Cedric Benson Seven-Yard Touchdown Gives The Bengals 7-0 Lead Over The Ravens

A possession is in the books for each team. Neither posted a first down. Rice ran twice for eight yards whereas Dalton attempted two passes, including a third down pass that was forced incomplete thanks to Haruki Nakamura's strip of Jermaine Gresham, who initially completed the pass. Brandon Tate returned Baltimore's punt, following their third and out, 12 yards to the Bengals 18-yard line with 12:32 remaining in the first quarter.

Following a limited gain up the gut by Cedric Benson, that was stalled following a tackle by linebacker Jameel McClain, Andy Dalton fakes the hand off and throws down the left sidelines for Jerome Simpson stretching the vertical. An initial bobble was followed with a firm grip of the football and the 47-yard gain to the Ravens 35-yard line. Consecutive runs by Benson sets up a third and five with under ten minutes remaining in the first.

Dalton in shotgun takes the quick snap and leads Andrew Hawkins on a quick vertical, splitting two defenders, where the wide receiver makes an amazing dive to catch the football for the first down.

Benson lost a yard on the following play, giving him five yards on his first five carries during the afternoon before Cincinnati used their first timeout of the first half.

Second and 11 from the Baltimore 18-yard line, Dalton takes the snap and eases a rainbow pass that was nearly caught by wide receiver Andre Caldwell into the endzone. However, defensive back Chris Carr grabs Caldwell in the middle of his route, called for pass interference to the Ravens seven-yard line.

First and goal and Dalton hands off to Benson, who splits the blocks of Kyle Cook and Bobbie Williams, slithers around the mass of humanity from the seven-yard line to the goalline, diving forward and breaking the plane of the goalline to give the Bengals a 7-0 lead.

Cincinnati's touchdown drive went 82 yards on seven plays in 4:15.