Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green hauled in 10 receptions for over 200 yards, including the game-winning touchdown, on Sunday afternoon. (Getty)
Final
Cincinnati Bengals 7-7-0-14 — 28
Baltimore Ravens 0-0-7-17 — 24
That was fun. At least for the Cincinnati Bengals.
A.J. Green hauled in a seven-yard touchdown pass to put his team back on top with just over two minutes left in regulation, wrapping up a back-and-forth matchup between AFC North rivals.
It was less fun for the Baltimore Ravens who made history on Sunday afternoon, starting the season 0-3 for the first time ever. The Ravens defense simply could not stop Cincinnati and as the game ticked on, could not find an answer for Green, who hauled in 10 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns.
Of course, whistles didn’t help Baltimore either. The Ravens were called for 13 penalties for 116 yards, including a facemask call on the final drive of the afternoon, essentially ending the game.
If there was a very dim bright spot for the Ravens it was the performance of Steve Smith, Sr. who racked up 186 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Joe Flacco finished the day 32-of-49 for 362 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. It’s Flacco’s second straight 300-plus yard performance.
Andy Dalton threw his first interception of the season but also threw three touchdowns and 383 yards. So, in the grand scheme of things, that one pick wasn’t all too heinous. Click here to see a full box score of the matchup and read on for some of the game’s best highlights:
Dalton to Green. Again. Bengals Back on Top.
Andy Dalton with a masterful presnap mind game and gets A.J. Green wide open for the go-ahead TD. Holy crap.
When you’ve got A.J. Green on your roster, you need to throw to A.J. Green. So, that’s what Andy Dalton did.
Cincinnati took the lead back, just moments after the Ravens had jumped ahead when Dalton found Green who ran right into the end zone. Green has over 200 yards receiving. Two hundred yards. Two hundred yards.
Throw to A.J. Green more, Cincinnati Bengals.
Steve Smith Continued to Be Steve Smith Wit His Second TD of the Day
Let’s exchange some more touchdowns, shall we?
Steve Smith put the Ravens back on top with his second touchdown reception of the game, a 16-yard catch despite some pretty solid coverage by Cincinatti’s secondary. Smith, clearly, did not care.
Also this happened:
We should all probably stop calling Steve Smith old.
A.J. Green Put the Bengals Back Up With a Big-Time TD Reception
80 yards. Dalton to Green. Bengals lead.
Exactly how they drew it up, right? Probably not. But it’s a lead and a much-needed boost late in the divisional matchup. Watch Green absolutely refused to get tackled here:
The Ravens Took a Fourth Quarter Lead on a Defensive Play
ELVIS DUMERVIL WITH THE SACK.
C.J. MOSLEY RETURNS THE FUMBLE FOR A TD.
Remember how worried we all were about the Baltimore Ravens defense? Its lack of leadership? Its inability to bring pressure or force turnovers? This may not totally silence those worries but it certainly quiets them slightly.
Elvis Dumervil brought the pressure on Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton while C.J. Mosley picked up the ball and ran it into the end zone, giving the Ravens their first lead of the game. Baltimore was down by 14 at halftime. The Bengals had several opportunities to really put the game away, even in the second quarter, but could not find the final strike and Baltimore never gave up.
Steve Smith Scored a Catch & Run TD on Fourth Down
He’s not retired yet.
The Baltimore Ravens receiver turned a short play, aimed at simply getting the first down, into a 50-yard touchdown run to get his team on the board.
Heck of an effort by Steve Smith. He’s got any life in this Ravens offense on his back.
Smith simply refused to go down on the play and, maybe, just maybe, sparked some life back into this Baltimore team. Go back and watch that catch again. You know you want to.
The Ravens Picked Off Andy Dalton Early in the Third Quarter
There is your first Dalton interception of the season. And in the red zone makes it hurt double time.
Baltimore needed that. After a first half that saw the Bengals control nearly all 30 minutes of play, the Ravens defense, finally, stepped up and forced a big-time turnover.
Jimmy Smith picked off Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton in the red zone on the Bengals opening drive of the third quarter. It was the first time that Dalton had been picked off all season.
Marvin Jones Hauled in a 16-Yard Touchdown Pass
.@andydalton14 threads the needle to @MarvinJonesJr for 16 yds and a #TOUCHDOWN #CINvsBAL #LetsRoar
The Bengals offense just keeps rolling.
Andy Dalton threaded a 16-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Jones early in the second quarter, adding to the Cincinnati lead over the Ravens in the divisional matchup. Again, the Ravens defense keeps hurting itself with flags.
There have been some whistles in this game:
The 10th penalty of the game — 10TH!!!! — is a pass interference call on Ravens’ Melvin. His third flag. #Bengals at Balt 13
Andy Dalton Got the Bengals on the Board – With a Run
Look at those Andy Dalton moves.
The Bengals jumped on the board first, capping off a 10-play drive with a seven-yard touchdown run by the Cincinnati quarterback. Of course, Baltimore didn’t help itself much on the drive:
All in all, a pretty poor start by a Ravens defense that was embarrassed last week and had its effort and energy level questioned by coaches
Meanwhile, Cincinnati’s offense has been rolling early this season. Check out this stat:
Game Preview
The Baltimore Ravens need to take advantage of their chances.
In two losses this season, the Ravens were seconds away from turning the game around as both matchups ended on miscues and mis-plays. Case in point? Take a look at Baltimore’s red zone possessions so far this year.
In seven trips to the red zone, the Ravens have just two touchdowns. That’s the third-worst rate in the NFL. Now, Baltimore is scoring in the red zone, only going without points once after entering inside an opponent’s 20-yard line, but field goals won’t win games – at least not in the long run.
If Baltimore is going to get its first win of the season, and prevent the franchise’s first-ever 0-3 start, the Ravens are going to need to find a way to score when they’re within the 20. The power-running game hasn’t proved too successful on goal-line stands. Instead, Baltimore needs to put the ball in Joe Flacco’s hands, especially at home. The Ravens are 45-11 under John Harbaugh at home and if they’re going to keep that number up, they need to trust their quarterback when it matters.