Cincy's defense keys win over Ravens

Sep 11, 2007, 3:01 GMT

Cincinnati, OH - Defensive tackle Michael Myers' interception in the end zone with just over a minute to play in the fourth quarter sealed the win for Cincinnati, as the Bengals forced six turnovers to beat the Baltimore Ravens, 27-20, in a wild season-opener for both teams.

With Cincinnati leading by a touchdown late in the fourth, Rudi Johnson coughed up the ball deep in the Bengals' territory and Baltimore recovered on the 24-yard line with just under five minutes to play.

The Ravens faced a 4th-and-3 on the 17-yard line and Kyle Boller, in relief of Steve McNair, found Derrick Mason to give Baltimore a 1st-and-goal on the three-yard line.

The Bengals came up with two stops on Willis McGahee surrounded around a Boller incomplete pass to force another fourth down. Boller then appeared to find Todd Heap in the back of the end zone for the game-tying score, but Heap was whistled for offensive pass interference.

Pushed back to the 11-yard line, Baltimore received a new set of downs after a defensive holding call, but Myers' interception a few plays later sealed the win. On third-and-goal on the two-yard line, Boller hit Heap in-between the numbers in the end zone, but the ball bounced off his pads and into the air as Myers made the diving catch.

Carson Palmer completed 20-of-32 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns, including a seven-yard TD to T.J. Houshmandzadeh midway through the fourth quarter that gave Cincinnati (1-0) the lead.

'Any time you get an ugly win, a pretty win, a win is a win against that team, against that defense,' Palmer said. 'Fortunately our defense came out and kept us in the game, made big plays, just played great.'

Chad Johnson caught five passes for 95 yards and a touchdown for the Bengals, who scored 24 points off the six Baltimore turnovers.

'Turnovers clearly, that's the story of the game,' Ravens coach Brian Billick said. 'You can't turn the ball over on the road in the opener and expect to win.'

Before leaving with a groin injury, McNair completed 20-of-34 passes for 203 yards, was intercepted once and fumbled three times for the Ravens (0-1), who had taken a 20-19 lead in the fourth quarter on Ed Reed's 63-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Baltimore, however, put itself in an early hole with three first-quarter turnovers, including two by McNair on consecutive plays.

After a Bengals' punt gave Baltimore the ball on its own 44-yard line, McNair couldn't complete a stretch handoff to McGahee as Cincinnati recovered the loose ball. The Bengals, however, couldn't take advantage as Shayne Graham's 53-yard field goal attempt was well short.

Reed returned the kick out to the Baltimore 44-yard line, but Ahmad Brooks sacked McNair on the very next play, knocking the ball from his hands. Brooks fell on the ball and Palmer soon found a streaking Chad Johnson for a 39-yard touchdown.

Then came another one of his interesting touchdown celebrations, putting on a yellow jacket with 'Future H.O.F 20??' on the back.

Graham, who appeared to aggravate his bruised hip during his first field goal attempt, was unavailable for the extra point and punter Kyle Larson's attempt was blocked as Cincinnati led 6-0.

Following Larson's kickoff, Baltimore's next possession started off well after two McGahee runs gave the Ravens a first down. McNair followed with a completion to Le'Ron McClain, but a jarring hit knocked the ball from his hands as Madieu Williams recovered for the Bengals.

Graham then returned for Cincinnati and made it 9-0 with a 23-yard field goal.

Baltimore finally came alive near the end of the opening quarter. McNair found Mason for a 15-yard completion before McGahee's 11-yard run brought the Ravens out to their own 38-yard line.

On the first play of the second quarter, McNair hooked up with Mason again for a 12-yards that moved Baltimore to midfield. A few plays later, Musa Smith, in relief of McGahee, broke off a 17-yard gain to the Cincinnati 25-yard line. McNair followed with a 19-yard reception to Demetrius Williams and Smith finished off the drive with a touchdown that brought Baltimore within 9-7.

Graham kicked a 40-yarder with just over a minute to play before Matt Stover's 36-yard boot right before halftime made it 12-10.

Baltimore faced a 3rd-and-7 on its first possession of the second half, and Cincinnati got pressure on McNair to force another turnover. Robert Geathers knocked the ball from his hand and Landon Johnson caught the ball in midair and ran it back 34 yards for the touchdown.

The Ravens responded as Stover's 23-yard field goal early in the fourth brought Baltimore within 19-13. The Ravens then forced a three-and-out and Reed, returning in place of the injured B.J. Sams, ran back the ensuing kick to give Baltimore the lead.

Baltimore forced another three-and-out, but Cincinnati came up with yet another turnover. On 3rd-and-1 on their own 35-yard line, the Ravens elected to go with a play-fake, but McNair's throw to Mason was high and deflected off the veteran receiver's hands. Geathers, back in coverage, came up with a diving catch that withstood a Baltimore challenge.

One play later, Palmer found Houshmandzadeh open on the left flat and he took it up the sideline and into the end zone to put Cincinnati back in front. The Bengals converted the two-point conversion on Rudi Johnson's run to take a seven-point lead with just under nine minutes to play.

McGahee, acquired from Buffalo in the offseason, finished with 77 yards on 19 carries and had three catches for 34 yards for Baltimore, while Mason ended with seven catches for 76 yards.

Game Notes

Lewis improved to 6-3 against the Ravens...Chad Johnson needs 60 more catches to surpass Carl Pickens as the Bengals' all-time reception leader and just 82 yards to become the franchise all-time receiving yards leader (Isaac Curtis 7,101)...Pro Bowl left tackle Jonathan Ogden left in the second quarter with a toe injury and middle linebacker Ray Lewis hurt his triceps but stayed in the game for Baltimore. Sams suffered a sprained knee.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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