GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: BALTIMORE (0-0) at CINCINNATI (0-0)

NFL: BALTIMORE (0-0) at CINCINNATI (0-0)

<h3>McGahee to make debut as Ravens take on Bengals</h3>



Baltimore (13-3) at Cincinnati (8-8) Monday 7:00 pm EDT

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Running back Willis McGahee is the latestaddition as the Baltimore Ravens continue to build up an offenseto complement their stellar defense.


McGahee takes the spotlight when the Ravens open defense oftheir AFC North title with a road game against division rivalCincinnati Bengals on Monday night.


Despite a 13-3 record last season, Baltimore's success primarilywas a result of its magnificent defense, which allowed anNFL-low 201 points - 54 fewer than any other team.

A year ago, the Ravens brought in veteran quarterback SteveMcNair, helping to revive a stale passing game as they tied thePittsburgh Steelers for the sixth-most points (353) in the AFC.

Nonetheless, the offensive shortcomings never were more evidentthan in a 15-6 playoff loss to eventual Super Bowl championIndianapolis.


Now the hope is that McGahee will add an explosive dimension tothe offense and be a major upgrade over Jamal Lewis, a former2,000-yard rusher who has averaged 3.6 and 3.4 yards per carrythe past two seasons.


Of course, McGahee has averaged under four yards a carry andmanaged just 11 touchdowns combined the past two seasons afteramassing 13 touchdowns in 2004.


The Bengals, meanwhile, have the opposite problem - ahigh-octane attack that needs to outscore opponents to hide adreadful defense.


Quarterback Carson Palmer threw for 4,035 yards in 2006 and hasone of the league's top receiving tandems in Chad Johnson andT.J. Houshmandzadeh, who combined for 177 receptions lastseason.


Hard-running Rudi Johnson augments the passing attack, havingrattled off three consecutive 12-touchdown, 1,300-plus yardseasons, but it's on the other side of the ball where Cincinnatistruggles.


Only four teams in the AFC allowed more points than the Bengals'331 last season, one reason why cornerback Leon Hall wasdrafted in the first round.


The teams split their two meetings last season, with the Ravenswinning at home, 26-20, and losing at Cincinnati, 13-7.

 

Re: NFL: BALTIMORE (0-0) at CINCINNATI (0-0)

I'm so pumped for this game.

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 0 14:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 17 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 0 13:25 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 0 12:30 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 10 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 0 10:26 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 44 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 0 10:20 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 41 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 0 8:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 47 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 0 8:38 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON CIN 39 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 6 8:21 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 33 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 6 6:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 47 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL BALTIMORE AT CINCINNATI
NOTE: RAY LEWIS HAS LEFT THE GAME WITH A SHOULDER INJURY
AND HIS RETURN IS UNCERTAIN.</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL BALTIMORE AT CINCINNATI
NOTE: SHAYNE GRAHAM HAS LEFT THE GAME WITH A BRUISED HIP
AND HIS RETURN IS QUESTIONABLE.</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL BALTIMORE AT CINCINNATI
NOTE: BALTIMORE'S RAY LEWIS HAS RETURNED TO THE GAME.</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 9 4:04 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 9 3:58 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL FG CIN
SHAYNE GRAHAM 23 YD

BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 9 4:04 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 9 2:31 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CIN BALL ON CIN 25 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL
BALTIMORE 0
CINCINNATI 9 1:30 LEFT, 1ST QTR

BAL BALL ON BAL 12 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: BALTIMORE at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
BALTIMORE 0 0
CINCINNATI 9 9 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: CIN - TD, DEXTER JACKSON 39 YD PASS FROM
CARSON PALMER (PAT BLOCKED), 6:29.
Drive: 1 plays, 39 yards in 0:07.
Key plays: Geathers recovery of
McNair fumble on Baltimore 39.
CINCINNATI 6-0
CIN - FG, SHAYNE GRAHAM 23 YD, 10:56. Drive:
7 plays, 41 yards in 2:49. Key
plays: R Johnson 9-yard rush plus
15-yard unnecessary roughness
penalty on Ravens' Lewis to
Baltimore 21; Palmer 10-yard pass
to Houshmandzadeh to Baltimore 11
CINCINNATI 9-0</div>