CNATI: Cincinnati OH Sports Journalism

Cincinnati Bengals

Cardiac Cats claim another victim

By Staff Report, CNATI.com Posted October 11, 2009 7:20 PM ET

By Matt Palmer, special to CNati.com

BALTIMORE- The Bengals almost seem too comfortable with their backs against the wall.

With his team down 14-10 and just 2:15 left in the game Sunday, Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer walked onto the field knowing he would have to engineer a third straight late-game, comeback win.

Eleven plays later, Palmer spotted second-year receiver Andre Caldwell streaking across the end zone and placed a 20-yard pass in his hands with just 27 seconds remaining. The 71,161 fans at M&T Bank Stadium were shocked as they watched the Bengals celebrate a 17-14 victory that gave them sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

The Bengals are 4-1. Baltimore fell to 3-2 and has lost two consecutive games.

"The Ravens had been aggressive all during the game," Palmer said. "They had their hands all over our receivers. I knew if we kept throwing the ball downfield, we would get some P.I. (pass interference) calls."

Palmer pounced on that aggressiveness and turned it into a weakness for the Ravens. Baltimore was flagged three times on the game-sealing drive, including an illegal contact call on Chris Carr and a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on linebacker Ray Lewis, who hit receiver Chad Ochocinco helmet-to-helmet after Ochocinco missed a pass from Palmer.

Perhaps no infraction was bigger than a pass interference call on Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed on third-and-16. Palmer was trying to connect with Ochocinco as Reed draped himself over the receiver.

Given a first down at the 20 with just 34 seconds remaining, Palmer was ready for another victory. That Caldwell was the target, rather than Ochocinco or Chris Henry, was a mild surprise.

"I figured they were coming to me," Caldwell said. "I had one-on-one and it was time for me to make a play."

The Ravens lined up in two-man coverage and Palmer said his receiver "made a great read."

"He went inside and made a great play to come open for me," Palmer said.

It was perhaps Cincinnati's most emotional comeback so far this season. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was on the sideline calling sets Sunday just three days after his wife, Vikki, died unexpectedly. The couple was married for 27 years and Zimmer was given the game ball in the team's locker room after the game.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis recalled Zimmer telling the players: "You know how Vikki felt about all of you. She's up there now in heaven smiling at you.' "

Lewis added, "Win or lose, she loved these guys."

Zimmer's unit was composed throughout the game and kept the high-scoring Baltimore offense to just 257 yards. The Bengals denied Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco from connecting with his favorite target, receiver Derrick Mason, who did not catch a pass.

Flacco threw for just one touchdown, a 48-yard dump pass to running back Ray Rice. Rice shook off both cornerback Leon Hall and linebacker Brandon Johnson on the play and the Cincinnati defense appeared to give up pursuit. Rice, however, kept his balance and ran virtually uncontested for a touchdown that gave the Ravens a 14-10 lead with 7:13 left.

The score inflated Flacco's numbers. The second-year player connected on 22 of 36 passes for 186 yards. He threw two interceptions, including one to Jonathan Joseph in the end zone. It was Joseph's third interception in as many games.

The Bengals dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for a little more than 34 minutes and accumulating 403 total yards, including 230 in the first half. They had few points to show for it, though. Shane Graham had a field goal deflected on the team's first drive, but later connected to cut Baltimore's lead to 7-3.

The Bengals almost squandered a sterling performance from Cedric Benson, who became the first running back to rush for 100 yards against the Ravens in 39 games. Benson eclipsed the mark during the third quarter when he ran 28 yards along the left sideline to give his team a 10-7 lead with 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Benson ended up with 120 yards rushing but was unsure he topped 100 until a team staff member told him afterwards in the locker room.

"What an awesome accomplishment against a well-established and tough defense in our AFC division," Benson said. "I'm very proud of my offense, offensive line in particular. The Bengals gave me a shot. It's hard for me to put into words how wonderful a feeling it is and how tremendous an accomplishment it is for me personally."

The streak was a badge of honor for the Ravens.

"He had his Wheaties this morning," said Ravens defensive end Trevor Pryce. "He's fast and you couldn't see him behind those big guys. He found some holes in there and squeaked through. I don't think most people realize how fast a running back he is. As big as he is, you think he's going to be a power game, but if he gets a seam, he's able to wiggle through there pretty good."

When Flacco connected with Rice for the 48-yard score, Baltimore's 14-10 lead appeared permanent. The Bengals were unable to drive on their next possession and Baltimore got the ball with 5:29 remaining.

Yet, the Ravens were unable to put the game away. A Sam Koch punt went in the end zone, giving the Bengals the ball at the 20-yard-line with just more than two minutes remaining.

The flag on Reed during the fourth quarter was payback for Palmer, as the safety had returned an interception for a 52-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.

"Ed just made a great play," Palmer said of that interception return. "With the coverage they were playing, he wasn't where he was supposed to be. He is a great defensive player and he read the route and reacted."

Palmer, though, came through when it mattered.

"In this league, you're just happy to get wins any way you can," Palmer said. "If it takes a last-minute drive, that's great. Every offense would like to score 35 points per game and never turn the ball over, but that's not always going to happen."

Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, News

Tags: Andre Caldwell, Bengals, Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Mike Zimmer, Ravens