Ravens lead Bengals 17-10 after 2nd quarter
BALTIMORE (AP) Joe Flacco threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin and Ray Rice ran 7 yards for a score to give the Baltimore Ravens a 17-10 lead over the Cincinnati Bengals at halftime Monday night.
The winner of the season-opening matchup between divisional foes gets first place in the AFC North.
After a 34-yard field goal by Cincinnati's Mike Nugent 8 seconds into the second quarter cut Baltimore's lead to 10-3, the Ravens responded by moving 82 yards in five plays and going up 17-3 on Flacco's touchdown pass.
Boldin split safeties Reggie Nelson and Taylor Mays to haul in the throw down the middle. The play withstood a prolonged replay review.
Flacco was 12 for 15 for 183 yards in the first half.
Late in the half, Andy Dalton drove the Bengals to the Baltimore 6-yard line, and on fourth-and-1, BenJarvus Green-Ellis bounced over the goal line for touchdown.
The Ravens scored on their opening drive, capped by a 46-yard field goal by Justin Tucker, the rookie who wrested the job from incumbent Billy Cundiff in training camp. Flacco's 52-yard pass down the middle to Torrey Smith on Baltimore's first offensive play of the season set up the kick.
After a three-and-out by the Bengals, Flacco moved the Ravens 63 yards in 12 plays, often employing the no-huddle offense. Rice capped the scoring drive with the 7-yard scamper with 6:03 remaining in the opening quarter.
Flacco was 6 for 7 for 49 yards on the march, finding Jacoby Jones for 16 yards on a third-and-15 and converting a fourth-and-1 with a 1-yard toss to Rice.
Before the game, a moment of silence was observed for former Ravens owner Art Modell, who died at 87 on Thursday. Baltimore players wore a decal honoring Modell on their helmets and T-shirts beneath their jerseys bearing the former owner's photograph.
Gary Scamehorn They look pretty impressive.Hopefully they can keep it going throughout the season.
Dante Jones The Ravens offense is looking real good
More News
The Raiders' first-round draft pick isn't expected back on the field until training camp.
The two 20-year-olds who made the call could face a hefty fine and a lengthy prison sentence.
Coaches in the nation's top football conference voted 13-1 against adding a ninth SEC game to their schedules.
Tampa Bay announced Smith is calling it a career after six seasons.
Comments