Bengals Keys: Time To Rush Things
Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Cincinnati Bengals are coming home from a trip from Charlotte with their first win of the season. They now find themselves facing a huge test to see what they’re made of, as they will host the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium at 1 pm. The Ravens, who started 0-2, suddenly find themselves as one of the hottest teams in the NFL after beating the Cowboys in Dallas and decimating the Buffalo Bills one week later.
How can Cincinnati cool off the scorching-hot Ravens squad and beat them at home?
Unleash Their Young Defensive Linemen
One might expect “Contain Lamar Jackson” to be the first thing mentioned. After two MVP Trophies, it no longer needs to be said. That’s the goal of every Ravens’ opponent, every single game. Every defensive coordinator spends a week studying Baltimore’s electric quarterback because they know what he’s capable of. Watching him juke two Bengals players at once in 2019 still gives me nightmares, and Kevin Harlan shouting “He is Houdini!” on the broadcast has lived rent-free in my head for the last five years.
Baltimore also has some guy named Derrick Henry, who was his old self against Buffalo last week. He totaled 199 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals, who face the Ravens twice a year, are more than familiar with the Ravens’ rushing attack.
Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase on the Ravens’ duo of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry
“That’s cheating. If I’m playing Madden, RPO read with those two…in real life they’re still doing the same thing…it’s a great duo they have back there” pic.twitter.com/MIjpfVq1aB
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) October 3, 2024
The question is, how can they be stopped, or at the very least limited?
The Bengals have had a paper-thin defensive line for the first part of the season, and it was a big reason why Jayden Daniels was able to move the Washington Commanders’ offense at his leisure in Week 3. However, the Bengals should get a much-needed boost to their defensive front on Sunday.
Zac says Trey Hendrickson, Myles Murphy, B.J. Hill and McKinnley Jackson all will play.
— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) October 4, 2024
The latter three of those players returning from injury comes just in time for their battle with Baltimore. Having those players back at full health, in addition to younger players like Kris Jenkins making an impact, will give the Bengals a fighting chance at preventing a Ravens’ offensive explosion.
Keep Ravens Linebackers At Bay
I can’t believe I can finally say this, but here goes nothing: the Bengals’ offensive line has done a good job at protecting Joe Burrow recently! It’s been a big reason why, despite the 1-3 record, Burrow has had one of the best statistical starts to his career. Last week against the Panthers was the first time since Week 3 of 2021 in which Burrow did not take a single sack.
The Bengals, however, will get a tough test this weekend with the Ravens’ front seven. This group is headlined by linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, the former of which has played more like Kyle Truck Noy to start the 2024 season.
Ravens OLB Kyle Van Noy named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September. He had six sacks, seven tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits and one forced fumble this month.
It's the first player of the month honor in Van Noy's career.— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 3, 2024
Through four weeks, the duo has combined for 9.5 sacks. Van Noy has been particularly elite, as he has two sacks in each of his last three games. It will be a huge challenge for the Bengals, who have allowed the ninth fewest sacks in the NFL thus far this season (8). Continuing that strong play will give Burrow a clean pocket and increase the likelihood that the Bengals can…
Start Fast
Last week against Buffalo, the Ravens didn’t give the Bills much of a chance at all, as Derrick Henry helped Baltimore jump out to a lead on the Ravens’ first play from scrimmage.
Derrick Henry….
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 30, 2024
Burrow has shown an ability to play well against Baltimore in the past; particularly in his 2021 home matchup, where he threw for 525 yards. That’s not only a career-high for Burrow, it’s the most yards in a game that didn’t go into overtime by any NFL quarterback in the 21st century. However, Burrow has struggled against the Ravens since then, as he has not topped 222 yards in a game in his last five head-to-head matchups (including playoffs).
That said, he has a good opportunity to get back on track against the team that prematurely ended his 2023 season. The Ravens have allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game, and only have two interceptions on the season. If the Bengals can immediately capitalize on Baltimore’s mediocre secondary, as opposed to letting the Ravens jump out early and letting their cheat code of a rushing attack control the clock, Cincinnati has a good shot to pull off the victory at home.
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