The luster from AFC North championship faded quickly for the Bengals last season during Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl run. What’s the point of gloating about winning a division when your rival takes home the big prize? Still, the division title was a point of pride for the Bengals, especially after a 15-year drought. If Cincinnati (6-5) is to have any hope of defending that championship, it will have to beat the Baltimore Ravens tonight in Paul Brown Stadium. The Ravens (9-2) would clinch the division with a victory. The Bengals have downplayed that aspect of the game. They know the odds are against them repeating even if they win. They need to win just to keep their wild-card hopes viable. Besides, the memory of playing poorly in a 26-20 loss to Baltimore on Nov. 5 remains fresh. "I don’t think we need any extra motivation other than just thinking about beating the Ravens," Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said. "We realize what’s at stake." don’t win this game. This is a first-place team and we need a win." The Bengals have regrouped after losing five of six games to win their past two, including a 30-0 whipping of the Browns on Sunday. The Ravens, winners of five straight, are coming off arguably an even more impressive victory. Baltimore all but ended the Steelers’ playoff chances with a 27-0 victory so thorough it seemed to stun even Ravens coach Brian Billick. "It sounds a little braggadocios, which I know I’m not prone to do," Billick said, a wink at his reputation for arrogance. "But you look at the first half of that game. Steve McNair was 13 of 17 and one was a kill and one was a throwaway to stop the clock. We ran for 100 yards on a team that doesn’t give up 100 yards, and this was just in a half. "I came out at halftime and looked up at the board and saw we had 220 yards of offense and 17 points and they had 36 yards of total offense. I really did look at it and said, ‘Oh boy, somebody’s having a tough day. What game is that? Wait a minute, that’s us.’ " So how have the Ravens become so dominant after fading to 6-10 last season? Their defense, the team’s strength since its 2000 Super Bowl team, is exceptionally fast and athletic. Their two defensive leaders, linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed, are healthy. Several other players, such as linebackers Adalius Thomas and Bart Scott, have emerged as bona fide standouts. "They’re probably the best in the league at confusing you and beating guys one-on-one," Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson said. Offensively, the Ravens have gotten a boost from the acquisition of McNair at quarterback and an improved receiving corps. The offensive line remains a relative weakness, but Jamal Lewis has rebounded from a poor 2005 season. Billick, who was nearly fired after last year, deserves some credit as well. The five-game winning streak has come after he fired offensive coordinator Jim Fassel and assumed play-calling responsibilities. "We’re just kind of doing what we did before," Billick said. "We’re just doing it better." Billick was hired in 1999 largely because of his history as a successful offensive coordinator. That reputation has taken a beating in Baltimore, and Billick isn’t looking for vindication. "Because the minute we stub our toes, they’ll want to throw me under the bus," he said. The Ravens’ bus is rolling now, and the Bengals have to slow it. "We have a chance to hopefully get back into it with some help if we win this game," Cincinnati receiver T. J. Houshmandzadeh said. "But all of that doesn’t matter if we Columbus Dispatch http://columbusdispatch.com/bengals/bengals.php?story=dispatch/2006/11/30/20061130-D1-03.html |
