Last Second Win For Bengals, Again
10-11-2009 4:56 pm
Carson Palmer and
the Bengals found the magic for the third straight week as a 20-yard touchdown
pass from Palmer to Andre Caldwell with 22 seconds remaining gave
the Bengals a 17-14 win over the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Helped by two
crucial penalties against Baltimore and another fourth-down conversion the
Bengals went 80 yards in 2:24 on the winning drive to complete the improbable
comeback.
On the game-winning drive,
facing a fourth-and-1 from the Cincinnati 34 with 1:47 left, Palmer scrambled
for six yards and the first down at the Ravens 40. The play was reminiscent of
last week when a similar Palmer fourth-down run on the game's final drive helped
the Bengals pull out a 23-20 win at Cleveland.
A 10-yard dumpoff to running
back Brian Leonard got the Bengals a first down at midfield with 50
seconds left. On the next play Palmer tried to connect with wide receiver
Chad Ochocinco but Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was called for a personal
foul after a late hit on Ochocinco and the Bengals had a first down at the
Baltimore 35.
Palmer then hit wide receiver
Chris Henry on a sideline route for 11 yards to the Ravens 24 with
43 seconds remaining. On the next play Palmer threw an incomplete pass to tight
end Daniel Coats at the goal line and on third down a bad snap by
center Kyle Cook to Palmer, who was in the shotgun and not ready
for the snap, lost six yards as Leonard fell on the ball at the Ravens 40.
On the ensuing play Baltimore
safety Ed Reed was called for pass interference against Ochocinco and the
Bengals had new life with a first down at the Baltimore 20. Palmer then found a
wide open Caldwell across the middle at about the five-yard line and Caldwell
went untouched into the end zone for the go-ahead score.
Leon Hall
intercepted Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco's pass with four seconds left and
the Bengals had secured their third consecutive AFC North victory and a spot all
alone at the top of the division with a 4-1 mark
Cincinnati's Cedric Benson ran for 120 yards, becoming the
first player in 40 games to eclipse 100 yards against the Ravens. Palmer was 18
for 31 for 271 yards, and Ochocinco had seven catches for 94 yards.
A 52-yard interception return for a touchdown by Reed gave
the Ravens a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. Late in the half, Reed knocked the
ball loose from Ochocinco, and Baltimore recovered at its own 16.
The Bengals took a 10-7 lead in the third quarter with an
84-yard drive kept alive by a penalty against Baltimore cornerback Domonique
Foxworth, who was called for illegal contact during a third-down play in which
Palmer was sacked. Four plays later, Benson broke loose for a 28-yard touchdown
run, which put him over 100 for the afternoon.
Cincinnati botched the conversion, but the Ravens were called for illegal
formation and Shayne Graham cashed in the extra chance.
Print Page - Printer Friendly Version |
