With two minutes left in the game, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was having a chat with Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis, whose Bengals had the ball at their 33-yard line.
"He was chuckling with me, and I told him, 'Look, man, we got you exactly where we want you,' " Marvin Lewis said.
He was right. Ten plays later, Andre Caldwell caught a 20-yard pass over the middle for the game-winning touchdown as the Bengals upset the Ravens, 17-14, at M&T Bank Stadium.
It was the fourth time Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer had rallied the Bengals (4-1) this season with game-winning drives, and it showed a glaring problem that continues to haunt the Ravens (3-2).
Forget all this talk about a change in defensive scheme from a year ago. Cincinnati left a lot of points on the field because the Ravens don't have any cornerbacks who can cover man-to-man.
Nickel back Chris Carr? Too soft. Starting cornerback Domonique Foxworth? He has no physical presence and has lost his confidence. He can't find himself or the ball. Fabian Washington? He might be the best on the roster after rookie Lardarius Webb, and that's not saying a lot.
During the offseason, the Ravens signed Foxworth to a four-year contract worth $16.5 million in guaranteed money, and Carr to a two-year deal estimated at $5 million.
It might be time to ask for a refund or a rebate.
In training camp, Ravens coach John Harbaugh bragged about the speed of his cornerbacks, and that speed is apparently used to catch up with the other team's receivers after they catch long passes.
No griping about officiating
There can be no whining from the Ravens this week about officials. They had 10 penalties for 76 yards, three of them on the Bengals' game-winning 80-yard drive. They were justified.
It's time to shut up and play ball.
The Ravens need to blame themselves, especially middle linebacker Lewis, who was hit with a 15-yard unnecessary-roughness call with 50 seconds remaining on a pass across the middle to Chad Ochocinco that moved the Bengals to the Ravens' 35-yard line.
It was apparent that Ochocinco got into Lewis' head this week with the comment about punching Lewis in the face during the game. Ochocinco couldn't have caught that pass if he had had a step ladder.
It was a boneheaded move by Lewis.
"It was an uncatchable ball," Marvin Lewis said. "If Ray was my guy, I would have to have a little talk with him after the game about that one."
