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. 5, 2019 WEEK 10, GAME 9 BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-2) SUNDAY, NOV. 10 AT PAUL BROWN STADIUM AT NEXT WEEK: CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-8) NOV. 17 AT OAKLAND GAME NOTES Kickoff: 1 p.m. Eastern. their scheme. So I’ll help him from that standpoint.” Finley, a rookie fourth-round pick out of North Carolina State, drew the Television: The game will air on CBS-TV. In the Bengals’ home region, attention of onlookers after a strong preseason in which he completed 73.4 it will be carried by WKRC-TV (Ch. 12) in Cincinnati, WHIO-TV (Ch. 7) in Dayton percent of his passes (47 of 64), tossed three TDs and posted a 99.3 passer and on WKYT-TV (Ch. 27) in Lexington. Broadcasters are Kevin Harlan (play-by- rating. play), Rich Gannon (analyst) and Jay Feely (sideline reporter). “I’m sad for Andy, but I’m excited for this opportunity,” Finley said. “I’m just going to have fun with it, execute and do whatever I can to help this team win. Radio: The game will air on the Bengals Radio Network, led by Cincinnati “Andy’s been unbelievable. He’s a really good dude. He’s a class act. He’s flagship stations WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (ESPN 1530; all sports) and special to me. I look up to him a ton. I can’t imagine how hard this is for him. He WEBN-FM (102.7). Broadcasters are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave texted me (after the decision was made) and said he’s got my back.” Lapham (analyst). Finley’s first test comes in the form of the AFC North-leading Ravens, a team with a long history of stout defenses. Setting the scene: The Bengals this week enter the second half of “It will be fun,” he said when asked about the challenge his first opponent their 2019 season when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at Paul presents. “It’s part of the game. I just have to get thrown in there and figure it out. Brown Stadium. Cincinnati is still in search of its first win, after starting 0-8. I have a lot of guys around me that know what they’re doing, and I feel more “I’m not discouraged,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “It’s frustrating confident because of that.” the way the season has gone to this point, but I’m not in the least bit discouraged Baltimore enters Sunday’s matchup 6-2, after topping the previously with the guys. I do feel like we’re close (to getting a win). People probably don’t undefeated New England Patriots at home last week on Sunday Night Football. want to hear that, but we’re giving ourselves a chance. “This bye came at the right time for us. We had a chance to take a couple The series: Baltimore leads the series, 24-23. days off, get healthy, free up our minds a little bit, and then come back and start Here are some series notes: the second half of the season.” ● When Cincinnati took a 23-22 series lead in Week 2 last season, it was And while the Bengals did use their bye week to refresh and regroup, they the first time the Bengals had led the series since after the first of two meetings also seized an opportunity to make a significant and noteworthy change. Two of 1998, when they were up 3-2. That lead didn’t last long, however, as the days after the Bengals fell 24-10 to the L.A. Rams at Wembley Stadium in Ravens now have won two straight and recaptured a one-game advantage. London, Taylor announced that rookie Ryan Finley would take over as starting ● A Ravens win on Sunday would give Baltimore its first season sweep over QB in place of ninth-year veteran Andy Dalton, the team’s all-time leader in Cincinnati since 2011. The Bengals’ most recent sweep of the Ravens was in passer rating (88.0) and winning percentage as a starter (.539; 68-58-2). 2015. “I spent a lot of time (thinking about it) the last couple of days,” Taylor said ● It hasn’t been an easy series for the visiting team. The Ravens lead 16-8 shortly after announcing his decision. “We talked about it as a staff, but ultimately in Baltimore, and the Bengals lead 15-8 in Cincinnati. it’s my decision. I’m the one that brought it up, and I’m the one that felt like we ● Since 2010, 14 of the teams’ 19 meetings have been one-score decisions, needed a change. by eight or fewer points. “We want to win the next eight games. Andy would give us a chance to do Complete Bengals-Ravens series results are on page 206 of the 2019 that, but I just felt like now is the time. I don’t think there’s ever a good time (to Bengals Media Guide. make a QB change), but it’s the bye week, so now we give Ryan a little more time to grasp it and get ready for the next opponent. If we’re going to do it, let’s Team bests from the series: go ahead and make the switch, get behind Ryan and try to go win these next Bengals — MOST POINTS: 42, in a 42-29 win in 2005 at Paul Brown couple games.” Stadium. LARGEST VICTORY MARGIN: 17, in a 34-17 win at Paul Brown Against the Rams, Dalton tied former QB Ken Anderson for the team’s all- Stadium in the 2013 regular-season finale. FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED: 7 time lead in passing TDs (197). He even took the lead outright for a brief moment (three times), most recently in a 17-7 win in 2009 at Paul Brown Stadium. late in the game, but a replay review reversed what had been called a TD pass Ravens — MOST POINTS: 44, in a 44-13 win at M&T Bank Stadium in to WR Auden Tate, erasing the score from the board and out of the record 2012. LARGEST VICTORY MARGIN: 37, in a 37-0 win at Baltimore in 2000. books. FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED: 0 (four times), most recently on Sept. 10 in the But while he doesn’t figure to get a shot at topping Anderson’s record in this Ravens’ 20-0 win in the 2017 season-opener at Cincinnati. week’s contest, Dalton said his focus has shifted to helping Finley’s transition. “I’m going to do my part,” Dalton said of his new role. “I’m here, and so I’m The last meeting: A summary of the last Bengals-Ravens meeting going to help Ryan the best I can. Ryan was one of the first people I reached out — on Oct. 13 at Baltimore — is on page 17 of this news release. to (after the decision was made). This has nothing to do with Ryan. He and I have been close ever since he’s been here, and we’ve built up a really good Turnover margin is key vs. Ravens: In the 36 all-time friendship. I don’t want Ryan to think I have any ill will toward him. He didn’t do Bengals-Ravens meetings in which the turnover differential has not been even anything wrong. All he did was be here, and show up and do things the right (1995-present), the team who wins the turnover battle has posted a 31-5 record. way, and they want to give him an opportunity. Putting it another way, the Bengals are 14-3 against the Ravens with a plus “I’m going to help him out. I’ve seen a lot of football. We have a lot of division turnover differential, and 2-17 with a minus. Looking at it from Baltimore’s point games coming up, and I understand how all these defenses have played us and of view, the Ravens are 17-2 with a plus and 3-14 with a minus. — 1 — (Turnover margin is key vs. Ravens, continued) Bironas of Tennessee in 2007, and Graham is one of eight players sharing second place with seven. Cincinnati leads 7-4 in games against Baltimore in which the turnover margin ● In the 2014 season opener at Baltimore, Bengals K Mike Nugent tied the was even. The Raven’s 23-17 victory on Oct. 13 earlier this season was one of NFL record for field goals in a half (five). His five in the first half gave the Bengals those even-margin meetings. a 15-0 lead toward an eventual 23-16 win. ● WR A.J. Green’s 227 receiving yards at Baltimore in 2015 stands as second most in a game in team history, behind only Chad Johnson’s 260 vs. San BENGALS-RAVENS NFL RANKINGS Diego in 2006. BENGALS RAVENS ● In 2008 against the Ravens in Cincinnati, P Kyle Larson punted 11 times, SCORING (AVERAGE POINTS): which is tied with three other instances for most in a game in team history. Points scored ................................................29th (15.5) 1st (31.4) Larson’s 480 yards punting that day also stand as the third-most for a single Points allowed ...............................................24th (26.3) 16th (22.0) game in Bengals history. NET OFFENSE (AVERAGE YARDS): ● The Bengals record for kickoff return yardage in a game (228 yards) Total ............................................................25th (317.3) 2nd (427.0) was set at Baltimore by Brandon Bennett in 2002.