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 "This was like a movie," Jones said.
On an afternoon chock-full of plot twists, quarterback Andy Dalton
delivered a happy ending for the Bengals with a one-yard touchdown
run with 57 seconds remaining, lifting Cincinnati to a 27-24 victory
at Paul Brown Stadium.
Dalton passed for 266 yards and had two rushing touchdowns. He also
had an interception and fumble that helped fuel a Ravens comeback
attempt.
"The ability to block out the negative play is one of Andy's best
qualities," said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis. "He can block it out
and go."
Cincinnati (4-2-1), which defeated the Ravens in eight of their past
10 meetings, won for the first time since Sept. 21. After starting
the season 3-0, Cincinnati endured two losses and a tie prior to
Sunday.
"We haven't had much sleep for a couple weeks here," said Lewis.
After Baltimore rallied from an 11-point deficit to take a 24-20
lead, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu's 53-yard reception highlighted a
10-play, 80-yard drive to set up Dalton's game-winner.
 "We had the confidence that we were going to score," Dalton said.
Sanu had five catches for 125 yards.
With 47 seconds remaining, Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith was
called for offensive pass interference when he pushed off Bengals
safety George Iloka, negating an 80-yard go-ahead touchdown.
"I didn't have to look back," Iloka said. "I knew it was a flag."
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was 17 of 34 for 195 yards and two
interceptions, and running back Lorenzo Taliaferro ran for two
scores for Baltimore (5-3).
The Bengals struck first with a 48-yard juggling reception by Sanu.
That, and a 21-yard catch by wide receiver Greg Little, helped set
up Dalton's 1-yard plunge to make the score 7-0.
A diving 19-yard reception by wide receiver Michael Campanaro gave
the Ravens a first-and-goal at the 7-yard line. But on
fourth-and-goal from the 1, Flacco's pass intended for wide receiver
Kamar Aiken was incomplete.
The 18-play drive was the longest without points in Baltimore
franchise history.
A 10-play Baltimore drive ended with defensive tackle Geno Atkins'
sack of Flacco, forcing a 45-yard field goal by Justin Tucker,
making the score 7-3. It was the first sack this season for Atkins.
A pair of Flacco interceptions helped the Bengals increase their
lead.
Linebacker Emmanuel Lamur's interception set up running back Giovani
Bernard's 1-yard touchdown run, putting Cincinnati ahead 14-6.
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Cornerback Adam Jones' first interception of the season led to a
32-yard field goal by Mike Nugent, making the score 17-6.
"There were a lot of things that happened during the course of the
game ... like opening up the second half with two turnovers," said
Flacco. "If we don't turn the ball over, then we're a tough team to
beat. I put the defense in some bad positions."
Taliaferro's scored on a 10-yard run, and running back Justin
Forsett's two-point conversion run made the score 17-14 with 1:58
left in the third quarter.
The momentum went to Baltimore on a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers
by Cincinnati.
Dalton was hit on the arm by defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, and
Dalton's fumble was returned 39 yards by linebacker Daryl Smith.
Talioferro scored on an 8-yard run, putting Baltimore ahead 21-20.
"I didn't expect him to be on me that quick," said Dalton of the
fumble. "I had the ball in my left hand. I need to get the ball
tucked."
On Cincinnati's next possession, safety Matt Elam stripped the ball
out of Sanu's hands following a catch and it fell into linebacker
C.J. Mosley's hands for an interception. That led to a 53-yard field
goal by Tucker to make the score 24-20 with 4:05 left.
"I think our guys fought. It's tough. Football's tough," said Ravens
coach Jim Harbaugh. "We'll take who we are and go a long way."
NOTES: Baltimore lost its top cover corner in the first half when CB
Jimmy Smith left with a foot sprain. ... Bengals WR A.J. Green
missed his third start with a right big toe injury that has nagged
him all season. WR Brandon Tate started in Green's place. ...
Cincinnati also was without LB Rey Maualuga, who has a hamstring
injury. LB Vinny Rey took his spot. ... Ravens rookie TE Crockett
Gillmore made his first career start in place of TE Owen Daniels,
who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. ... Baltimore RB
Bernard Pierce was a healthy scratch for the first time in his
three-year career. ... The Bengals haven't lost a regular season
game at home since a 20-19 defeat to Dallas on Dec. 9, 2012.
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