CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Baltimore Ravens could not have asked for a better opponent to rediscover their offense against.
The Ravens finally broke out of their offensive malaise, scoring a touchdown for the first time in six games en route to a 27-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Baltimore had not reached the end zone in five straight games, dating back to a one-yard touchdown run by fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo with 6:39 remaining in the fourth quarter of a 37-0 victory over the Bengals on September 24.
After 60 offensive possessions without reaching the end zone, the Ravens finally scored a TD when Trent Dilfer hit Brandon Stokley with a 14-yard scoring strike 53 seconds into the second quarter. Baltimore had gone 322 minutes, 23 seconds since its last touchdown.
Ravens coach Brian Billick was understandably relieved his team finally managed a touchdown.
"This allows me to sleep at least one night this week," he said.
The Ravens were the first team since the 1990 Indianapolis Colts to go five straight games without a touchdown.
Making his second start since replacing the embattled Tony Banks, Dilfer also fired TD passes of 18 and 19 yards to tight end Shannon Sharpe in the second quarter, giving Baltimore a commanding 24-0 advantage.
"Obviously there was a lot of pressure on us," said Sharpe, who had seven receptions for 66 yards. "We never really questioned Brian's system but we're not good enough to make mistakes in the red zone."
"You let the superstars get the ball when you're in a funk," Dilfer said. "The goal was to get Sharpe 15 touches today."
Baltimore (6-4) defeated the Bengals for the sixth straight time. In the last three meetings, the Ravens have outscored Cincinnati, 86-7.
"We put ourselves in a hole in the second quarter and didn't give ourselves a chance to win," Bengals interim coach Dick LeBeau said. "Everybody saw it and that was the story of the game. They're a good team but we made them better than what they are."
Rookie wide receiver Peter Warrick scored on a four-yard run in the third quarter to account for the only points for the Bengals (2-7), who were seeking their third straight win.
Entering the game with the top-ranked defense in the league, the Ravens set the tone early with that unit. Tremain Mack returned the opening kickoff 49 yards to the Baltimore 46. But the Ravens quickly forced Cincinnati to go three-and-out.
That was just the beginning of a long afternoon on offense for the Bengals, who were blanked in the last two meetings between the teams. Today, they managed just 174 total yards and 11 first downs.
Corey Dillon, the workhorse of the Cincinnati offense, was a non-factor and gained just 23 yards on 16 carries. He rushed for 12 yards on nine attempts in the first meeting against Baltimore.
"We knew they would be one-dimensional," Sharpe said. "We knew they would not be able to run the ball. We get the lead, they play right into our hands. Three-and-out, three-and-out and we're back on the field. They don't feel comfortable throwing the ball."
On its second possession, the Ravens rode rookie Jamal Lewis, who combined for 40 yards on three straight runs that moved the ball to the Cincinnati 28.
But just like in recent weeks, the drive stalled and Baltimore had to settle for Matt Stover's 38-yard field goal with 2:28 left in the opening quarter. Stover came into the game leading the league with 78 points.
On the final play of the first quarter, the Ravens came up with a big defensive play. Quarterback Akili Smith fumbled and defensive end Michael McCrary recovered on the Cincinnati 17.
The Ravens followed by finally reaching the end zone. On 3rd-and-7, Dilfer found Stokley from 14 yards to make it 10-0.
To prove their offense was back on track, the Ravens moved 80 yards in 11 plays on their next possession, converting a pair of third downs along the way.
Dilfer, who completed 23-of-34 passes for 244 yards, capped the drive with an 18-yard TD pass to Sharpe, making it 17-0 with 6:25 remaining before halftime.
Baltimore continued its big half, going 69 yards in four plays to extend the lead. On second down from the 34, Dilfer hit Lewis with a short pass that he turned into a 45-yard gain. One play later, Dilfer found Sharpe from 19 yards for a 24-0 lead with 2:04 left in the half.
Lewis was the factor in the running game, reaching the 100-yard mark for the second time this season against Cincinnati. Lewis carried 22 times for 109 yards and added three receptions for 70 yards. He gained 116 yards against the Bengals earlier this season.
Cincinnati got its only offense midway through the third quarter. Craig Yeast's 27-yard punt return to the Baltimore 15, set up Warrick's four-yard TD run.
Stover capped the scoring with 32-yard field goal 6:02 into the final period.
Smith struggled for much of the game and completed 15-of-27 passes for 137 yards.
