By Mark Curnutte and Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sunday's attendance was the smallest in the Bengals' 22 games at Paul Brown Stadium since 2000.

There were 44,878 tickets distributed for Cincinnati's 27-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The stadium has a capacity of 65,341.

The previous low was 44,920 for the Dec.9, 2001, loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Bengals have posted just eight sellouts at the stadium.

CAREER HIGHS: Wide receiver Ron Dugans led the Bengals with seven receptions for 81 yards, career-bests in both categories. He has 35 catches for 297 yards this season.

"I feel like I'm one of the best receivers we have," said Dugans, who is best known for his prowess on special teams. "I'm not just a special-teams player. I want to make plays on offense, not wanting to let Jon (Kitna) down."

KITNA'S DAY: Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna had 308 passing yards, his first 300-yard game of the season.

He completed 30 of 46 passes with two touchdowns, but his one interception was returned 98 yards by Ravens safety Chad Williams for a touchdown late in the second quarter.

In the Bengals' last six games, Kitna has thrown for 1,592 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Corey Dillon was the intended receiver on Williams' interception.

"That was a miscommunication," Kitna said. "I thought Corey was going to turn out and he didn't step back in."

Kitna and Dillon had another miscommunication.

In the fourth quarter, on third-and-6 from the Baltimore 26-yard line, Kitna dropped back to pass and fumbled. Dillon was "scraping" around Kitna to get into pass protection and knocked the ball loose with his shoulder pad.

The Bengals led 23-21 at the time, but the Ravens scored on that possession for the final points in their win.

CONGRATS: In the first quarter, the Bengals flashed a congratulatory message to the Elder Panthers for winning the Ohio Division I state football title on Saturday night. It was the first in Elder history.

INJURY REPORT: Brock Gutierrez started for the Bengals in place of center Rich Braham, who has a sprained left ankle. He is probable for Sunday's game at Carolina.

Safety Lamont Thompson is questionable because of a cervical strain. Defensive end Vaughn Booker, who didn't play against the Ravens, is questionable due to a rib cage injury. Running back Brandon Bennett (sore knee) is probable.

STREAK BROKEN: Chad Johnson's streak of 100-yard receiving games ended at three. He had 78 yards on four receptions Sunday, including a 35-yard TD catch.

Johnson enjoyed playing against Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister, who played for the first time in three games since suffering an ankle injury.

"I had a ball," Johnson said. "He brought out the best in me."

Johnson leads the Bengals this season with 49 receptions for 791 yards and five touchdowns.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: The Bengals are 1-11 for the fourth time in franchise history. No Bengals team has finished worse than 3-13, including the 1-11 teams of 1978 (4-12), 1991 (3-13) and 1993 (3-13).

LEWIS EXPEDITION: The Ravens' Jamal Lewis had a big day, rushing for 121 yards on 22 carries.

He also broke the 1,000-yard mark for the season, a feat he last accomplished as a rookie (1,364 yards) for Baltimore's 2000 Super Bowl team. He has 1,034 yards rushing on 236 career carries at Paul Brown Stadium.

"It's not that hard to get 1,000 yards when you keep getting the ball," said Lewis. "Not only is it big for me, it's big for this offense."

Coming into the matchup, Baltimore had the NFL's second-worst offense. The Ravens edged only expansion Houston, averaging 271.5 yards per game to the Texans' 244.8.

RACK ATTACK: Neil Rackers' wide-right extra-point attempt in the first quarter was only his second career PAT miss. His first was against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 30, 2001.

TRENDSETTERS: Every time the Bengals have shut out an opponent in the first quarter this season, they've lost. They led Tennessee 7-0, Tampa Bay 7-0 and Baltimore 6-0 in first quarters, and lost by an average of 13 points.

SACK ATTACK: Bengals defensive end Justin Smith earned his fourth sack of the season in the second quarter, when he hit Ravens quarterback Jeff Blake for an 8-yard loss. Smith set a club rookie record for sacks (8.5) last season, and six (for 47 yards) came in the last six games.

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