Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Ravens would have made the late
Art Modell proud on Monday.
Modell, the former Ravens owner and an instrumental figure in making Monday
Night Football a fixture in America, passed away last Thursday at the age of
87.
Sporting helmet decals commemorating Modell, the Ravens hammered the AFC
North rival Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener, 44-13, thanks in part to
a terrific performance by Joe Flacco.
Flacco completed 21-of-29 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns, as
Baltimore (1-0) scored 27 unanswered points to win its 11th straight regular
season game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Ray Rice totaled 93 yards from scrimmage and ran for two scores, Dennis Pitta
and Anquan Boldin each caught a touchdown pass and Ed Reed recorded the
seventh interception return for a touchdown of his illustrious career.
The Ravens are coming off a 12-4 campaign that ended in an AFC Championship
Game loss to the New England Patriots.
The Bengals (0-1) also made the postseason with a surprising 9-7 record behind
a pair of offensive rookies in Andy Dalton and A.J. Green, but lost in the
wild card round against the Houston Texans.
Dalton had a tough start to his sophomore season, hitting 22-of-37 attempts
for 221 yards with an interception and a lost fumble. Green caught five passes
for 70 yards.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 91 yards and a TD on 18 carries in his
Cincinnati debut.
The Sports Network