Bengals vs. Ravens: 3 keys to a primetime victory for Cincinnati
When the Cincinnati Bengals come to the shores of the Patapsco River, the spotlight tends to follow them. Last year it was NBC's Sunday Night Football that witnessed a barnburner of a game, and tonight it will be Amazon's Thursday Night Football pointing the camera at the Bengals' latest road game against the Baltimore Ravens. Short […]
When the Cincinnati Bengals come to the shores of the Patapsco River, the spotlight tends to follow them. Last year it was NBC's Sunday Night Football that witnessed a barnburner of a game, and tonight it will be Amazon's Thursday Night Football pointing the camera at the Bengals' latest road game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Short week against a team that's played you four times in the past 13 months means one thing's for certain: Everyone knows everything. There's no hiding one's identity tonight, no smoke and mirrors. The Bengals and Ravens will try to defeat one another with their own game.
And when it's all over, the Bengals will be one step closer to climbing back atop the AFC North, or falling further down the AFC standings. Here are three keys that will ensure the former comes to fruition.
Always be vigilant of the safeties
Baltimore's defense does as good a job of confusing Joe Burrow as any unit in the league, and the safeties are a critical component in that. It was Geno Stone's red zone interception that changed the game back in Week 2, and he's had five picks since then! Marcus Williams also is back in the lineup to roam the deep middle, though that may not be what it looks like before the snap.
Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald does a great job disguising coverages and rotating his safeties after the snap, presenting a new coverage in real time. What looks to be middle of the field open before the snap is now middle of the field closed after the snap. This leads to hesitation, bad decisions, or at best, small plays.
Burrow needs to be constantly aware of where Baltimore's safeties are at all times.
Ja'Marr Chase needs targets
A few days ago, the Bengals weren't sure how much they could use their No. 1 receiver. They didn't find out until late in Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans that Chase was quite alright, as evidenced by his 64-yard touchdown. He finished the game with just six targets, and that can't be repeated again.
Without Tee Higgins on the field with him, Chase will be getting consistently bracketed by the Ravens' secondary that will be down Marlon Humphrey. This will force the Bengals to look for different options, but they can't ignore him every time in these situations.
Trust your best player to make plays in less than perfect conditions. Otherwise, it'll be a whole lot of ancillary options trying to move the ball against one of the best defenses in the league.
Trey Hendrickson can't be shut out again
The Bengals may be down one of their best defensive linemen in Sam Hubbard, but the Ravens won't have their starting left tackle. Ronnie Stanley's injury puts Patrick Mekari up against Hendrickson once more. Their last meeting in Week 2 was completely one-sided, and the winner was not who you'd have expected.
Mekari played a phenomenal game and kept Hendrickson out of the pocket for the entire day. He allowed just one pressure in 29 opportunities, and the lack of pass rush from Cincinnati paved the way for Lamar Jackson to have a clean day throwing the football.
Hendrickson is somehow planning to play with a hyperextended knee in this one, and he'll need to produce up to his standard against a matchup he should win this time around.
How to watch and stream Bengals vs. Ravens in Week 11
Everything to know for when the Bengals take on the Ravens in Thursday Night Football.
