a Super Bowl five seasons ago who was signed specifically for a high-stakes game like this — set a club record by registering seven straight quarters holding opponents scoreless.

Week 12 Power Rankings

So the playoff picture is starting to take shape, though what shape, I can’t quite tell you. The first ever “Scott Norwood Choke of the week” officially goes to the N.Y. Giants. So minus the Giants, let’s jump feet first into this weeks rankings… On a side note, a new feature of the rankings will be “the picks.” I will look into my Crystal Ball (which is actually a dirty old nerf football from 1989) and predict the outcome of each game involving a team I rank.

1. Chicago Bears-The Bears better start watching their backs because Shaun Alexander and Matt Hassellbeck are done hitting on the Seahawks trainers, and Rex Grossman needs to stop throwing the football like he is blindfolded. That being said, da’ Bears over da’ Vikings 20-14.