AFC NORTH Ravens await big test with Bengals

Baltimore and Cincinnati are tied atop the division standings.
BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Baltimore Ravens' record-breaking victory set up an improbable first-place showdown in the AFC North and all but eliminated the San Francisco 49ers from playoff contention.
Ray Lewis returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown to cap a 17-point flurry in the second quarter, and the Ravens cruised to the most lopsided win in their history Sunday, a 44-6 rout of the road-weary 49ers.
"This is a complete game for us, the kind of game we're capable of having," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "It's what we're going to need the rest of the way to get done what we want to get done."
The Ravens are striving to return to the playoffs following a one-year absence. Baltimore (7-5) can take a huge step in that direction this week against Cincinnati, which beat Pittsburgh to remain tied atop the division.
The Bengals beat Baltimore in Cincinnati earlier this season, and the Ravens have been itching for the rematch.
"Now we can focus on Cincinnati. Everybody else is out of the way," Lewis said.
The 49ers (5-7) have a different agenda after absorbing their worst loss since a 41-3 thrashing at Jacksonville in December 1999. San Francisco fell to 0-6 on the road as a result of its poorest offensive showing since a three-point performance against Green Bay four years ago.
Asked to assess his team's playoff chances, coach Dennis Erickson said, "It's never over until it's over. All I can worry about is trying to win our sixth game. That's what we have to focus on next week. The playoffs are pretty much history for us; we just have to worry about winning our sixth [game] and go from there."
Garcia's return shaky
The return of quarterback Jeff Garcia did nothing to change the fortune of the 49ers. Back from a three-game absence with a sprained ankle, Garcia went 14-for-29 for 112 yards with a career-high four interceptions before being pulled early in the fourth quarter.
"It's like a bad nightmare. All four interceptions, one way or another, were deflected," Garcia said. "When it started to go downhill, it went downhill fast. We couldn't find a way to stop the steam."
The game turned in the second period, when Baltimore converted a precarious 7-6 lead into an 18-point cushion in the span of 1:25.
First, Matt Stover kicked a 28-yard field goal following a 75-yard kickoff return by Lamont Brightful. After San Francisco punted, Anthony Wright threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Robinson -- the fifth time in two weeks the duo hooked up for a score.
It took only 14 seconds for Baltimore to add another touchdown. On second down from the San Francisco 20, Garcia threw a pass that deflected off receiver Cedrick Wilson to Lewis. He high-stepped down the right sideline for a score with 32 seconds left in the half.
"The turnover and the touchdown, that's 14 quick points," Garcia said. "That just created a deeper hole for us to come out of."
It's the first time in team history Baltimore reached 40 points in consecutive games. The offense has been on a roll since breaking a drought of eight quarters without a touchdown in the third quarter of last week's game against Seattle.
"Our mentality was to come out and prove that last week wasn't a fluke," said Wright, who threw two touchdown passes.