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Surging Ravens visit struggling Bengals

Nov 25, 2008 - 4:56 PM BALTIMORE (7-4) AT CINCINNATI (1-9-1), 1 pm EST

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Baltimore Ravens have one thing in common with the Cincinnati Bengals - both teams had their best outings against the same opponent.

In an AFC North clash between two teams heading in opposite directions, the surprising Ravens visit the woeful Bengals on Sunday.

Baltimore rolled to a 36-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend to stay within one game of the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ed Reed returned an interception an NFL-record 108 yards and rookie quarterback Joe Flacco overcame a shaky start to throw two touchdown passes, helping the Ravens to their fifth victory in six games.

"We know we have a shot at the playoffs," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "We know we're in the hunt. Our guys understand that."

Despite the lopsided final score, Baltimore held just a 12-7 lead before erupting for 24 points in the final quarter.

"We kept at it and kept it at," Flacco said. "Late in the game we prevailed."

Flacco has nine scoring passes against just two interceptions in the last six games. His 53-yard scoring toss to Mark Clayton in the fourth quarter helped Baltimore pull away.

The Ravens' defense, which was pushed around in the previous week's loss to the New York Giants, reverted to form, picking off four passes by Eagles quarterbacks Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb.

McNabb was harassed into 8-for-18 passing for 59 yards with two interceptions and a fumble, leading to the first benching of his career at halftime.

Cincinnati has had a few extra days to rest following a 27-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 20.

Prior to that loss, the Bengals had showed signs of breaking out of their doldrums, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars and playing to a 13-13 tie with the Eagles - the first stalemate in the NFL since 2002.

However, with wideout Chad Johnson deactivated on the day of the Steelers game, Cincinnati managed just 11 first downs.

Johnson is expected to return for Sunday's game - a rematch of the Week One contest won by the Ravens, 17-10.