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Ravens vs. Bengals preview
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A surprising showdown for first place Sunday features the Baltimore Ravens and upstart Cincinnati Bengals.
The Ravens, despite an uneven season that has been overshadowed by a lot of bad breaks/calls and some inconsistency, still find themselves very much a Super Bowl contender.
The Bengals have surprised everyone by producing a balanced offense offset by a young, aggressive defense.
In the first meeting between the two teams, Cincinnati cause Baltimore all kinds of offensive problems. They shut down the running game and took away Derrick Mason, who failed to catch a pass for the first time in his career.
The Cincinnati offense had success as well, as Cedric Benson became the first running back to top 100 yards rushing against the Ravens in a few years. Wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco was also productive, and a rash of bad calls on the final drive of the game cost the Ravens a win.
Baltimore knows they cannot afford to both games to Cincinnati, which would meant almost no chance at winning the division.
The Ravens will certainly have a chip on their shoulder after allowing Benson to top 100-yards rushing and make him a marked man. The offense will be looking to make amends for a disappointing performance in their first meeting, particularly Mason and Joe Flacco.
The Ravens won big in Cincinnati last season but have struggled there in recent years. Baltimore needs this game more, but a win would do wonders for Cincinnati's postseason hopes.
If the Ravens play like they did against Denver, a win is in the bag. If we see the inconsistent team that lost three tight games, it will be tough to pull out a road win against a quality opponent. Only time will tell. Ravens 23, Bengals 19.
