NFL Scores 2018: Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals RECAP, score, stats (9/13/18)

The Baltimore Ravens (1-0), led by quarterback Joe Flacco, meet the Cincinnati Bengals (1-0), led by quarterback Andy Dalton in an AFC North matchup in NFL Week 2 on Thursday, September 13, 2018 (9/13/18) at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Here is the AP recap of the game:

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Andy Dalton has turned into a big pain for the Baltimore Ravens.

He threw four touchdown passes on Thursday night -- three of them to A.J. Green -- as the Cincinnati Bengals got ahead big and held on for a 34-23 victory that left them alone atop the AFC North.

It's an unaccustomed spot for Cincinnati, which is off to its first 2-0 start since it won the division title in 2015.

Coach Marvin Lewis received a contract extension in part because of Dalton's 49-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd in the closing seconds of the final game at Baltimore last season, which gave the Bengals a victory and knocked the Ravens out of playoff contention. Dalton made the big plays again on Thursday, leaving the Ravens (1-1) too far behind to catch up.

"We came out hot," Dalton said. "That's exactly how we wanted to start the game. That's a big one -- puts us 2-0 to start the year and gives us a leg up in the division."

Down by 21 points, the Ravens made a run at it behind Joe Flacco, who threw a pair of touchdown passes. Flacco fumbled with 2:42 to go -- Shawn Williams stripped the ball from behind -- setting up a field goal by Randy Bullock that closed it out.

Flacco finished 32 of 55 for 376 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions , a fumble and four sacks.

"You better bounce back quick on a Thursday night and we didn't do it quick enough tonight," Flacco said.

Some takeaways from Cincinnati's win:

SEEING GREEN: Green set a career high with his touchdown catches of 4, 32 and 7 yards. He became the fourth Bengals receiver to catch three TD passes in a half, joining Marvin Jones (2013), Chad Johnson (2003) and Isaac Curtis (1973). Green was upset with himself after fumbling twice in a 34-23 win at Indianapolis on Sunday, and he caught everything thrown his way early on.

"It just happened to fall that way," Green said. "We were clicking on all cylinders. We were in a groove."

DALTON'S DAY: Heading into the game, Dalton had thrown more interceptions (17) than touchdowns (15) against the Ravens, including a four-interception performance at Paul Brown Stadium last year. He finished 24 of 42 for 265 yards with no interceptions and no sacks. It was the fourth time he's thrown four touchdown passes in a game. His career high is five against the Jets in 2013.

NOT THE BILLS: The Ravens were coming off their third-most lopsided win in club history, a 47-3 victory over Buffalo on Sunday. Flacco was sharp in two-plus quarters, throwing touchdown passes to three different receivers. But the Bengals gave him a tough time early, sacking him on each of Baltimore's first three possessions and forcing a pass that was picked off.

"It was tough sledding early on, and we weren't very precise," Flacco said.

FAST START: The Bengals are 2-0 for only the fifth time in Lewis' 16 seasons. They're the first team to score at least 34 points in each of their first two games since the 2013 Broncos, who reached the Super Bowl, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

MISSING MOSLEY: Ravens middle linebacker C.J. Mosley left in the first quarter with a bruised knee. Coach John Harbaugh said an MRI found no ligament damage. The Ravens have two rookies as backup linebackers, Kenny Young and Chris Board.

"They didn't play perfect," Harbaugh said. "That's going to hurt you for sure, and it did. It hurt mainly in coverage more than anything."

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Here's what you need to know:

Who: Ravens vs. Bengals

What: NFL Week 2

When: Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018

Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati

Time: 8:20 p.m. Eastern

TV: NFL Network

Livestream: NFL Game Pass (sub.), NFL Mobile App, fuboTV (free trial)

Line: Bengals -1 (Over/under: 44)

Ravens notes: RAVENS had 6 different players score offensive TDs in Week 1. * QB JOE FLACCO completed 25 of 34 (73.5 pct.) for 236 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 121.7 rating last week. Has 760 pass yards (253.3 per game) with 5 TDs vs. 2 INTs in past 3 vs. division. Has 3,861 career pass yards vs. Cin., 2nd-most among active QBs. * RB ALEX COLLINS had rush TD in Week 1. Had 96 scrimmage yards (78 rush, 18 rec.) & rush TD in only career meeting. Has 314 scrimmage yards (104.7 per game) & 2 rush TDs in past 3 vs. division. RB JAVORIUS ALLEN rushed for TD last week. Had 71 rush yards in last road meeting. RB KENNETH DIXON had rush TD in Week 1. Has 143 scrimmage yards & rush TD in his past 2 vs. Cin. * WR MICHAEL CRABTREE has 26 TD catches since 2015, tied for 4th in NFL. WR JOHN BROWN had TD catch in last game vs. Cin. (11/22/15 with Az.). Has 304 rec. yards (101.3 per game) & 2 TDs in 3 career games vs. AFC North. * LB TERRELL SUGGS had 2 sacks & FF in last road meeting. Has 5 sacks & 3 FFs in his past 5 vs. Cin. LB C.J. MOSLEY had 8 tackles & INT in last game at Cin. In past 6 vs. division, has 55 tackles (9.2 per game), 2 FFs & INT. Since entering NFL in 2014, is only player with 450+ tackles (474), 8+ sacks (8) & 8+ INTs (8). S ERIC WEDDLE has 3 INTs in past 5 vs. division. LB MATTHEW JUDON had sack in last meeting. Aims for 3rd in row vs. division with sack. CB BRANDON CARR aims for his 3rd in row at Cin. with INT.

Week 2 picks

Bengals notes: * QB ANDY DALTON completed 21 of 28 (75 pct.) for 243 yards with 2 TDs vs. 1 INT for 109.7 rating last week. Passed for 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs in last meeting. In past 5 vs. division, has 13 pass TDs vs. 2 INTs for 101.7 rating. Aims for 4th in row vs. division with 2+ TD passes & 0 INTs. * RB JOE MIXON had 149 scrimmage yards (95 rush, 54 rec.) & rush TD in Week 1. Had 96 rush yards in last meeting. In past 3 vs. division, has 304 scrimmage yards (101.3 per game) & rush TD. RB GIOVANI BERNARD aims for 3rd in row vs. Bal. with 70+ scrimmage yards. * WR A.J. GREEN had 92 rec. yards & TD last week. Has 695 rec. yards (99.3 per game) with 6 TDs in past 7 meetings. Has 5 TD catches in past 6 at home vs. division. In past 2 on Thursday, has 240 rec. yards (120 per game) & rec. TD. WR TYLER BOYD had GW 49-yard TD catch with 44 seconds remaining in 4th Q in last meeting. WR JOHN ROSS had 1st-career TD catch last week. TE TYLER KROFT had 2 TD catches in last meeting. Has 6 rec. TDs in past 5 vs. division. TE TYLER EIFERT has TD catch in 2 of his past 3 vs. Bal. * DT GENO ATKINS has 3.5 sacks in his past 4 at home vs. Bal. DE CARLOS DUNLAP has sack in 3 of his past 4 meetings. Aims for 3rd in row vs. division with sack. Has 6 TFL in past 5 vs. division. CB DARQUEZE DENNARD had 89- yard INT-TD in last meeting. DE CARL LAWSON has 1.5 sacks & 2 TFL in past 2 at home vs. division. S CLAYTON FEJEDELEM had 10 tackles, FF & 83-yard FR-TD last week. -- NFL Communications

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(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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