The Ravens' road back to respectability is lined with psychological potholes.

Looking to end a two-game skid, the Ravens (3-5) head into today's game against the Cincinnati Bengals (1-7) with extreme caution, knowing how this AFC North run-in will test the emotions of their quarterback, the discipline of their veterans and the focus of every Raven.

A rare favorite, the Ravens have every reason to overlook underachieving Cincinnati.

The Bengals have the league's worst record and have become the symbol for dysfunctional NFL franchises. They haven't won in Baltimore since 1996. They haven't scored a point here since 1998, getting beat by a combined total of 75-0.

But the Ravens also realize that if they rely on history, they could become history. A loss could severely damage their hopes of making a third straight trip to the playoffs.

"The Bengals are a capable team," Ravens receiver Travis Taylor said. "They could have beaten Tennessee and could have beaten Indianapolis. You have to really come in with your head on right."

It was only 14 months ago when the Ravens didn't come mentally prepared against Cincinnati and suffered the consequences. In their first meeting last season, the Ravens turned the ball over six times in a 21-10 loss to the Bengals.

The Ravens' only loss to Cincinnati in a four-year span still burns.

"That's a mistake that we don't plan to make again," Ravens left tackle Jonathan Ogden said.

Those same mental mistakes have cost the Ravens in their two-game losing streak. The most disturbing part is that the lack of poise has come primarily from the veterans.

The Week 8 loss to Pittsburgh featured running back Jamal Lewis and kickoff returner Robert Tate both fumbling, cornerback James Trapp trying to stomp the Steelers' Plaxico Burress during a fight and the defense lining up wrong on what became a 35-yard touchdown run by the Steelers' Amos Zereoue.

Last week's loss at Atlanta included quarterback Jeff Blake inexplicably fumbling near his own goal line and Ogden's careless attempt to pick it up rather than fall on it, along with cornerback Alvin Porter getting caught out of position on a critical fourth-down pass.

Penalties have been a trend in both games. In the past two weeks, the Ravens have committed 20 penalties for 162 yards, showing little resemblance to the team that was once the fourth-least penalized team in the league.

"Not much more can happen to us," Ogden said. "Penalties, turnovers, referee's calls ... we just had a lot of things go wrong. Hopefully, it's all over."

Playing under control will be a challenge for Blake, who goes against his former team for the first time. Although Blake said last week that he doesn't seek revenge, others believe he will be hyped for this reunion.

"I'm concerned that Jeff is going to hyperventilate coming out of the tunnel and that [backup quarterback] Anthony Wright will have to take the first play," Ravens coach Brian Billick said.

Blake also has his sights on keeping the starting quarterback job, which was a yearly problem during his career with the Bengals. He will be making his third - and possibly last - start in place of injured Chris Redman, who could be returning next week from a back injury.

When asked how much this game would figure into his decision at quarterback, Billick called the situation a "non-issue."

"There is no such thing as a quarterback controversy in a sense that I'm the one who'll decide who plays quarterback," Billick said. "And I'm not schizophrenic. It's whatever I decide to do. It's something we're not going to dwell on until Chris comes back."

The Ravens can't afford to dwell on the injuries to their defense, either.

Linebacker Ray Lewis (shoulder) and defensive end Michael McCrary (knee) are out, and cornerback Chris McAlister (ankle) is a game-time decision. If McAlister can't go, Porter will replace him.

Besides injuries, the Ravens are concerned with Bengals running back Corey Dillon, the AFC's fifth-leading rusher.

"If they're going to have a chance to win, it's going to be on the legs of Corey Dillon," Billick said.

In what could be a battle of running backs, the Ravens will look to get Jamal Lewis back on track. He hasn't had more than 13 carries the past two games, but he could become a focal point in going against the league's third-worst run defense.

The Ravens, though, will need to show patience. The Bengals take chances with unorthodox stunts and blitzes, which can stop running backs at the line most of the time but are susceptible to the big runs.

"But can you stick with the run long enough to get those big runs?" Billick said. "That's clearly something we need to do. Hopefully with Jamal, we can get more consistent with the 4- and 5-yard gains by the sheer physical nature of it and not have a bunch of those no gains."

Still, this game is more psychological than physical for the Ravens.

A favorite for just the second time this season, the Ravens aren't guaranteeing a victory or another shutout. But they have their minds set on avoiding a letdown.

"We've got to take it to them," fullback Alan Ricard said. "We can't show up and expect to win a game."

Ravens today

Opponent:Cincinnati Bengals

Site:Ravens Stadium

Time:1 p.m.

TV/Radio: Ch. 13/WJFK (1300 AM), WQSR (102.7 FM)

Line:Ravens by 5 1/2

SunSpot:For more coverage, visit sunspot.net/ravens