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CINCINNATI — Ravens safety Ed Reed has made a career out of ultra-aggressive plays turned into returns for touchdowns.

Reed took back an interception 25 yards for a score Nov. 5 in Baltimore's 26-20 win over the Bengals.

Earlier this week, with a chance to clinch the AFC North title in Cincinnati, Reed said: "There is no other team in the league that I would much rather be playing than the Cincinnati Bengals. I'm sure they feel the same way."

The Bengals (7-5) used that aggression against Reed during Thursday night's 13-7 victory over Baltimore (9-3) at Paul Brown Stadium.

Reed bit hard when Rudi Johnson got a handoff from Carson Palmer on first and 10 at Baltimore's 40 early in the third quarter. T.J. Houshmandzadeh feigned a block and cut toward the corner.

When Johnson's pitch went back to Palmer, the flea-flicker pass sailed high over Reed's head.

"That's why he was so open," Johnson said of Reed's action. "We knew it would be money."

Houshmandzadeh gathered the ball at the 12 and scored for a 13-0 lead.

"That's one of them system touchdowns," said Houshmandzadeh, who had 10 catches for 106 yards. "All I've got to do is catch the ball.

"He's an aggressive safety. So, it was a good call at the time. It had to be the right coverage. It was the coverage we wanted, and it just worked out."

The Bengals twice had long drives (14 plays-77 yards-7:03 and 12-60-6:14) that bogged down and ended in Shayne Graham field goals.

The flea flicker slowed Baltimore's rush.

After nine sacks against Pittsburgh last weekend, Baltimore had two, both when Palmer fell. "They're probably the best in the league at confusing you and beating guys one on one," Bengals tackle Willie

Anderson said this week.

This time, it was the Ravens' offense that looked confused.

Before Derrick Mason's 36-yard TD catch with 1:01 left, Baltimore's longest play was Steve McNair's 19-yard scramble on a third down late in the first half.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@daytondailynews.com.