Bengals Find Winning Elixir in Baltimore

Among the items the Cincinnati Bengals could not tick off
 their checklist after Sunday's game in Baltimore.

 -A touchdown.

 -A 50-yard rusher.

 -A 100-yard receiver.

 -Preventing Ravens running back Willis McGahee from finding the end zone.

 -Preventing a Raven to post a 100-yard receiving game for the first time in
 2007.

 -A loss.

 That's right, even in a game in which there were few discernable highlights
 for Cincinnati, the Bengals were still in control throughout a 21-7 smack-down
 at M&T Bank Stadium. And when you come in as a two-win football team that
 hasn't won a game away from home, the win is plenty.

 "Obviously we feel good about the win today," said head coach Marvin Lewis. We
 take some satisfaction defensively, and offensively on third-down. I think we
 did a good job early in the game on third-down. We have to continue to work
 hard and put touchdowns on the board in the red zone...We are good with this
 win, and we just have to take it one game at a time, and not worry about the
 future."

 In fairness, the lack of big offensive numbers for Cincinnati were a by-
 product of the numerous short fields the Bengals received all afternoon long.
 Five of Shayne Graham's team-record seven field goals followed drives that had
 begun at the Cincinnati 37 or better, including the last three that started in
 begun at the Cincinnati 37 or better, including the last three that started in
 Ravens territory.

 Sure, the red-zone execution could have been a lot better, but the Bengals
 were sitting on a lead for basically the entire day and that Baltimore defense
 is still a highly-respected and talented unit.

 Also, a Cincinnati defense that was giving up more than 30 points per game
 coming in didn't give an inch against the beleaguered Ravens attack, forcing
 coming in didn't give an inch against the beleaguered Ravens attack, forcing
 six turnovers and holding Baltimore off the scoreboard until a 47-yard
 completion from Kyle Boller to Mark Clayton set up a meaningless one-yard TD
 run by McGahee late in the fourth quarter.

 The win was just the second for the Bengals since Week 1, and gave Marvin
 Lewis' club hope that it might escape the AFC North cellar before long.

 "This is real big for our confidence," said Cincinnati cornerback Leon Hall,
 who was among the day's stars after recording his team-leading fourth
 interception to snuff out a Baltimore scoring drive late in the fist half.

 "Not only for the team to get the win, but to have a good showing as a
 defense. It was a real confidence booster. It's really just one stop, we have
 defense. It was a real confidence booster. It's really just one stop, we have
 a lot of games to go."

 SHAYNE'S DAY

 With his seventh field goal of the day, a 33-yarder with 7:33 to play, Graham
 broke the team record for field goals in a single game, previously owned by
 broke the team record for field goals in a single game, previously owned by
 Doug Pelfrey. Pelfrey booted six trifectas, including the game-winner, in a
 20-17 overtime triumph against the Seahawks on Nov. 6, 1994.

 Graham's previous career-high was four field goals in a 26-3 win against
 Dallas on Nov. 7, 2004

 "It really says a lot about the defense," said Graham of his record-setting
 day. "They kept points off the board, barring one play. It wasn't that the
 kicker made seven kicks, it was that the offense moved the ball down field to
 make the field goals, and our defense for putting us on the field in good
 field position."

 The Bengals were actually in position for Graham to boot what would have been
 an NFL-record-tying eighth field goal, but Cincinnati chose to take a knee
 after advancing to the Baltimore 31-yard line in the final seconds.

 "I would be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for another chance," said Graham.
 "There really wasn't enough time to explain it with where the clock was. You
 don't want to rub it into the other team, because the game was already won at
 don't want to rub it into the other team, because the game was already won at
 that point, and it wouldn't be right."
 that point, and it wouldn't be right."

 Graham is 19-of-20 on field goals this season, and needs 11 made three-
 pointers over his final seven games to break Pelfrey's single-season mark of
 29, set in 1995.

 WELCOME BACK

 An important dimension returned to the Bengals offense on Sunday, when
 troubled wide receiver Chris Henry returned from his eight-game suspension to
 troubled wide receiver Chris Henry returned from his eight-game suspension to
 catch four passes for a team-high 99 yards in a winning effort.

 Henry's biggest play of the day was a 50-yard second-quarter grab that took
 Cincinnati to the Baltimore 9-yard line and set up Graham's second field goal
 of the afternoon.

 "It felt good being out there with my teammates again," said Henry. "I'm just
 excited to be out there with those guys again."

 Henry's 99 yards were the third-most of his career, behind only a 124-yard
 effort in Week 17 of 2006 against Pittsburgh and a 113-yard day in Week 2 of
 last season versus Cleveland.

 STREAK FOR T.J. GOES AWAY

 The Bengals' inability to reach the end zone Sunday meant no TD for wideout
 The Bengals' inability to reach the end zone Sunday meant no TD for wideout
 T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who entered Week 10 as the only player in the league
 T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who entered Week 10 as the only player in the league
 to score in each of his team's contests this year.
 to score in each of his team's contests this year.

 But Houshmandzadeh did have a team-best six catches for 45 yards in the win,
 pulling ahead of Baltimore wideout Derrick Mason (4 receptions, 29 yards) for
 the NFL lead in receptions with 68 on the year.

 Houshmandzadeh (10 TDs) is now on pace for 121 receptions and 18 touchdowns
 scored, both of which would be Cincinnati single-season records. Former
 Bengals wideout Carl Pickens holds both records, with 100 catches in 1996 and
 17 TDs one year prior.

 NEXT UP

 The Bengals have a chance to keep the ball rolling this week against the
 Cardinals (4-5), who are in contention in the NFC West but are just 1-4 away
 from the desert this year.

 Cincinnati has a 5-3 edge in its all-time series with Arizona, but was a 17-14
 road loser when the teams last met, in 2003. The Bengals won the previous
 meeting, a 24-13 affair in the Queen City in 2000. The Cardinals are 0-5 in
 Cincinnati all-time.

 Lewis is 0-1 in his career against Arizona. The Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt, who
 Lewis is 0-1 in his career against Arizona. The Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt, who
 knows Cincinnati well from his days with Pittsburgh, will be meeting both
 Lewis and the Bengals for the first time as a head coach.

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