Ohio State vs. Michigan past games
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Bengals fall to Steelers
Most Wanted (11/20/08)
Bengals' race to the finish begins today
Palmer promises that Ravens will see horse of a different color this time.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
CINCINNATI — You can almost hear ESPN's Dave Johnson screaming, "Down the stretch they come!"
The AFC playoff chase is a thoroughbred race headed for a photo finish.
Extras
If the Bengals beat Baltimore tonight at Paul Brown Stadium, they'll strengthen their playoff hopes. If they don't, the Ravens will celebrate the AFC North Division title, knocking 2005 champ Cincinnati off the throne.
How big is it?
"Very important," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said.
"It's a big shindig out there, as you can see," said Bengals public relations director Jack Brennan, referring to the NFL Network trucks, equipment and crew clogging the stadium loading dock area off Mehring Way.
While Indianapolis (10-1), Baltimore (9-2), San Diego (9-2) and New England (8-3) roll toward division titles, the AFC's two wild-card berths are up for grabs, with three 6-5 squads — the Bengals, New York Jets and Jacksonville — trying to hoof past a pair of 7-4 teams in Kansas City and Denver.
The storyline tonight is Cincinnati's lethal offense against Baltimore's bullying defense.
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Chad Johnson have hooked up 24 times for 573 yards and five TDs the past three games, but the Ravens lead the league in interceptions (20) and turnover ratio (plus-15), and rank second in sacks (39).
Palmer called the Bengals' 26-20 loss at Baltimore on Nov. 5 "embarrassing" because of two quick turnovers that gave the Ravens a 14-0 lead and all the momentum.
"It literally hurts watching what we did against them the last time," Palmer said. "They'll be seeing a different unit."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com
Today's game
Who: Baltimore Ravens (9-2) at Cincinnnati Bengals (6-5)
When: 8 p.m.
TV: WLWT (NBC, Ch. 5, Cincinnati) and NFL Network
Radio: WLW-AM (700), WTUE-FM (104.7), WSAI-AM (1530)
AFC playoff race
Rank — Team — W-L — Foes*
1. Indianapolis — 10-1 — 24-31
2. Baltimore — 9-2 — 25-30
3. San Diego — 9-2 — 28-27
4. New England — 8-3 — 20-35
5. Kansas City — 7-4 — 29-26
6. Denver — 7-4 — 29-26
7. Cincinnati — 6-5 — 32-23
New York Jets — 6-5 — 21-34
Jacksonville — 6-5 — 34-21
* — Combined record for each team's remaining opponents
Note: 4 division winners and 2 wild-cards make playoffs
