KEYS TO THE SECOND HALF:

1) Keep Flacco off balance and uncomfortable with pressure (he is 5-for-17 for 23 yards and a pick so far)

2) Stop committing foolish penalties (false starts, delay of game, etc)

3) Palmer and company need to establish the passing game

4) Continue to control the ball (Time of possession: Cincinnati 18:05, Baltimore 11:55)

5) Make second-half adjustments to keep Baltimore off the scoreboard and increase the lead

3rd Quarter: Just like that the Ravens take the lead, driving 80 yards in 7 plays, capped by a 31-yard touchdown to Derrick Mason from QB Flacco. After a three-and-out by the Bengals on the following drive, Baltimore appears to have momentum.

On 3rd & 12, Flacco attempts a pass to Anquan Boldin that is picked off by CB Leon Hall and returned 22 yards to Baltimore's 43-yard-line. Cincinnati's offense continues to disappoint, going three-and-out but the defense holds up its end of the bargain by forcing the same out of the Ravens.

Starting on their own 38, the Bengals get a big first-down from Chad Ochocinco on a pass to the sideline on third and long. The Bengals advance to the Red Zone again but poor pass protection and an intentional grounding call result in a 46-yard-field goal attempt, which Nugent hits to put Cinci back on top 9-7 with 19 seconds left in the third.

Baltimore return man Jalen Parmelo fumbles upon being hit after the kickoff but the Ravens recover and gain a first down on a 13-yard pass to Boldin as the quarter closes.

4th Quarter: The Ravens gain another first down but have to punt after failing to convert 3rd and long. After taking over possession, Palmer throws a 29-yard completion to Terrell Owens, the biggest gain of the day, to take Cincinnati close to mid-field. They stall after the big gain and have to punt; however, punter's Huber's boot only advances the ball 15 yards and the Ravens have solid field position at their own 29. The defense will need to step up to maintain the 2-point lead with 9:35 remaining.

On first down Baltimore RB Ray Rice hustles for the first long run of the day, gaining 30 on the carry to the Cincinnati 41. After a first-down catch by Boldin to the Bengals 24-yard-line, the Ravens fail a third-down conversion and have to attempt a field goal. Billy Cundiff sneaks it inside the left upright to put the Ravens up 10-9 at the 5:50 mark.

The Bengals respond in style, Bernard Scott returning the ensuing kickoff 60 yards to Baltimore's 41-yard-line. Palmer drops back to pass on first down against a heavy pass rush. The result of the play is an incompletion and an incomprehensible roughing the passer call against Baltimore LB Terrell Suggs (this blog pulls for the Bengals every week put there is no way to justify a phantom call like this one). This puts the Bengals in field position, and after failing to gain a first down kicker Mike Nugent nails his fourth field goal of the day to put the Bengals back up 12-10 with under six minutes left.

On the first play of their next possession, Flacco throws his third interception of the day, this one to linebacker Brandon Johnson, who is tackled at Baltimore's 11-yard-line. Although this has set the Bengals offense up beautifully, they fail to reach the endzone and are forced to kick their fifth field goal, this one from 25 yards, to increase their lead to 15-10. There is 2:52 remaining.

Starting at their own 20, Baltimore needs to go 80 yards to score a touchdown in order to take the lead. On 4th & 7, Flacco looks for Derrick Mason but is intercepted for the fourth time, this time by safety Chinedum Ndukwe at the Baltimore 46. Cedric Benson grinds out a final first down on the next play, allowing his team to run out the clock and record their first victory of the season, and their seventh in a row against divisional opponents dating back to last season.

FINAL SCORE: Cincinnati 15, Baltimore 10