Monday, November 11, 2002
Blake beats Bengals with passing variety
Ravens QB throws to all areas of field
BALTIMORE - Jeff Blake maintained he didn't need to make any points against the Cincinnati Bengals' management. The Baltimore Ravens' starting quarterback just made them on the field Sunday.
Take away his fumbled handoff at the Bengals 1 in the fourth quarter, and Blake played the kind of game the Bengals wanted during his time in Cincinnati.
On Baltimore's opening drive, Blake completed four passes to four different receivers in four different areas of the field. He threw short to his tight end. He completed an 11-yarder and a 14-yarder to each side. He play-faked to running back Jamal Lewis and hit receiver Brandon Stokley deep down the middle for 33 yards.
The Ravens scored on that drive, then went 80 yards in nine plays to assume a 31-17 lead. Blake was 4-for-4 on that march. He finished 16-of-24 passing with 183 yards, no interceptions and a QB rating of 103.3.
"It's not about me trying to throw something in somebody's face," Blake said. "It doesn't really matter."
Blake had help. Lewis ran for 135 yards, including 70 in the second half. Baltimore's defense returned an interception for a touchdown, and rookie kick returner Lamont Brightful went 95 yards on a punt return for another score.
Blake spent six years in Cincinnati trying to show he could throw all types of passes, not just deep ones. His perceived lack of touch and inability to make medium-range throws helped the Bengals decide he wasn't in their future.
Blake also was seen as a me-first player, none of which was in evidence Sunday.
"What matters is us winning football games and me doing (what) I need to do to get our team on the winning track," he said.
BENGALS
Ravens 38, Bengals 27
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Blake beats Bengals with passing variety
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NFL
Who says the NFL has no quarterbacks?
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Sunday's NFL roundup
NFL injury report
NFL Today
NFL standings
HIGH SCHOOLS
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High School state football playoff pairings
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BASEBALL
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
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College football Top 25 polls
HOCKEY
Osgood saves Isles
Local hockey
NBA
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KEENELAND
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XAVIER
Rankings nice, but victories better
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