Baltimore Ravens Lead Cincinnati Bengals, 17-10, At Half
By Josh Sanchez
September 10, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; A tribute to former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell appears on the field prior to the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at M
It was very cool to see players warming up for tonight’s Monday Night Football AFC North showdown with t-shirts that featured the face of late owner Art Modell. It was a nice gesture and tribute that set the mood for opening kickoff.
The Baltimore Ravens offense wasted no time has started the 2012 regular season on fire. Quarterback Joe Flacco has played phenomenal and has been a big reason for the Ravens early success.
Baltimore jumped out to an early 10-0 lead over the Cincinnati Bengals thanks to a 46-yard field goal by Justin Tucker and a seven-yard scamper from star running back Ray Rice just six minutes later. Cincinnati answered with a 34-yard field goal from Mike Nugent before Flacco launched a perfectly timed missile 34-yards down the field to Anquan Boldin.
Needing to add points before halftime and cut into the Ravens lead, the Bengals put together one final drive. Cincinnati got the ball all the way down to the Bengals six-yard line before running in to a fourth-and-one. Cincinnati decided to go for it on fourth down and successfully converted with a hand-off to Green-Ellis.
‘The Law Firm’ gave a great individual effort to draf Ravens defenders with him as he spun for the goaline. The touchdown brought the Bengals without a score. The two teams went into the half with Baltimore leading, 17-10.
You can’t give Flacco’s first-half performance enough praise. It is the best he has looked in his young career and, while it is early, he seems to have finally improved his pocket presence and accuracy. If Flacco can keep playing at this level, the Ravens will be a very dangerous team.
Flacco finished the first-half on 12-of-15 passing for 183 yards and a touchdown. Flacco’s first half passer rating was an impressive 130.7. Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis is the games leading rusher with 62 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown.