Ravens win to stay alive, and the Bengals slip again

Article by Gordon Dedman

After a torturous season that had produced only two wins, Joe Flacco led the Ravens to a third, but at what price? The season ending injury he suffered makes him the headline man of the weekend in the division as Baltimore now seek to complete 2015 without their star quarterback.

Flacco’s streak of 122 consecutive starts, which was the fifth-longest in NFL history, will come to an end next week.

St. Louis Rams at Baltimore Ravens

Case Keenum made a rare start in the NFL when the Rams decided to go with him as their quarterback replacing Nick Foles, who had started the previous nine games.

Baltimore missed a 51-yard field goal in the first quarter providing St. Louis good field position. Aided by a pass interference infraction that placed the ball on their opponents 10, the Rams Todd Gurley finished for the Rams with a 1-yard touchdown run.

 

In a bad tempered game that saw the Ravens give up 137 yards in penalties, putting points on the board was always going to prove difficult. For Baltimore, when Justin Forsett went off with a fractured arm in the first quarter, it became even more challenging.

The Rams led 13-3 going into the final period, but the Ravens defense stepped up and after a Gurley fumble, Flacco seized the opportunity to reduce the deficit with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Kamar Aiken. On their next possession, the Ravens tied the game with Justin Tucker’s 20-yard field goal.

With the likelihood of overtime looming, Keenum fumbled for the third time, presenting Flacco the chance to get into field goal range for Tucker to kick a 47-yard field goal to win the game 16-13.

For Baltimore, the loss of their quarterback spells big trouble. His experience had helped his team through a difficult season and without him, Forsett and Steve Smith, they surely will be looking at a high draft pick.

After the game, it emerged that Keenum suffered a concussion and it may have contributed to his final fumble that potentially cost his team the game. The fact that Keenum wasn’t taken out of the game will be a point for concern.

Cincinnati Bengals at Arizona Cardinals

Like two heavyweight boxers slugging it out, the Bengals and Cardinals exchanged blows during four rounds of fifteen minutes.

Cardinals Carson Palmer was hoping to prove a point against his former team, but with two interceptions in the first quarter, he handed the initial momentum to Cincinnati. While Palmer struggled in the first half, the Bengals created twice as many offensive yards as their opponents while building a 14-7 lead.

When Palmer eventually found his feet, he redressed his failings with some superb pinpoint passes, including a touchdown completion to rookie J.J. Nelson of 64 yards. In a wild third quarter, Palmer threw three touchdown passes while the Bengals were on the canvas producing minus one yard of offense.

Finding themselves on the ropes and 14-28 behind, the Bengals showed their character by fighting back in the final period to tie the game with just over a minute remaining. Using their hurry up offense to good effect, Palmer led his team into winning field goal range before an unusual penalty reduced the distance of the field goal attempt.

Cincinnati were penalised for unsportsmanlike conduct for simulating signals, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis called it a "phantom call," but television clearly showed some verbals from his defense.

Cardinals Chandler Catanzaro’s field goal from 32 yards gave Arizona the knockout blow and both teams now sit with 8-2 records. Palmer also edged the points verdict, finishing with a rating of 111.2, compared to Dalton’s 99.8.