Bengals can take control of AFC North

Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (center) is squeezed between Ravens cornerback Fabian Washington (left) and linebacker Ray Lewis during the Bengals' 17-14 win in Baltimore on Oct. 11. Associated Press photo by Nick Wass

Nick Wass/FRE Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (center) is squeezed between Ravens cornerback Fabian Washington (left) and linebacker Ray Lewis during the Bengals' 17-14 win in Baltimore on Oct. 11. Associated Press photo by Nick Wass

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By Joe Kay, Associated Press Updated 12:48 AM Sunday, November 8, 2009

CINCINNATI — Ray Lewis took aim and delivered a jarring hit intended to do more than break up a pass. In his bruising style, the Ravens linebacker was trying to wrap up a win.

Didn’t work out that way.

When Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco — one of Lewis’ longtime friends — smacked the ground and lost his tiger-striped helmet, a yellow flag landed at the point of impact. The high hit drew a 15-yard penalty that aided Cincinnati’s drive for a last-minute touchdown and a 17-14 win in Baltimore last month.

Ochocinco wasn’t down for long, popping to his feet in a matter of seconds. By contrast, the Ravens (4-3) are the ones trying to get back up as they head into the rematch today, Nov. 8, against the Bengals (5-2), who have a two-week window of opportunity to take control of the AFC North.

“They’ve got a lot on the line, but we’ve got a lot more on the line,” Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said.

Cincinnati’s win on Oct. 11 completed a stunning stretch. The Bengals ran off three straight wins over division opponents — Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Baltimore — by pulling out games with last-minute drives.

The Bengals are rested, coming off their bye. The Ravens have their swagger back, coming off a 30-7 win over previously unbeaten Denver.

“We know who’s on the schedule,” Ravens safety Ed Reed said. “We know what’s at stake. They know what’s at stake. So, let’s go.”

A few days after their last encounter, the NFL fined Lewis $25,000 for his hit on Ochocinco and for kicking a Bengals player earlier in the game. He’s still stewing over it.

“You don’t go helmet to helmet, you’re running toward the ball, you make a clean hit and then you get penalized for it,” Lewis said. “So then you can ask yourself: Are you going to slow down the way you play, or are you going to keep playing football the way you know how to play football?”

Ochocinco knows the answer.

“That’s the way football is played,” said the receiver, who counts Lewis as a mentor. “Ray knows that. I know that.

“That’s the way it is. That’s the way it’s going to be (today). If he gets a chance to hit me again, I hope he’ll do the same thing.”