Sunday
NFL News, Top PostsRecaps: Surging Bengals sweep away Ravens
The Cincinnati Bengals are for real – just ask the Baltimore Ravens. If there was any doubt the Bengals would remain in the hunt for the AFC North title, it was erased Sunday with a dominating performance against the slumping Ravens.
Cincinnati (6-2) kept possession of first place following a 17-7 victory en route to a season-sweep of Baltimore (4-4), which dropped its fourth game in the last five contests.
Pivot Carson Palmer was economical, completing 20-of-33 passes for 224 yards and 1 TD.
Running back Cedric Benson continued to prove his motivation for a new contract, bullying his way to 117 yards and 1 TD on 34 carries. In two games against the Ravens this season, Benson has gained 237 yards while scoring twice.
“We’re much more mature,” Palmer said after the game. ”We’re a better team. We were a good team back then; we were kind of young and dumb. This team has more guys that understand how rare this opportunity is.”
The Bengals, who were a three-point underdog for some reason, easily beat the spread.
Cincinnati’s defense, an underrated part of the team’s resurgence, harassed Raven’s QB Joe Flacco from the opening snap. Led by linebacker Brandon Johnson (1.5), the Bengals sacked Flacco four times, picked him twice while registering eight QB hits.
The Bengals built a 17-0 first-half lead on the strength of TDs by receiver Andre Caldwell and Benson. Kicker Shayne Graham added a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter. Held scoreless through the first three quarters, Baltimore got its only TD of the game early in the fourth on a 2-yard run by running back Ray Rice.
The news was not all good. The Bengals lost Chris Henry to a broken forearm, putting the receiver’s season in jeopardy.
Baltimore cornerback Fabian Washington landed on Henry after the wide out caught a 10-yard pass from Palmer. Sporting an air cast, Henry was carted off the field.
Colts 20, Texans 17: Indianapolis (8-0) remained perfect while Peyton Manning continued to pile up the records. With the help of a missed 42-yard field goal as time expired by Texans kicker Kris Brown, the Colts became the fourth team in NFL history to go on a 17-game winning streak – New England did it twice.
Indianapolis failed to cover the 9.5 spread against Houston (5-4), but that didn’t spot Manning from throwing for 40,000 within the decade – the first QB to ever complete that amazing feat.
Patriots 27, Dolphins 17: The Tom Brady-to-Randy Moss show allowed New England (6-2) to put more distance on the Dolphins (3-5) and the rest of the division.
Trailing by a point in the third quarter, Brady hit Moss on a short pass before the receiver outraced Dolphin defenders for a 71-yard TD catch. The duo connected again on the two-point conversion, giving the Pats a 24-17 lead. Stephen Gostkowski put the game away following a 40-yard field goal in the final 1:09.
Moss finished the day with 6 receptions, 147 yards and a score, complimenting Brady’s 332-yard effort. Despite the win, the Pats couldn’t convert the 10.5-point spread.
Buccaneers 38, Packers 28: The Bucs (1-7) ended an 11-game losing streak with an upset win over the reeling Packers (4-4). In his first career start, rookie quarterback Josh Freeman threw for 205 yards and burned Green Bay for 3 TD passes.
Aside from its first victory of the season, Tampa Bay was able to beat the 10-point spread, and handed the Packers their second straight defeat.
Falcons 31, Redskins 17: The Falcons (5-3) bounced back from a tough Monday night loss in New Orleans with a convincing win against the Redskins (2-6). Michael Turner led the way, rushing for 166 yards and a pair of TDs.
Washington made a mini-run in the second half, but the Falcons were able to hold on to the 11.5-point cover.
Cardinals 41, Bears 21: The Cards (5-3) reached the 4-0 mark on the road for the first time in 27 years after destroying Chicago (4-4) at Soldier Field.
Kurt Warner, who threw five picks last week, rebounded by dissecting the Bears for 261 yards and five TD passes. Two went to Larry Fitzgerald, who also gained 123 yards on 9 catches. Gamblers that went with the Bears this week took a bath as the team was a 3-point favorite against the Cards.
Jaguars 24, Chiefs 21: The Jaguars (4-4) scored 17 unanswered points before holding off the feisty Chiefs (1-7) at the end.
Maurice Jones-Drew and Mike Sims-Walker gave Jacksonville a 24-6 lead, then the Jaguars watched as two TDs by newly acquired receiver Chris Chambers cut the advantage to only three points. However, the Jags pushed their record back to .500, although Kansas City was able to beat the 6.5-points spread.
