Kyle Larson punted 11 times while Baltimore held the Bengals to just six first downs en route to a 34-3 win at Paul Brown Stadium. Baltimore rookie quarterback Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes, including a 70-yarder to Mark Clayton in the third quarter, as the Ravens swept the season series from the Bengals for the first time since 2002.
The Bengals fall to 1-10-1, while Baltimore maintains its playoff hopes at 8-4. It is the 16th time in 41 seasons that the Bengals have had double-digit losses.
The Ravens defense limited the Bengals to 155 yards total, just one more yard than they allowed the Bengals in a 17-10 win in Baltimore in the opening game of the season. The six first downs equaled the fewest in a game by a Cincinnati offense since Oct. 19, 1992, in a 20-0 loss at Pittsburgh. It is the fifth time it has happened in franchise history.
In the two games against Baltimore this season the Bengals managed: 309 yards offense; 14 first downs; four of 28 conversions on third-down attempts; and, in neither game did the Bengals have more than 100 net yards throwing the ball.
The Bengals came in the game ranked 32nd – dead last – in the NFL in total offense, while Baltimore’s defense was No. 2 in the league. The Ravens lived up to their reputation, while the Bengals played down to theirs.
“We’re obviously in a funk,” said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. “We have personnel that’s better than the statistics. We have guys that can make plays; it’s just a matter of getting the ball in their hands and getting them space. The defense that we played today is good, but if you’re a good offense, you’re going to be able to put up points on anybody. I think it was more on us today in terms of executing.”
Fitzpatrick completed just 12 of 34 passes for 124 yards before Jordan Palmer entered to play the final two series of the game. Fitzpatrick was not intercepted but Baltimore did sack him three times and batted down five of his passes at the line of scrimmage. Baltimore held possession of the ball for 38:58, compared to 21:02 for the Bengals.
“Today we weren’t very good,” said head coach Marvin Lewis. “When you get your head kicked in like we just did, I’m not going to be happy about anything.”
Sunday was the eighth time this season that Larson has had seven or more punts in a game. He also punted 11 times against Philadelphia on Nov. 16 in a 13-13 tie. He averaged 43.5 yards on his punts and now has punted 81 times this season. He is on pace to finish with 108 punts, which would obliterate Daniel Pope’s team record of 94 punts set in 2000.
Fitzpatrick completed an 18-yard pass to Chad Ocho Cinco on the first play from scrimmage but the Ravens held the Bengals without a first down for the next 19 plays. The Bengals didn’t pick up another first down until Fitzpatrick scrambled out of pocket for 21 yards with 38 seconds left in the first half. Fitzpatrick completed a 46-yard pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh on the next play to get the Bengals in scoring position at the Baltimore 18 but all they would manage from there was a 21-yard field goal by Shayne Graham on the final play of the first half.
The Ravens had outgained the Bengals 248-109 in the first half, with 89 of Cincinnati’s yards coming on its final drive.
Despite Baltimore’s dominance, the game was still within reach for the Bengals until a pair of long touchdowns in the third quarter; Clayton threw a 32-yard scoring pass to Derrick Mason on an end-around play with 8:12 left in the quarter. Clayton then caught his deep pass from Flacco with 5:53 to go. The 70-yard play was the longest allowed by the Bengals this season.
Flacco finished 19 of 29 for 280 yards and a passer rating of 119.9. Clayton had five catches for 164 yards to go along with the one touchdown reception and throw.
The Bengals had 14 possessions in the game. They turned the ball over on downs on their final drive, which ended with 1:07 left on the clock, while Baltimore safety Jim Leonhard intercepted a Palmer pass intended for Reggie Kelly and returned it 35 yards for the game’s final touchdown with 2:28 to play.