Ravens set sights on title

CINCINNATI – Marvin Lewis won’t compare Baltimore’s current defense to the record-setting one that helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl six years ago.

“That’s a long time ago,” said Lewis, who was their defensive coordinator in 2000. “I don’t even remember that. They’re this year’s version of the Baltimore Ravens.”

This version is looking like a champion, too.

With a victory over Lewis’ Cincinnati Bengals tonight, the Ravens (9-2) would become the first team to clinch a division championship this season. A victory in Cincinnati would snatch the AFC North title away from the Bengals (6-5) and put the Ravens on course for greater things.

“There’s something much more that we’re shooting for, other than just winning the division,” said Ravens safety Ed Reed.

First, they’d like to put the mouthy Bengals in their place.

Some Ravens are miffed by the way receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh talked down to them the first time they met this season. The Ravens won 26-20 on Nov. 5, but Houshmandzadeh didn’t give them any credit afterward.

“Deep down, we know we’re better than Baltimore and they know it,” Houshmandzadeh said. “We’ve got better players than they do.”

Houshmandzadeh isn’t backing down.

“I think we’re better than them,” he said Tuesday. “We’ll find out.”

The Ravens know their three-game lead on the Bengals – and the chance to clinch a title on their field – speak for themselves. Reed chortled when Houshmandzadeh’s comments were brought up.

“Keep your mouth shut, man,” Reed said. “Play football. I heard it. It is what it is. The game speaks for itself. If you think you’re a better team, then come out and let’s play football, man.”

The Ravens are used to hearing good-natured trash talk from Bengals receiver Chad Johnson, but Houshmandzadeh’s slight struck a nerve.

“He must not have played in the game that we were playing in,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “Anybody could have lined up across from us that day and we had their number.”