In his last on-field act as Bengals coach, Bruce Coslet ran to the locker room at PSINet Stadium without shaking the hand of Ravens' coach Brian Billick.

        It was Sept.24, and Baltimore had just given Cincinnati a 37-0 loss, tied for the worst in Bengals franchise history. Based on his postgame action, Coslet thought Billick ran up the score. So did several Cincinnati players.

        Much has changed since then. Coslet resigned the next morning, and Dick LeBeau was promoted to replace him. The Bengals lost their first three games under LeBeau before winning two games in a row, including Sunday's 12-3 victory at Cleveland.

        The Ravens, who will travel to Cincinnati for Sun day's rematch, won twice after the Bengals game to peak at 5-1. But they've lost three games in a row and have not scored a touchdown since fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo ran in from one yard in the fourth quarter of the Cincinnati game.

        Baltimore has gone five full games and 58 possessions without a touchdown. Matt Stover has since accounted for all 42 Ravens points in their last five games.

        Baltimore has scored three, six and six points in the three losses, capped off by Sunday's 9-6 loss to Pitts burgh in which starting quarterback Trent Dilfer could fare no better than the benched Tony Banks.

        In Baltimore's last game with Cincinnati, with the Ravens leading 27-0 after three quarters, Billick called 12 pass plays and 11 run plays in the fourth. He also challenged an official's call at the two-minute warning and had Stover kick a field goal on the next play.

        “I think they were trying to embarrass us up there,” veteran Bengals defensive lineman John Copeland said Monday. “It has always stuck in the back of our mind.

        “I think what they did wasn't professional. There's no place for that in this game, and we're looking forward to playing them.”

        Cincinnati linebacker Takeo Spikes knew the Ravens were trying to score, but, he asks, why not?

        “Why feel sorry for somebody? We should have been prepared,” Spikes said. “But it's our time now, and we'll see what happens.” ”

        The first Baltimore game this season was a low point for the Bengals. Through its first three games, Cincinnati gave up an average of 24.7 points a game. In the past five games, the Bengals are allowing an average of 18.6 points a game.

        The offense is better, too. Cincinnati had scored seven points in its first three games. Since LeBeau too over and emphasized the running game, the Bengals are averaging 14.6 points a game.

        Cincinnati also is getting more than 205 rushing yards a game with LeBeau in charge and is the No.1 rushing team in the NFL, with a 151.5 yard average. But against Baltimore, the Bengals gained four yards on the ground. Featured back Corey Dillon had nine yards on 12 carries.

        The Ravens have the No.1 rush defense in the league, averaging 68.3 yards a game. Even in their three-game losing streak, they've allowed an average of only 11 points a game.

        Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium will be strength against strength. That should be the story line, said Bengals offensive tackle Willie Anderson, not revenge.

        “You should be more (upset) about getting beat 37-0. It was embarrassing. It was terrible,” he said.

        In their last game with the Ravens, the Bengals ran 16 times and called 28 pass plays, which includes four sacks.

        “Hopefully, the defense can hold them and we can stay with the run and pound them,” center Brock Gutierrez said.

Bengals look to settle score Sellout not expected Last in passing, best in rushing Said the Ravens: Can we score?

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