Ravens keep Bengals at bay
Baltimore defence stands firm despite absence of Ray Lewis
Last Updated: November 21, 2011 2:48am
Anquan Boldin races into the end zone to score for the Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens struck what could prove a crucial blow in the battle for the AFC North with a 31-24 triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The expected tussle between two of the best defences in the NFL failed to materialise as the divisional rivals provided plenty of points at M&T Bank Stadium.
Ray Rice rushed for two touchdowns for Baltimore while Torrey Smith enjoyed a big day, the receiver grabbing six catches for 165 yards and a score.
The win was achieved without Ray Lewis too, the experienced middle linebacker missing for the first time in 58 games due to a toe injury.
Without him the Ravens defence struggled at times, though they did come up with a big stop on their own seven-yard line when Cincinnati were threatening to level matters late in the fourth quarter.
Crucial sack
After the Bengals had a touchdown ruled out by a tight replay call on the previous series, quarterback Andy Dalton was called for intentional grounding and, on fourth down, was then sacked by Pernell McPhee.
Rookie Dalton went 24 for 45 for 373 yards and a touchdown, but he was intercepted three times.
It was the visitors who went ahead on a seven-yard scoring run by tail-back Cedric Benson, only for their opponents to respond with touchdowns from Anquan Boldin, on a 35-yard pass from Joe Flacco, and Rice.
Rice also found the end zone again in the third quarter to make it 24-14 and when Smith caught a 38-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone early in the fourth, Baltimore looked to be cruising to victory.
In the end, though, they were forced to hold off the charging Bengals at the death.
Dalton teamed up with Andre Caldwell on a 49-yard touchdown pass and it appeared they'd closed the gap further when tight end Jimmy Graham made it to the end zone, only for the score to be ruled out as he was juggling the ball.
The Bengals had to settle for a field goal instead, meaning they needed a touchdown on their final drive just to force overtime.
The result puts Baltimore, who are now 7-3 for the season with five of those wins coming at home, into a tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the division. The Bengals remain in the hunt, though, with a 6-4 record.
