Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) at Baltimore Ravens
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CINCINNATI BENGALS One Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-3550 administrative offices (513) 621-3570 administrative fax (513) 621-TDTD (8383) ticket office www.bengals.com WEEKLY NEWS RELEASE NOV. 13, 2018 WEEK 11, GAME 10 CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-4) SUNDAY, NOV. 18 AT M&T BANK STADIUM AT NEXT WEEK: WEEK 12, GAME 11 BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-5) NOV. 25 VS. CLEVELAND GAME NOTES Kickoff: 1 p.m. Eastern. Said Jackson: “I’m pleased to have the opportunity to join the Bengals this season. There is a lot of talent on this team, and I look forward to doing my part Television: The game will air on CBS-TV. In the Bengals’ home region, to help it finish the season strong.” it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton Lewis’ decision to relieve Austin and take the reins of the Bengals’ defense and on WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington. Broadcasters are Kevin Harlan (play-by- himself surprised some players. play), Rich Gannon (analyst) and Steve Tasker (sideline reporter). “That was definitely a shocker,” Dunlap said. “It shows the sense of urgency to try to get things fixed now. They felt like that was a move they needed to make Radio: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati — not that that (coaching) was the issue — but they are making a statement. If flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and you weren’t paying attention, you are now. Not that we aren’t paying attention, WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave but it wakes you up. We want to be a great defense. We’ve been a great defense Lapham (analyst). for a long time, and they want to get back to that now, because we still have an opportunity to control (our fate). We’re still right in the mix of everything, and if Setting the scene: The Cincinnati Bengals this week travel to we fix it now, we can do what we want to do.” Baltimore to play the Ravens on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. On the line will Coincidentally, this week’s road trip takes Lewis, in his first game serving as be at least temporary control of the second spot in the AFC North Division and a coordinator of the Bengals’ defense, to the city where he made himself a leg up over a division rival in the pursuit of a playoff berth. household name in the NFL, as defensive coordinator of the Ravens. His six The 5-4 Bengals are licking their wounds from a disappointing 51-14 home seasons (1996-2001) at the helm of Baltimore’s defense included a Super Bowl loss to the New Orleans Saints last week. The Saints rolled for 509 net yards on victory in ’00, when his defense set the NFL record for fewest points allowed in a Cincinnati, including 244 net yards rushing. New Orleans QB Drew Brees played 16-game season (165). The 2000 Ravens always are included in discussions a near perfect game, completing 22 of 25 passes for 265 yards, three about the best NFL defensive units of all time. touchdowns and no interceptions for a 150.4 passer rating. The Saints, who The 4-5 Ravens, who have lost three straight, are coming off their bye. scored on nine of their 10 possessions, improved to 8-1 with the win, their eighth Cincinnati has won eight of the last 10 meetings between the two teams, straight. including a 34-23 victory in Game 2 at Paul Brown Stadium, and Bengals players The Bengals played without six prominent players who were inactive due to know that another win over the Ravens this weekend could quickly right the injuries. On offense, that list included three starters — WR A.J. Green (toe), TE team’s proverbial ship. Tyler Kroft (foot) and G Alex Redmond (hamstring). And on defense, it included “That’s the funny part about it,” said LB Vincent Rey. “It feels like things have starting LBs Vontaze Burfict (hip) and Nick Vigil (knee), as well as nickel CB been going haywire, but we’re going to Baltimore — a team that we handled at Darqueze Dennard (sternoclavicular). our house (earlier this season), and a team that we beat (in the season finale) For the Bengals, it was the third straight game in which the team had given last year. Right when it feels like the sky is falling, if we go to Baltimore and take up more than 500 yards to an opponent. After the loss, head coach Marvin Lewis care of business, then we’re right in the middle of the fight (again). Coaches are wasted little time in making changes to improve the defense’s outlook for the going to be on our tails (this week), and rightly so. Every man needs to point his remainder of the season. finger at himself, because each person had stock in the loss (to the Saints). On Monday, the team announced that defensive coordinator Teryl Austin Everyone had a share in it. had been relieved of his duties, and that Lewis will coordinate the defense “It’s November, and you become who you are in November. Once moving forward. Thanksgiving comes, that’s who you are. And Thanksgiving is coming. We’re “I appreciate the hard work that Coach Austin has put into our football team, going to find out who we are. Thankfully, we’ve got guys like Nick Vigil, Vontaze but I felt it best to make a change at this point in time, and I wish him the best,” Burfict, Darqueze Dennard and Tyler Kroft all coming back (soon). We’ve got a Lewis said. “I will be coordinating the defense from here on out, and I am excited lot of these (injured) guys coming back, and they’re going to help us. The rest of to do that. This football team has a real chance to get back to playing winning us, (in the meantime), we’re still going to be in the jerseys. We’ve got to go out football so we can compete for the playoffs, and that is our sole focus.” and make plays, get off blocks, hit guys and make plays — just fight, fight, fight. Then on Tuesday, Lewis announced that Hue Jackson was joining the There’s no cavalry coming, as some people say. They’re not coming. Yeah, Bengals’ coaching staff as special assistant to the head coach. Jackson had we’ve got some guys coming back (soon), but we’re the guys out there (now), most recently been head coach of the Cleveland Browns. He coached the and we’re going to have to go make plays.” Browns from 2016 through Oct. 29 of this season. Jackson, who is in his 18th season as an NFL coach, is a former assistant The series: Overall, Cincinnati leads its series with Baltimore, 23-22. on Lewis’ staff. He served with the Bengals as wide receivers coach from Here are some series notes: 2004-06, assistant special teams/assistant defensive backs coach in ’12, ● When Cincinnati took the series lead in Game 2 earlier this season, it was special assistant to the head coach/running backs coach in ’13 and offensive the first time the Bengals had led the series since after the first of two meetings coordinator from ’14-15. In addition to being head coach of Browns for most of of 1998, when they were up 3-2. the past three seasons, Jackson also was head coach of the Oakland Raiders ● The Bengals have won eight of the last 10 meetings between the two in 2011. teams. “I have a great comfort level with Hue and his ability to assist me with the ● It hasn’t been an easy series for the visiting team. The Ravens lead 14-8 day-to-day responsibilities on defense, including analyzing our opponents and in Baltimore, and the Bengals lead 15-8 in Cincinnati. helping me on game days with the players and defensive coaches,” Lewis said. ● Since 2010, 12 of the teams’ 17 meetings have been one-score decisions, — 1 — (The series, continued) Brooks (64) for third place all-time. FB Pete Johnson (70) is the Bengals’ all-time leader. by eight or fewer points. ● DE Carlos Dunlap has 71.5 career sacks, 12 short of DE Eddie Edwards* Complete Bengals-Ravens series results are on page 184 of the 2018 (83.5) for the Bengals’ all-time lead. Bengals Media Guide. ● DT Geno Atkins has 67 career sacks, 4.5 short of Dunlap (71.5) for second place all-time. Edwards* (83.5) is the Bengals’ all-time leader. Atkins Team bests from the series: passed LB Reggie Williams (62.5) for third place all-time in Game 2 vs. Bengals — MOST POINTS: 42, in a 42-29 win in 2005 at Paul Brown Baltimore. Stadium. LARGEST VICTORY MARGIN: 17, in a 34-17 win at Paul Brown ● P Kevin Huber has 734 career punts, 12 shy of P Lee Johnson (746) for Stadium in the 2013 regular-season finale. FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED: 7 the Bengals’ all-time lead. Huber passed P Pat McInally (700) for second place (three times), most recently in a 17-7 win in 2009 at Paul Brown Stadium. all-time in Game 2 vs. Baltimore. Ravens — MOST POINTS: 44, in a 44-13 win at M&T Bank Stadium in *NOTE: The NFL has counted sacks as official statistics since 1982.