Throwback Game of the Week - BAL @ CIN

Week 9: Baltimore at Cincinnati

The Baltimore Ravens hold a slim 15-12 lead in this series against AFC North Division rival Cincinnati Bengals. Eight times in the 13 seasons the two clubs have faced each other, one of the teams has swept the season series. Baltimore won both of its regular season matchups against Cincinnati five times while the Bengals swept the Ravens in three seasons.

First Time:
Nov. 3, 1996 –The Bengals scored the last four times they touched the ball including a pair of field goals by kicker Doug Pelfrey in the final 1:49 to down the Ravens in Baltimore. The game-winner came on a 34-yarder as time expired. Floyd Turner led the Ravens with 104 yards on six receptions.

Last Time:
Oct. 11, 2009 – The Bengals hosted the Ravens and came away with a narrow 17-14 victory. Bengals QB Carson Palmer led Cincy on an 80-yard game-winning drive for the last-minute win. Cedric Benson rushed for 120 yards to become the first runner to gain 100 yards against the Ravens in 40 games.

Hall of Fame Members
The Ravens do not have any long-time members of its organization enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Class of 2009 enshrinee Rod Woodson played four seasons with Baltimore and earned his only Super Bowl ring while playing for the Ravens. Cincinnati is represented in Canton by 11-time Pro Bowl tackle Anthony Muñoz who was elected in 1998. One other enshrinee, wide receiver Charlie Joiner, played for the Bengals from 1972-75 but made his mark as a member of the San Diego Chargers.

Records found in the NFL Record Book
The Ravens became the first team in NFL history to have three two-point conversions in the same game. The mark, which now ranks second all-time, was accomplished against the New England Patriots during the Ravens’ inaugural season in 1996.

Cincinnati still owns the record for highest pass completion percentage in a season. Bengals passers in 1982 completed 219 of 310 attempts for a record 70.65 completion rate. Quarterback Ken Anderson was responsible for all but one throw that year. Backup Turk Schonert was 1 of 1 for 6 yards.

Throwback Game
Dec. 1, 2002

Chad Williams not only blocked a punt that resulted in a Ravens TD but he returned an interception 98 yards for a score just before halftime.

Despite the fact that the Bengals resided in the basement of the AFC’s North Division with just one win while Baltimore was vying for first place, this Week 13 battle proved that division games usually produce hard fought contests. Baltimore had beaten Cincinnati by 11 points three weeks prior at home and now came the rematch on the Bengals’ home turf.

Cincinnati built a comfortable 23-14 lead that they took into the fourth quarter. But, on the opening snap of the final quarter, the Ravens Chad Williams blocked a Cincinnati punt which was returned 22 yards for a touchdown by Ron Johnson. The Bengals’ QB Jon Kitna fumbled the ball on the ensuing drive and the Ravens capitalized on the mistake. Baltimore drove 69 yards capped by a 22-yard TD pass play from Jeff Blake to tight end Todd Heap with just over five minutes to play for the winning margin.

Game Program Cover | Official Gamebook (PDF)

More Ravens & Bengals on Profootballhof.com
Team histories
Baltimore | Cincinnati

Photos
Ravens QBs
Ravens Top Performers
Bengals 1,000-yard rushers
Anthony Muñoz, Class of 1998

Artifacts
Brian Billick’s vest
Ed Reed’s record return
Ball from Bengals shootout
Boomer Esiason’s jersey

Some other stories on Ravens and Bengals
Bengals a part of second-highest scoring game
Woodson had 20 interceptions while with the Ravens
Destined for Canton: The Story of Anthony Muñoz
Left-handed QBs include Esiason
Jamal Lewis rushes for 295
2000 Ravens among Wild Card Super Bowl teams

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