(Photo: NFL)
AFC Game Of The Week
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
Bengals (3-2):
After the win in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, I said to myself, “Maybe they have finally become the team we’ve been waiting for them to be.” I knew the potential was there. This is one of the best offenses in the league, with what is arguably the best quarterback-receiver tandem in the business in Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. Tee Higgins might be the best No. 2 receiver in the league. However, their biggest issues have been their offensive line, which has struggled to consistently protect Joe, and, speaking of No. 9, his struggles to stay healthy. After a quick 2-0 start, they lost their first game of the year to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3 and, a week later, suffered a tough home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4 before snapping their losing streak against the Miami Dolphins. There’s one thing that concerns me about the Bengals, and that’s how dependent they are on their passing game to carry the offense. Without question, the passing attack is keeping them in games, and Ja’Marr and Tee bring the firepower each week, as you’d expect. What concerns me is this: If defenses do everything they can to limit the passing game and it’s not functioning as expected, can the Bengals turn to another avenue to keep their offense afloat? That avenue would be the running game. That’s my second concern: the lack of balance. I feel that giving both Chase Brown and Samaje Perine more carries would make their offense more complete. The defense has improved, yes, but there’s still an issue with stopping the run. Let’s just say that if they were to face either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Buffalo Bills come playoff time, it could be a long day for them, as both teams have consistent ground attacks. This Sunday, the Bengals return to the field following their bye week.
Ravens (4-2):
They frustrate me to no end, and this isn’t the first time I’ve said this. I’ve always maintained that divisional games are tough, no matter who’s playing, and it doesn’t matter where a team sits in the division. These are the types of games in which you must truly expect the unexpected. Sunday’s game in Cleveland is exactly why I can never take this football team too seriously. Many of their struggles are, unfortunately, self-inflicted, and they know better. First, their offense completely stalled after getting off to a quick start. They were up by ten points at one point, but after that, they couldn’t get much of anything going. Derrick Henry lost a fumble, which gave the Browns some momentum. The Ravens also left points on the table and failed to capitalize on their opportunities. However, the biggest takeaway was that Lamar Jackson’s presence was missed, as this was the second game he had missed due to an ankle injury. Okay, class, it’s time to answer the same question regarding the Baltimore Ravens! Derrick Henry is their best player, correct? How many times have I said that he needs to touch the football to have a visible impact? If you said somewhere between 19 and 25 carries per game, this shows me you’ve been paying attention. On Sunday in Cleveland, he had only 17 carries, and look at the result: an L! The Ravens still have that issue where they struggle to close games out. This Sunday, Baltimore returns home for another divisional showdown.
Bengals X-Factor: DJ Turner II
I paid close attention to DJ Turner II during his college days at Michigan, and I’ll be watching him again this Sunday in Baltimore. I’ve noticed that the Bengals have entrusted him with covering the opposition’s top receiver. In this instance, he’ll be lined up against Zay Flowers, a receiver he’s had success against in the past. DJ’s technique and patience are becoming strengths in his game. At the top of the route, he can stay with the receiver step for step. What will take DJ to the next level is creating turnovers. Breaking up passes is great, but an interception could give this Cincinnati team a significant boost if he can take the ball away.
Ravens X-Factor: Trey Hendrickson
This was only fitting, right? The Bengals decided not to bring Trey back, so guess what he did? He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason to get back at the Bengals, and he’ll get that opportunity as he prepares to face his former team for the first time since leaving. Trey spent the last five seasons with the Bengals and knows Joe Burrow, the offensive line, and the type of scheme his former team wants to run. If he can consistently pressure Burrow, he’ll force hurried throws, disrupt the timing of the offense, and potentially create opportunities for the Ravens’ secondary.
Final Thoughts:
The AFC North has a chance to be quite entertaining this year. The Browns have sole possession of first place, the Steelers are a quiet 4-2, and these two teams are still trying to figure out who they are. We know one quarterback will be on the field for this game, but will Lamar Jackson play? That’s the million-dollar question. All I know is that his offense could use him, as the passing game has struggled at times in his absence. It will be key for the Bengals to keep Burrow upright and on his feet throughout this game so he can operate from the pocket. Next, they’ll need to limit Zay Flowers’ impact. The second the ball hits his hands, they must prevent him from gaining additional yards after the catch. They also need to stay alert to his motion and the formations designed to free him up. The Bengals must try to make Baltimore’s offense one-dimensional. This means winning at the line of scrimmage, tackling well, and avoiding allowing Derrick Henry to break into the open field. On the other side, this is a Ravens offense facing a Bengals defense that struggles to stop the run. That means one thing: feed Derrick Henry the ball and continue to run him until the Bengals adjust. Make Burrow uncomfortable, and don’t allow him to buy time or get into a rhythm. Can the Ravens generate pressure without blitzing? Lastly, Baltimore must disguise its coverages and limit explosive plays. I can see this being one of the best games of the week.
