That's three weeks, three fourth-quarter comebacks for the Bengals, who tipped Baltimore 17-14 on Sunday on a 20-yard TD pass from Carson Palmer to Andre Caldwell with 22 seconds left. Palmer, who played through a sprained left thumb that forced him to hand off right-handed, leading to some awkward-looking handoffs, threw for 271 yards and a touchdown and improved his record vs. Baltimore to 7-3. Meanwhile, the Bengals improved to 4-1 and took sole possession of the AFC North with the win. Just as importantly, they ran their record to 3-0 vs. divisional opponents. Cincinnati got an outstanding performance from its defense, which held Baltimore to 257 yards and just one offensive touchdown. And Bengals RB Cedric Benson also came up big, racking up 120 yards on 27 carries to become the first opposing back to break the 100-yard rushing barrier vs. Baltimore since Chiefs RB Larry Johnson rolled for 120 yards on Dec. 10, 2006.

All told, it was a statement game for Marvin Lewis' team, which hosts Houston in Week Six.

The PFW spin

Among the most impressive elements of the Bengals' victory were:

— The team rallied around defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, whose wife, Vikki, passed away on Thursday. The scene of players hugging Zimmer as the game ended Sunday transcended football. 

— The defense's soundness and physicality. Zimmer's players carried out his game plan exceptionally well. Save for a 48-yard TD catch and run by RB Ray Rice marked by some poor tackling, the Bengals made few mistakes on defense. The Bengals made WR Derrick Mason a nonfactor (one target, no catches), forced QB Joe Flacco to check down to secondary targets and quickly swarmed upon Baltimore's pass catchers. The pass rush was also solid, as Flacco was sacked twice. It was no fluke that the Ravens had just one drive of longer than six plays, which came on their opening possession. This Bengals' defense is good, and getting better.

— CBs Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall continue to play very well. Ravens wideouts caught just four passes for 57 yards on Sunday. Hall has steadily improved in his three NFL seasons, and Joseph, after flashing major potential earlier in his career, is starting to put it all together in his fourth NFL campaign.

— Once again, Palmer came up big late. The Bengals' QB made a major mistake early, throwing a pick returned by Ravens FS Ed Reed for a touchdown. But in the final minutes, he again made big throw after big thrown, the fianl of which was the 20-yard TD dart to Caldwell.

— Chris Henry's reemergence as a big-play threat. His 73-yard catch and run set up the Bengals' first points, a 32-yard Shayne Graham field goal. If he can routinely stretch opposing secondaries, look out.

— Benson's consistency. The Bengals needed him to come up big to have a chance to win on the road, and he delivered. Cincinnati will continue to give him plenty of work, and it looks like he can handle it.

The Bengals aren't without their concerns. The offense, after all, scored just one TD before breaking through with the game-winner in the final moments. TE Daniel Coats dropped a pair of passes that could have been touchdowns, and the lack of a consistent pass-catching threat at that position still looms large. Also, LS Brad St. Louis' snapping issues persists; two more sailed high on Sunday. (However, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis seemed to indicate Monday that the club will continue to stick with St. Louis.)

That said, there is a lot to like about the Bengals, who very much look like they will be contending for the AFC North title.