BALTIMORE, Dec. 23 -- Despite allowing a 100-yard rusher for the first time in 51 games, the Baltimore Ravens recorded their first shutout of the season Sunday, a 16-0 blanking of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Missing mammoth 340-pound defensive tackle Tony Siragusa due to a knee injury, the Ravens watched Corey Dillon rush for 127 yards on 24 carries.
"It's frustrating. It's very disappointing to rush for 100 yards and still lose the game, so I'm not satisfied," Dillon said.
"We didn't want to give up the 100 (yards), but sooner or later it was going to end. Give him all the credit," Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis said.
It was the first 100-yard effort against the vaunted Ravens defense since Chicago's James Allen gained 163 on Dec. 20, 1998.
"If anybody is going to get it, Corey Dillon would be the one to get it," Ravens coach Brian Billick said.
Last season, the Ravens posted four shutouts en route to setting an NFL record for fewest points (165) allowed in a 16-game season while winning the Super Bowl.
Lewis, the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, had his normal big game with 11 tackles and a pair of interceptions.
Veteran Terry Allen rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown for the Ravens (9-5), who moved closer to clinching a playoff berth. One win in their final two games will give the Ravens a chance to defend their Super Bowl title.
Jon Kitna could not complement Dillon's big game and completed just 16-of-39 passes for 153 yards and three interceptions as Cincinnati (4-10) suffered its seventh straight loss.
The Bengals have been shut out in their last three visits to Baltimore, losing by a combined 75-0.
On Sunday, Cincinnati was able to move the ball, managing 281 total yards and 21 first downs. But Kitna threw three interceptions deep in Cincinnati territory.
"There wasn't much difference in the statistics of the two teams," Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said. "You would have thought this game would have been a field goal apart. It looked like the ball was on our end of the field the whole game. Turnovers and field position dictated this whole thing."
Allen, who returned to the lineup last week after missing four games with a hand injury, helped set up the Ravens' first score of the afternoon with a 22-yard run to the Cincinnati 22. The 33-year-old veteran carried 22 times en route to his best rushing day of the season.
But the drive stalled and Matt Stover connected from 43 yards with 6:51 left in the opening quarter for a 3-0 lead.
The Ravens extended the lead early in the second quarter, moving 80 yards in nine plays. Elvis Grbac had completions of 18 and 15 yards on the drive that Allen capped with four-yard run, making it 10-0.
Grbac finished 16 of 31 for 181 yards.
On its ensuing possession, the Bengals moved into position to get on the board. But on first and 10 from the Baltimore 17, Kitna had his pass intended for rookie Chad Johnson intercepted by cornerback Duane Starks at the seven.
Lewis made his presence felt later in the quarter. After moving the Bengals to the Baltimore 20, Kitna had his pass tipped at the line of scrimmage. He batted the ball down, but into Lewis' waiting arms and he returned the interception 30 yards to the Baltimore 48.
Sparked by that play, the Ravens moved methodically into field goal range and Stover connected from 29 yards out.
Lewis again helped preserve the shutout in the fourth quarter when he intercepted Kitna at the Baltimore seven and returned the ball 64 yards.
"Our defense saved the day for us," Grbac said. "That's really the hallmark for what our team is. When you look at Ray Lewis and the things he does on defense, it was just a spectacular game."
Stover capped the scoring with a 33-yard field goal with two minutes remaining in the final quarter. Content: 15003000
