Week 12 Game Recap: Baltimore Ravens 29, Cincinnati Bengals 42

What you need to know

Baltimore Ravens

For the first time this season, the Ravens scored more than 20 points in a game.

The game started dismally for Baltimore. They were unable to get anything going on offense and their first nine drives ended in five punts, two interceptions, one fumble, and a missed goal. But in the middle of the third quarter, things finally began to click offensively and they went on to score four touchdowns on their remaining drives until the end of the game.

Kyle Boller started out shaky to say the least. He was not connecting with his receivers, and did not look confident at all. And two drives ended with him nearly fumbling the ball away to the Bengals. Though that could have been in part to the rainy conditions. But something clicked with him near the middle of the third quarter, and he started connecting with his receivers to the score of the three passing touchdowns, one to Derrick Mason and two to his tight end Todd Heap. With a commanding lead the Bengals’ defense loosened up a great deal, which was also a contributing factor to Boller’s late game success.

With Chester Taylor out with his ankle, Jamal Lewis started the game out strong with 25 rushing yards on the Ravens’ first drive of the game. Through the first half he had 38 rushing yards and also a run of 12 yards that was called back with a holding penalty. In the second half of the game he showed power and strength running and finished the game with 23 rushes for 113 yards, including a three yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati Bengals

This game was all about Carson Palmer and his two star wide receivers. Palmer came off his hard fought loss to the Indianapolis Colts last week looking sharp, connecting with his receivers and spreading the ball around effectively in the offense. He finished the game with 302 passing yards and three touchdowns.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh had the best game of his season and finished with nine receptions for 147 yards, including a 30 yard touchdown reception. He won the battle against Ravens’ cornerback Chris McAlister and got the better of him repeatedly throughout the game. Chad Johnson played strong as well and contributed with five receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown as well. Both Johnson and Houshmandzadeh left the game for short periods of time in the second half. Johnson with a hamstring tightening due to dehydration. And Houshmandzadeh left for a brief period of time after taking a hit to the head when he fumbled and lost the ball. Both receivers returned to the game to continue to make receptions and plays for the Bengals. Chris Henry was the only other Bengals’ receiver of note and made a 27 yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

Rudi Johnson ran strong and tough in this game and for the second week in a row scored two rushing touchdowns. He rushed 27 times for 114 yards. His longest rush of 28 yards in the fourth quarter set up his subsequent three yard touchdown rush.

With the game well in hand, the Bengals’ defense just got sloppy in the second half and gave up four straight touchdown drives to a Ravens’ offense that up this point has been inept.

What you ought to know

QB Kyle Boller, Pass: 18 - 32 - 211 - 3 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 4 - 10 - 0

This did not start out as Kyle Boller’s day by any stretch of the imagination. During the opening drive, Boller targeted a wide open Derrick Mason in the end zone but overthrew him. It began to rain during the second quarter and that impacted Boller in that he had trouble holding on to the ball. Boller fell down, dropped the football and nearly lost a fumble. On the very next drive, it ended in the same manner. Boller just dropped the ball out of his hands and the Bengals were forced to punt. Boller threw an interception during the second quarter. And then he threw a second interception in the third quarter. He finally did lose a fumble in the third quarter. Late in the second half things began to turn around. Boller looked sharper than he had all game and the Bengals defense began to loosen up. Resulting in him throwing three touchdown passes; one to Derrick Mason and two to Todd Heap for touchdowns. But after his terrible start to the game, it was too little too late.

RB Jamal Lewis, Rush: 23 - 113 - 1, Rec: 5 - 36 - 0 (6 targets)

The Ravens began with a healthy dose of Jamal Lewis. On their opening drive, Lewis carried the ball six times for 24 yards and also added an eight yard reception as well. Despite the Ravens’ offensive woes through the third quarter, Lewis finished the game with 23 rushes for 113 rushing yards and he had a 12 yard carry brought back on a holding penalty. In the fourth quarter, Lewis ran in for a five yard touchdown.

RB Justin Green, Rush: 5 - 4 - 0, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets)

Green came in the game during short yardage situations and when Jamal Lewis needed a breather. Green made a two point conversion rushing attempt after Todd Heap’s second touchdown.

RB Chester Taylor

Taylor was not active in the game with an ankle injury.

WR Mark Clayton, Rush: 1 - 6 - 0, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (8 targets)

Clayton made a five yard reception during the Ravens’ opening drive. He gained six yards on an end around carry.

WR Derrick Mason, Rec: 3 - 58 - 1 (8 targets)

Mason was targeted deep in the end zone during the Ravens’ opening drive, but Boller overthrew him. Mason dropped a very catchable ball in the second quarter. He finally made his first reception for 12 yards in the third quarter. A few plays later on fourth and four, Mason scored his second touchdown of the season with a 28 yard reception. Mason made a great 18 yard reception that helped to set up Todd Heap’s second touchdown.

WR Randy Hymes (1 targets)

Hymes saw his only target in the second quarter, but was not a factor in the Ravens’ game plan.

TE Todd Heap, Rec: 6 - 87 - 2 (7 targets)

Heap made his first reception near the end of the first half, a 14 yard catch. It was Heap who was the prime beneficiary of Kyle Boller’s improved play near the end of the game. Following the fumble recovery in the third quarter, Heap made a 34 yard touchdown reception. In the fourth quarter, Heap scored his second touchdown on a 17 yard reception.

TE Daniel Wilcox, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Wilcox made a nine yard reception in the fourth quarter.

TE Darnell Dinkins (1 targets)

The only pass that came Dinkins' way was in the second quarter and was tipped at the line of scrimmage making it uncatchable.

PK Matt Stover 0 - 0 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points

Stover did not attempt any field goals as Aaron Elling was used because of the length of the try. But Stover did make three extra point attempts.

PK Aaron Elling 0 - 1 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 0 points

Elling attempted a 54 yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half, but it was too short.

BAL Rush Defense

The Ravens were without both Ray Lewis and Ed Reed against the Cincinnati Bengals, and their absence was sorely felt. Rudi Johnson rushed for 114 yards against them and two touchdowns.

BAL Pass Defense

Chris McAllister forced Chris Henry’s fumble and it was recovered by Maake Kemoeatu. Will Demps was called for a face mask penalty and was injured on the play, it was reported late in the game that he had a torn ACL. Deion Sanders made an interception at the start of the fourth quarter. In spite of the two turnovers, Carson Palmer threw for just over 300 yards and three touchdowns and had plenty of time to make completions. He was rarely hurried and never sacked.

QB Carson Palmer, Pass: 22 - 30 - 302 - 3 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 14 - 0

Palmer came out throwing and threw well. He targeted four different receivers on their opening drive. And his only incompletion was an overthrown pass attempt to Chad Johnson in the end zone on third down, forcing the Bengals to settle for a field goal. Palmer threw three touchdowns during the game. Palmer connected with Johnson on a beautiful 54 yard touchdown pass. To start the second half, Palmer threw a 30 yard touchdown pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Following Kyle Boller’s interception in the third quarter, Palmer threw a 27 yard touchdown pass to Chris Henry. The only blemish on the day for Palmer was an interception thrown near the end of the third quarter.

RB Rudi Johnson, Rush: 27 - 114 - 2, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets)

After only short gains during the opening drive, Johnson broke tackles to gain 21 yards up the middle and put the Bengals into the red zone. Johnson scored on a six yard run during the second quarter. Johnson made a great 28 yard run breaking tackles to get to the five yard line. Two plays later he ran in to score his second touchdown of the game.

RB Chris Perry, Rush: 3 - 0 - 0, Rec: 2 - 2 - 0 (3 targets)

Perry saw his first carries of the game in the third quarter, with the game well in hand for the Bengals.

RB Jeremi Johnson, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Johnson made a nine yard reception during the opening drive of the game.

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Rush: 1 - 7 - 0, Rec: 9 - 147 - 1 (13 targets)

Houshmandzadeh made a 23 yard reception during the Bengals’ opening drive. He was pivotal during the Rudi Johnson scoring drive, making two receptions for 41 yards. Right after Chad Johnson left the field for the locker room, Houshmandzadeh made a 30 yard touchdown reception. He nearly fell down, but righted himself and ran in easily for the score. Houshmandzadeh lost a fumble on a long reception down the sidelines, the ball popped out of his hands. On the play, he suffered a blow to his head but was able to return to the game and remained a big part of the game and this was his best game to date this season with nine receptions for 147 yards.

WR Chad Johnson, Rec: 5 - 88 - 1 (8 targets)

With Johnson’s first reception of seven yards, he passed the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the fourth season in a row. Johnson was targeted in the end zone, but was overthrown by Palmer. Johnson drew a defensive interference penalty call on Samari Rolle in the second quarter. Two plays later Johnson was wide open and made a 54 yard touchdown reception. Johnson left the field in the third quarter holding his right hamstring; the announcing crew speculated that it was because of dehydration. Johnson returned in the middle of the third quarter and though this was his fellow wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s day to shine, he put in an admirable day with five receptions for 88 yards and his touchdown.

WR Chris Henry, Rec: 3 - 53 - 1 (5 targets)

Henry saw his first target during the second quarter. He made a 17 yard reception over the middle but lost the ball on a fumble. Henry caught a 27 yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.

WR Kevin Walter, Rec: 1 - -2 - 0 (2 targets)

Walter’s only reception of the first half was for a loss of two yards.

TE Matt Schobel (1 targets)

Schobel made a two point conversion reception in the fourth quarter.

TE Tony Stewart (1 targets)

Stewart made a three yard reception during the Bengals’ opening drive, but a defensive penalty against the Ravens nullified the catch.

PK Shayne Graham 2 - 2 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 10 points

Graham made two field goals of 26 and 31 yards. He also converted all four of his extra point attempts.

CIN Rush Defense

An illegal contact penalty on a third down gave the Ravens a first down and negated what would have been a sack by Tory James and forced Baltimore to punt. They did allow Jamal Lewis to rush against them for 113 yards and gave up one rushing touchdown.

CIN Pass Defense

Deltha O’Neal intercepted Boller in the second quarter, and leads the league with seven interceptions this season. Boller was never sacked during the game. It seemed as though with the game in hand that the Bengals’ defense got sloppy and were giving up plays to the Ravens that they were just not allowing early in the game. And that was evidenced by the Ravens’ four touchdown scoring drives in the third and fourth quarter. Three of them passing touchdowns.