SCOUTING REPORT
Ravens run offense vs. Bengals run defense -- RAVENS
With the Ravens facing the league's third-worst run defense, it might be time to get running back Jamal Lewis more involved in the game plan. In the past two games, Lewis has gained a total of 70 yards on 25 carries, a 2.8-yard average. Although the Bengals give up an average of 134.3 yards on the ground, the Ravens have to show patience running the ball. Cincinnati is hit or miss with stunts up front, which either stop backs at the line of scrimmage or gives up 15-yard gains.
Key stat: 4.8. Yards per carry by Lewis in his only two career games against the Bengals.
Ravens pass offense vs. Bengals pass defense -- EVEN
Jeff Blake quarterbacks his first game against his former team and has to avoid pressing. For the Ravens to be successful, the 11-year veteran has to stay within the framework of the offense and cut down on the critical mistakes of the past two weeks. Although Travis Taylor has become Blake's top receiver, Brandon Stokley may see more passes on underneath routes against Cincinnati's soft coverage. The Bengals are No. 11 against the pass, but that high ranking is deceiving because many teams have jumped out to big leads against Cincinnati and concentrated on running out the clock. Jeff Burris and Artrell Hawkins are average cornerbacks and will be focused on not getting beat deep.
Key stat: 53.6. Percent of passes completed by Ravens quarterbacks. The league average is 60 percent.
Bengals run offense vs. Ravens run defense -- BENGALS
The Ravens have shown some cracks in their run defense lately. Jacksonville's Fred Taylor ran for 151 yards against the Ravens' defense in Week 7, and Atlanta's T.J. Duckett averaged 5.8 yards a carry last week. But the Ravens' front seven has been solid this season, giving up 3.9 yards per attempt which is seventh best in the league. With linebacker Ray Lewis out, the Bengals will pound the ball between the tackles with running back Corey Dillon, who has averaged 113 yards over the past four games. Dillon has been in a rhythm with fullback Lorenzo Neal.
Key stat: 2. Dillon's 100-yard rushing efforts against the Ravens in 10 career games.
Bengals pass offense vs. Ravens pass defense -- EVEN
Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna has caught the attention of the Ravens with two straight near-flawless games, going 39 of 50 passing for 456 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. What has made him an average player during his career, though, is that he can't sustain that high level of play. Receiver Chad Johnson is Cincinnati's deep threat, and Peter Warrick and Michael Westbrook do most of their damage over the middle. The Ravens' secondary continues to improve but will probably be without its most experienced defender, cornerback Chris McAlister. His replacement, Alvin Porter, is likely to be tested often.
Key stat: 1. Quarterbacks who have thrown for 300 yards against the Ravens this season.
Special teams -- RAVENS
The Ravens' special teams have struggled with a lack of discipline lately, but the Bengals rank near the bottom in most special teams categories. Cincinnati has the worst punt return unit and the third-worst kickoff return group. Rookie Lamont Brightful, who was inactive for the first four games, will have a chance to make an impact in the Ravens' return game. Bengals kicker Neil Rackers has missed two of his past four field-goal attempts; the Ravens' Matt Stover has converted 12 of his past 13 tries.
Intangibles -- RAVENS
The Bengals haven't won in Baltimore since 1996 and haven't scored here since 1998. November has been historically tough on Cincinnati, which hasn't won two games in this month since 1997. After losing their past two games, the Ravens know they have to beat the Bengals if they want to keep their tenuous playoff hopes alive.
Prediction -- RAVENS
Dillon will keep the game closer than expected. But Jamal Lewis will prove to be the better running back this game. The Ravens will end their two-game skid by grinding out a 24-20 win over the Bengals.
BREAK DOWN
Records
Bengals 1-7 Ravens 3-5
Line
Ravens by 5 1/2
Vs. spread
Bengals 2-6 Ravens 5-3
Series
Ravens lead 8-4
Last meeting
Ravens won, 16-0, on Dec. 23, 2001, in Baltimore.
NFL rankings
Bengals offense: Rush (18), pass (25), overall (25).
Bengals defense: Rush (29), pass (11), overall (20).
Ravens offense: Rush (19), pass (28), overall (28).
Ravens defense: Rush (12), pass (18), overall (18).
Quick hits
The Bengals are tied for the fourth-lowest scoring average (14.1 points per game) in the league.
The Bengals have held the Ravens to 917 passing yards in the past four meetings (229.3 yards per game).
Under coach Brian Billick, the Ravens are 24-8 (.750) after Nov. 1 (including playoffs).
Ravens K Matt Stover has 46 field goals and 194 points vs. Cincinnati -- both career highs against an opponent.
Injuries
BENGALS: Questionable: DE Vaughn Booker (knee). Probable: CB Jeff Burris (hamstring); LB Canute Curtis (shoulder); LB Riall Johnson (wrist); S Mark Roman (knee); DT Tony Williams (abdomen).
RAVENS: Out: LB Ray Lewis (shoulder); DE Michael McCrary (knee); QB Chris Redman (back). Questionable: CB Chris McAlister (ankle); Probable: TE John Jones (knee).
Ravens offense
WR 80 Brandon Stokley
LT 75 Jonathan Ogden
LG 64 Edwin Mulitalo
C 62 Mike Flynn
RG 66 Bennie Anderson
RT 77 Ethan Brooks
TE 86 Todd Heap
WR 89 Travis Taylor
QB 11 Jeff Blake
FB 39 Alan Ricard
RB 31 Jamal Lewis
Bengals defense
DE 97 B. Whittington
DT 99 Oliver Gibson
DT 94 Tony Williams
DE 90 Justin Smith
OLB 57 Adrian Ross
MLB 56 Brian Simmons
OLB 51 Takeo Spikes
CB 21 Jeff Burris
CB 27 Artrell Hawkins
SS 44 M. Manuel
FS 26 Cory Hall
Bengals offense
WR 85 Chad Johnson
LT 76 Levi Jones
LG 72 Matt O'Dwyer
C 74 Rich Braham
RG 63 Mike Goff
RT 71 Willie Anderson
TE 89 Matt Schobel
WR 80 Peter Warrick
QB 3 Jon Kitna
RB 28 Corey Dillon
FB 41 Lorenzo Neal
Ravens defense
LE 98 Tony Weaver
NT 97 Kelly Gregg
RE 96 Adalius Thomas
OLB 90 Cornell Brown
ILB 56 Ed Hartwell
ILB 51 Bernardo Harris
OLB 58 Peter Boulware
CB 24 Alvin Porter
CB 28 Gary Baxter
SS 47 Will Demps
FS 20 Ed Reed
INSIDE SLANT
George Kokinis, the Ravens' assistant director of player personnel, sizes up the Bengals:
Strength
Running game. The Bengals have good receivers, but coach Dick LeBeau is still going to rely on his workhorse, running back Corey Dillon. The Bengals have a good run-blocking offensive line and a fullback, Lorenzo Neal, who is the type of lead blocker that the Ravens have relied upon.
Key matchup
The quarterback-receiver combination of the Bengals' Jon Kitna-Chad Johnson vs. Jeff Blake-Travis Taylor. The two quarterbacks, who were backups going into the season, are helping two young receivers break out and catch balls. In Kitna's four starts, Johnson has caught 22 passes for 270 yards. In Blake's two starts, Taylor has 11 receptions for 209 yards.
Play to watch
Train Left Empty, Bubble Screen. The Bengals spread out the defense with an empty backfield, spacing out three receivers on the left side and flanking Dillon and a tight end on the right. Taking a quick drop, Kitna throws to Peter Warrick, the inside receiver to the left, who flares out while the other two receivers go downfield. It's designed to get the ball in the hands of Warrick in the open field and allow him to use his quickness to elude tacklers. The other receivers on the left side are expected to block.