BALTIMORE — Bengals quarterback Akili Smith was knocked out of the game with a mild concussion early in the second quarter of Sunday's 37-0 loss to the Ravens.

        “I don't know what happened,” he said. “I just remember getting hit, laying on the ground, seeing stars, stomach hurt, throat hurt, pretty good shot.”

        Defensive end Rob Burnett hit Smith before he could throw the ball on a short three-step drop.

        Smith has been sacked 14 times in three games. Baltimore recorded two more sacks of his replacement, Scott Mitchell, who played the rest of the game.

        “We got beat pretty bad,” Smith said. “We didn't move the ball on offense. So, I keep saying it every week, we got to do something. I don't know what it. I was trying to throw it to (Ron) Dugans. It was an unbelievable hit.”

        Smith completed his only pass for eight yards before the injury.

        He is now 34 of 85 for 441 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. He raised his completion percentage .7 of a percent to 40 percent.

        PLAYOFF HOPES: Mitchell threw for 97 yards and two interceptions in relief of Smith.

        Mitchell was the quarterback of the 1995 Detroit Lions, one of four teams since 1970 to start 0-3 and make the playoffs.

        “We very out of sync, and I think everyone is really frustrated right now and even disappointed in how things are,” said Mitchell, the Ravens' starter in the first two games of 1999. “I've been in situations before like this, and I've been on teams that started 0-3 and made the playoffs. I've been on teams that were 9-2 and didn't make the playoffs.

        “I'm sure the fans are disappointed, but it's only three games. We can't start pointing fingers, and we got to work harder and do whatever we have to to get things turned around.”

        Mitchell was one of the Bengals players who said he didn't appreciate how the Ravens were throwing the ball — and throwing it deep — during the third and fourth quarters with a big lead.

        “That's something that is disappointing to see, and when you're on the other side of it, it really makes you mad,” he said. “I'm sure it's something that we won't forget. We better not forget.”

        The Ravens will visit Cincinnati for a Nov. 5 rematch.

        SEPTEMBER MOURN: The Bengals' 0-3 start is their fifth since the 1991 season.

        RECORD RAVENS: The 37-0 Baltimore victory was the largest margin of victory in team history.

        The four yards rushing allowed is also a record for the Baltimore defense, as are the 94 total yards for the Bengals.

        The Ravens have now outscored Cincinnati 59-0 in the last two meetings. And the shutout was the third recorded by Baltimore in its last six games, two against the Bengals.

        PENALTY BUG: Bengals cornerback Tom Carter was called for three pass defense penalties in the Ravens game, giving him five in the last two games.

        The Bengals were flagged eight times for 53 yards.

        WOODSON PICK: Ravens safety Rod Woodson had his 55th career interception and 10th against the Bengals in the second quarter. He has intercepted Jeff Blake five times and Boomer Esiason four times.

        DEBUTS: Wide receiver Danny Farmer and cornerback Mark Roman saw their first action as Bengals on Sunday.

        Roman, the team's second-round draft pick, had been inactive the first two games because he was behind after an 18-day holdout. Roman played on spe cial teams.

        Fifth-round pick Robert Bean, who dressed for the first two games, was inactive. Other inactive players named Sunday as inactives for the Baltimore game were wide receiver Craig Yeast (calf injury), running back Curtis Keaton and third-string quarterback Scott Covington.

        Friday's inactive list was injured players defensive end Vaughn Booker (fainting spell), running back Michael Basnight (wrist), center Rich Braham (knee) and linebacker Brian Simmons (knee).

        INJURY REPORT: Bengals defensive lineman Glen Steele left the game in the first quarter with a concussion but did return.

        Smith is questionable for the Miami game. Linebacker Armegis Spearman, who led the Bengals with 15 tackles, is probable for the Dolphins with a right shoulder injury. Offensive tackle Rod Jones also is probable with left shoulder and left shin injuries.

• Fire Coslet? Vote in our poll

Ravens 37, Bengals 0 SULLIVAN: Bad enough to get Coslet fired? Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide Concussion puts Smith on sideline Ravens get back on track Bengals-Ravens statistics

Reds 4, Astros 3
Box, runs
Statues will honor Nux, Klu, Robby, Lombardi
Reds' attendance second only to '76
Graves joins Japan tour
Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball
Complete Olympics coverage at Cincinnati.com/olympics
DAUGHERTY: Aborigine focused on running, not politics
Redskins 16, Giants 6
Cincinnati high school results
Xavier's recruiting shaping up
Molony wins consolation title

• Return to Bengals front page...