Monday, November 11, 2002
Week 10 report card
PASSING OFFENSE, D: Jon Kitna's three interceptions led directly to 14 Baltimore points. Adalius Thomas batted one pass into the air and ran 25 yards for a touchdown to give the Ravens a 14-7 lead. Ed Reed's second pick deep in Cincinnati territory set up a Jamal Lewis touchdown run. Reed's first interception should have been returned for a Ravens touchdown, but he celebrated too early and fumbled for a touchback. Kitna did throw two TD passes, and Chad Johnson had 110 receiving yards.
RUSHING OFFENSE, A-minus: Corey Dillon ran for 102 yards, but he fumbled when he fell on tackle Willie Anderson's leg inside the Baltimore 10-yard line with just 17 seconds left in the first half. That turnover cost the Bengals at least three points.
PASSING DEFENSE, D: Ravens quarterback Jeff Blake threw short or long and almost at will. He had an efficient one-touchdown, 183-yard game and was sacked just twice. The Bengals had no interceptions.
RUSHING DEFENSE, F: Lewis ran through the middle of the Bengals' defense for 135 yards, taking pressure off Blake and the passing game. The front seven was almost helpless against the big back, who averaged 6.4 yards per carry. The Ravens' 162 yards made for a fifth terrible game in nine for the rush defense.
SPECIAL TEAMS, C-minus: They made some good plays, including Brandon Bennett's 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. But they were outweighed by two critical Baltimore returns - one for a touchdown on a punt inside the two-minute warning in the first half and a kickoff return that set up the field goal that gave the Ravens the lead for good.
COACHING, D: The Bengals played hard, but they're supposed to. That's why they get paid. Dick LeBeau needs to raise his expectations and stop rewarding his players for improvement. This isn't a Pop Warner team. Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski made a couple of bad play calls, particularly the run play that Dillon fumbled inside the 10-yard line. Yes, injuries have decimated the front seven, but coordinator Mark Duffner needs to come up with something to close the gaping hole in his run defense.
- Mark Curnutte
BENGALS
Ravens 38, Bengals 27
Daugherty: Bengals due for a reality check
Blake beats Bengals with passing variety
Kitna, Johnson keep connecting
Bennett sets return record
Bengals-Ravens stats
Week 10 report card
Not back on track: 1-8
NFL
Who says the NFL has no quarterbacks?
Steelers 34, Falcons 34, OT
Sunday's NFL roundup
NFL injury report
NFL Today
NFL standings
HIGH SCHOOLS
Elder, Colerain at Nippert Saturday
High School state football playoff pairings
Elder-Colerain ticket sales
Walton-Verona's Daniels begins road back
BASEBALL
Dodgers catcher Lo Duca gets royal treatment in Japan
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Ohio State focused on Fiesta Bowl spot
Miami's Romberg glad he spoke up
College football Top 25 polls
HOCKEY
Osgood saves Isles
Local hockey
NBA
Hornets rally in New York
O'Neal still feeling pain, unlikely to play Tuesday
KEENELAND
Marquetry half-sister tops Sunday session at Keeneland
OTHER NATIONAL HEADLINES
Langer, Montgomerie share title
Serena Williams advances to WTA finals
Kenseth tops in Phoenix
XAVIER
Rankings nice, but victories better
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