QB Flacco Stars In First NFL Start As Ravens Claw Bengals

Baltimore, MD (AHN) - First-year quarterback Joe Flacco ran for a touchdown and connected on 15-of-29 passes for 129 yards to lead Baltimore past Cincinnati 17-10 in both teams' NFL opener Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium.

Flacco was starting because of injuries to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, but the first-round pick sizzled in his NFL debut as he found the end zone on a 38-yard rush late in the third.

That gave the Ravens a clear 17-3 lead as their stingy defense took over. The Bengals just made 154 total yards total and only seven first-downs all afternoon.

Baltimore led early when Mark Clayton ran 42 yards for a touchdown before kicker Matt Stover kicked a 21-yarder for a 10-0 advantage.

Shayne Graham's 43-yard attempt for a field goal was successful for the Bengals' lone scoring opportunity in the first half.

Jonathan Joseph picked up Ray Rice's fumble early in the fourth period and escaped 65 yards for a score that cut the Ravens' lead to 17-10.

But Chris Perry failed to overcome a fourth-and-1 at the Ravens' 25 and Baltimore took control from then on to preserve the victory.

Carson Palmer managed just 99 passing yards on 10-of-25 attempts, including two sacks and one interception.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh had 44 receiving yards and Chad Johnson, who changed his last name to Ocho Cinco during the off-season, caught only one pass for 22 yards.

Perry finished with just 37 yards on 18 carries for the Bengals, who host the Tennessee Titans in Week 2 Sunday afternoon.

The Ravens, who got 86 rushing yards from Le'Ron McClain, head to Houston for their second game of the season.