Compared with the dramatic Browns-Steelers matchup, Cincinnati's 21-7 victory over Baltimore could be classified as an AFC North Championship Subdivision game.  The Bengals' win was attributable more to the Ravens' offensive ineptitude and defensive casualties than anything spectacular the Bengals did. But credit Cincinnati for recognizing what was necessary and not becoming greedy.

Normally, a team that settles for seven field goals -- none longer than 35 yards -- would be gnashing its teeth for failing to score a touchdown. Instead, the Bengals understood that accumulating field goals was all they needed when Baltimore continually self-destructed.  As they did in their season-opening victory against the Ravens, the Bengals (3-6) forced six turnovers. In its other seven games, Cincinnati has 10 takeaways.  "It's not something you can explain," Bengals safety Madieu Williams said. "You just have to give credit to the guys in the locker room for playing hard and running to the football."

Williams was being diplomatic. Ravens quarterback Steve McNair is near the end of his career, and it showed. The Bengals intercepted him once and caused him to fumble twice.  The biggest play came right before halftime. After the Bengals settled for a Shayne Graham field goal on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line to make it 6-0, the Ravens (4-5) mounted their best drive. At the Cincinnati 2 with 18 seconds left, the Ravens didn't want to risk running the ball because they were out of timeouts. McNair lobbed a pass to Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap. Safety Dexter Jackson was draped on Heap and tipped the ball away, inadvertently but luckily, to cornerback Leon Hall for the interception.

"I wanted a pick, not just to bat it away, but as long as a teammate caught it and not one of theirs…" Jackson said.  The Ravens drove to the Bengals 36 to start the third quarter, but on third-and-3, safety Chinedum Ndukwe stripped the ball from a scrambling McNair. Jackson recovered and returned it 19 yards.  Eleven plays later, Graham kicked his third field goal to make it a two-possession game.

From then on, the Bengals were content to run the clock, add three points at a time and not make mistakes. For the first time all season, Cincinnati did not commit a turnover. If the price was atypical conservatism on offense, so be it.  "The way you beat these guys and Pittsburgh is to not turn the ball over," said quarterback Carson Palmer, who had 277 yards on 23-of-34 passing. "That's where they get their energy from. That's where their offense gets momentum. They get mismatches and try to get the quarterback confused and make you throw the ball into certain areas."

The Ravens were hobbled in the secondary. Starting cornerbacks Chris McAlister (knee) and Samari Rolle (illness) were inactive, and cornerback Corey Ivy left the game because of a concussion. So the Ravens had to play more cautiously to prevent the receiving trio of Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry from going wild.

The Bengals lost their shutout bid with 1:56 left when Willis McGahee scored on a 1-yard run after Mark Clayton's 47-yard catch from Kyle Boller, who replaced McNair.

Columbus Dispatch

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