Ravens Hold On To Beat Bengals, Lock Up Wild Card
BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Baltimore Ravens are back in familiar territory: Playoff bound with the prospect of spending the next few weeks on road.
The Cincinnati Bengals are also experiencing a flashback of sorts. Coming off a miserable season, the team has reached a critical juncture as it prepares to move forward.
Baltimore was already assured a third straight trip to the postseason before defeating the Bengals 13-7 Sunday. The Ravens started the day with a shot at winning the AFC North, but that opportunity vanished when Pittsburgh thumped the Cleveland Browns 41-9.
That means Baltimore (12-4) will begin the playoffs as a wild card, which calls for up to three straight road games before the Super Bowl. That's the same path the Ravens took in winning the Super Bowl after the 2000 season, and the course they traveled in each of the previous two years.
"Wherever we go, we have to win a football game to move forward," said receiver Derrick Mason, who joined Jerry Rice and Tony Gonzalez as the only players in NFL history with 60-plus receptions in 11 straight seasons.
Baltimore begins its playoff run Sunday in Kansas City against the AFC West champs.
"It's just a football game," quarterback Joe Flacco said. "Going on the road is just something we have to do. I don't look at it any different than any other game."
Ed Reed had two interceptions and Ray Lewis recovered two fumbles, part of an opportunistic defense that produced five turnovers and carried the team to victory. Flacco went 14 for 19 for a paltry 125 yards and the rushing attack was held to 98 yards.
"We can't allow ourselves to go into next week ... and play the way we played today," Mason said.
There is no next week for the Bengals (4-12), and it's uncertain if there will be a next season for coach Marvin Lewis. Team owner Mike Brown is expected to meet Monday with Lewis, who remains unsigned for 2011.
"All I know is, officially today I'm no longer employed," Lewis said. "Where I am right now in my coaching career is a different point from where I was eight years ago, and I think this football team is a lot different than it was eight years ago, and that's good. ... We're in a good spot."
Lewis is 60-69-1, 0-2 in the postseason and has produced only two winning seasons.
"Even though the last game didn't finish the way we want with a win, for the coaches and the players, I'm proud of how they kept working," Lewis said. "It's a good springboard for the offseason for the football team, but I can't answer where things are with me."
His players aren't sure, either.
"That's the nature of the business. No position is promised to you," Bengals running back Cedric Benson said. "I don't even know if I'm coming back."
Ray Rice scored on a 7-yard run and Billy Cundiff kicked two field goals for the Ravens, who had lost three straight to Cincinnati -- including a 15-10 decision in Week 2 that proved decisive in the tiebreaking system that enabled Pittsburgh to win the division.
Sunday's victory was not assured until Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer threw an incompletion on a fourth-down play from the Baltimore 2 with 10 seconds left. That ended Cincinnati's modest two-game winning streak.
"It was a game that we had a chance and didn't finish it," Palmer said. "We feel awful because we had the chance to go into the offseason with a pleasant feeling at least. But just didn't make the plays we needed to all game."
Palmer went 32 for 45 for 305 yards but was intercepted twice and lost a fumble. Jerome Simpson caught 12 passes for 123 yards and a score for the Bengals, who were without injured receivers Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco.
The defending AFC North champions endured a 10-game losing streak and went 1-7 on the road.
Reed's second consecutive two-interception game gave him eight picks for the season -- in only 10 games. His two returns totaled 48 yards, lifting him past Darren Sharper for second place on the NFL career list with 1,438. Rod Woodson is the record-holder with 1,483.
"When you're playing against Ed Reed, you have to be aware of his presence at all times," Palmer said. "You can't have five turnovers and expect to win."
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
