After one other dispiriting residence loss, the Ravens will attempt to defend their turf in prime time in opposition to the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals blew them out twice in 2021. Do the matchups look completely different this time round? Right here’s who has the sting:
Ravens passing recreation vs. Bengals cross protection
Lamar Jackson performed his worst recreation of the season in a Week 4 loss to the Buffalo Payments, throwing two interceptions and struggling to see downfield targets in opposition to a protection that constantly pressured him with out blitzing. The dangerous information for the Ravens is that the Bengals current the same problem, blitzing on simply 17.2% of drop-backs and harassing quarterbacks with a pair of productive edge rushers in Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. Cincinnati sacked Jackson 5 instances in a 41-17 blowout in Week 7 final 12 months, with Hubbard and Hendrickson combining for 3 1/2 of these. This may be an opportune week for left sort out Ronnie Stanley to return. Daniel Faalele and Morgan Moses struggled to maintain Buffalo’s excellent edge rushers from hurrying Jackson, and Stanley would probably supply an instantaneous improve in cross safety. The Ravens even have to fret concerning the well being of No. 1 huge receiver Rashod Bateman, who damage his foot in opposition to the Payments. Bateman is Jackson’s prime downfield goal, and Demarcus Robinson (5 catches on 10 targets, 41 yards) could be requested to step up if he’s restricted. Tight finish Mark Andrews stays Jackson’s prime goal total (24 catches on 36 targets, 260 yards), however he had a subpar recreation in opposition to the Payments, partially as a result of officers worn out a catch on the purpose line with a push-off name and partially due to Buffalo’s excellent inside linebackers. Huge receiver Devin Duvernay (12 catches on 13 targets, three touchdowns) has grown right into a dependable third choice for Jackson.
Cincinnati’s cross protection ranks eighth in effectivity, in accordance with Soccer Outsiders’ DVOA, and has held opposing quarterbacks to five.9 yards per try. Behind Hendrickson and Hubbard, the Bengals have strong gamers all through their secondary with cornerbacks Eli Apple, Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton and safeties Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III. They've excelled on third and fourth down, permitting opponents to transform on simply 17 of 58 probabilities.
EDGE: Bengals
Bengals passing recreation vs. Ravens cross protection
Joe Burrow was thought to be a number one Most Invaluable Participant candidate coming into the season however bought off to a tough begin with 4 interceptions in a gap loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has performed higher the final two weeks with 5 landing passes and no interceptions in wins over the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. The 2020 No. 1 total decide loves taking part in in opposition to the Ravens, whom he torched for 941 yards and 7 touchdowns in a pair of blowout wins final season. The Bengals invested closely in enhancing their cross safety, however Burrow has been sacked on 9.3% of his drop-backs by way of 4 video games, up from 8.9% final season. Proper sort out La’el Collins has been the worst perpetrator on an offensive line that could possibly be Cincinnati’s Achilles heel. But it surely’s honest to ask if the Ravens, twenty seventh within the league in pressures per drop-back, are outfitted to take benefit. Exterior linebacker Odafe Oweh did produce his first sack of the season to go together with a pressured fumble in opposition to the Payments. The Ravens added Jason Pierre-Paul to their mixture of edge rushers and will get fellow veteran Justin Houston again after he missed the Buffalo recreation with a groin damage. They’re blitzing on 27.6% of drop-backs below first-year defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald however struggling to get residence with these additional rushers.
Cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Brandon Stephens will face an excessive problem this week from Cincinnati huge receivers Tee Higgins (20 catches, 315 yards, two touchdowns) and Ja’Marr Chase (25 catches, 293 yards, two touchdowns), a pair of huge, quick targets who can rating from wherever on the sector. It’s a scary matchup for a protection that struggled to forestall lengthy cross performs in a Week 2 loss to the Miami Dolphins and a Week 3 win over the New England Patriots. On the plus aspect, the Ravens lead the league with 10 takeaways, an indication that Peters’ return and their offseason funding in security Marcus Williams (three interceptions) have paid off.
EDGE: Bengals
Ravens operating recreation vs. Bengals run protection
The Ravens ran for 162 yards on 33 makes an attempt in opposition to Buffalo and are averaging 5.4 yards per keep it up the season. Their floor recreation was on the upswing with J.Ok. Dobbins and Justice Hill working beside Jackson, however they suffered a setback when Hill (6.6 yards per carry) damage his hamstring late within the Payments loss. Coach John Harbaugh stated the damage was not critical however that Hill would probably miss time. Neither Mike Davis nor Kenyan Drake could be as dynamic a associate for Dobbins, who scored twice in opposition to Buffalo in his second recreation again from the knee damage that price him all of final season. Regardless of who’s taking handoffs, Jackson rolls on as a terrifying menace on scrambles and designed runs. He’s averaging 8.5 yards per carry and on tempo to hurry for greater than 1,300 yards.
Cincinnati’s run protection took a serious hit when defensive sort out D.J. Reader, one of many prime inside defenders in soccer, went on injured reserve. They haven't confronted a powerful floor assault — definitely not one with a menace corresponding to Jackson — since they misplaced Reader, so their No. 4 rating in run protection needs to be taken with a grain of salt. That stated, their safeties and linebackers are strong run defenders, so they don't seem to be straightforward to gouge.
EDGE: Ravens
Bengals operating recreation vs. Ravens run protection
The Bengals have averaged simply 3.1 yards per carry, and operating again Joe Mixon is off to a poor begin, averaging 2.7 yards on greater than 20 carries per recreation. He stays a menace as a cross catcher however just isn't operating just like the star many understand him to be. Burrow isn’t a operating menace on par with Buffalo’s Josh Allen, however he can't be ignored on scrambles. He’s second on the workforce with 79 yards on 20 carries.
The Ravens haven't performed as much as their normal stage on this space, permitting opponents to common 5 yards per carry. Linebackers Patrick Queen and Josh Bynes haven't performed effectively in opposition to the run, and the Ravens additionally want Oweh to be extra constant setting the sting. The Bengals could possibly be a workforce for his or her run protection to get effectively in opposition to.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens particular groups vs. Bengals particular groups
The Ravens nonetheless rank first in particular groups effectivity, in accordance with Soccer Outsiders’ DVOA. All-Professional Justin Tucker has made all 5 of his field-goal makes an attempt this season, with three of these coming from 50 yards or past. Duvernay is the league’s most harmful returner, averaging 15.4 yards on punts and 42 yards on kickoffs. Rookie Jordan Stout has alternated booming punts with mishits and imprecise placements; the Ravens hope for extra consistency from him.
The Bengals rank eleventh in particular groups DVOA. Kicker Evan McPherson has a strong leg however has missed twice in 11 makes an attempt this season. Trent Taylor has averaged a strong 10.8 yards on punt returns.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens intangibles vs. Bengals intangibles
The Ravens walked off their residence area a annoyed workforce after blowing a 17-point lead in opposition to the Payments. Harbaugh confronted widespread second guessing from followers, who felt he ought to have gone for a simple go-ahead field-goal try as an alternative of making an attempt for a landing on fourth-and-goal on the finish of the Ravens’ final drive. Harbaugh has stood by his choice, and gamers have promised to maneuver previous the demoralizing defeat rapidly. They’ll strive to take action in opposition to an opponent that slapped them round like no different in 2021.
The Bengals will come to Baltimore well-rested off a Thursday evening win over the beforehand undefeated Dolphins. The defending AFC champions know what Burrow can do at M&T Financial institution Stadium, the place the Ravens have misplaced 5 video games going again to final season. It’s the largest recreation of the early season for each groups as they jockey to take pole place within the AFC North.
EDGE: Bengals
Prediction
The Ravens have outplayed the Bengals by way of 4 video games however have solely a 2-2 document to point out for it. Can their protection be trusted to make a late stand in opposition to Burrow if the sport is shut? Can their offensive line give Jackson time to work in opposition to a protection that beat him up final season? This may be a better name if the Ravens weren't once more dealing with damage questions at key spots, however Jackson’s legs shall be their salvation in one other shut recreation. Ravens 30, Bengals 26
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