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Graham kicks seven field goals, boots Bengals past Ravens

Nov 12, 2007 - 1:47 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Shayne Graham kick-started the Cincinnati Bengals' offense in his own way.

Graham booted a career-high seven field goals Sunday to lift the Bengals to a 21-7 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in a battle of struggling AFC North Division rivals.

Graham, who connected from 34, 19, 22, 35, 35, 21 and 33 yards, broke Doug Pelfrey's club record of six field goals in a game, set in 1994.

"It wasn't that the kicker made seven kicks, it was that the offense moved the ball down the field to make the field goals," Graham said.

The NFL record is eight field goals in a game, set by Tennessee's Rob Bironas on October 21 in a 38-36 victory over the Houston Texans.

It looked as if the Bengals would present Graham with an opportunity for his eighth field goal attempt, but opted to run out the clock instead.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for another chance, but there wasn't enough time where the clock was," Graham said. "You don't want to rub it into the other team because the game was already won at the point."

The Bengals (3-6) snapped a two-game losing streak by completing a season sweep of their division rivals. The Ravens (4-5) have now lost three in a row.

"We are good with this win and we just have to take it one game at a time, and not worry about the future," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "We have to continue to work hard and put touchdowns on the board in the red zone. Our kicking game did some good things, Shayne had a good game."

With Cincinnati leading, 6-0, Baltimore put together a drive which brought it to the Bengals' 1-yard line. Quarterback Steve McNair, however, lofted a pass intended for tight end Todd Heap that was deflected, and Cincinnati cornerback Leon Hall came down with the ball.

Carson Palmer finished 23-of-34 for 271 yards, spreading the ball around to nine different receivers.

"We were satisfied to get three points every time we went (in the red zone) tonight," Palmer said. "The Ravens are always tough when you get down in the red zone."

Chris Henry had four catches for 99 yards in his first game after serving an eight-game suspension for violation of NFL policies.

"When I first looked up to spot the ball, it looked like it was going to be long," Henry said of his 50-yard reception. "I put my head down and went and got it. I'm just excited to be out there with those guys again."

The Ravens, meanwhile, could not get anything started offensively.

McNair was ineffective, completing 17-of-26 passes for 128 yards. He also fumbled twice before being pulled in favor of Kyle Boller late in the fourth quarter.

"This is the lowest point in my career that I've had over my last two games," McNair said. "If it wasn't for bad luck. I wouldn't have any luck at all.

Last year, we were getting all the breaks. And this year, we are not getting any."

Boller found Mark Clayton for a 47-yard pass play down to the Bengals' 1-yard line.

"It was awesome, I thought he was in," Boller said. "It would've been nicer if he had gotten in, but he showed his wheels and it was something positive in the end."

Willis McGahee scored on the next play with 1:56 remaining to break the shutout.

Regardless, the end result certainly wasn't pleasing to coach Brian Billick.

"Every loss is disappointing," Billick said. "You can't qualify one more than another. It feels pretty devastating right now compared to the others because it's right now. But that's the way this league works."

Baltimore cornerback Corey Ivey suffered a concussion in the first quarter and did not return. Also, cornerback Chris McAlister missed his third game with a right knee injury.