BENGALS (3-6-1) VS. RAVENS (5-5)
SUNDAY, 1 P.M. ET, M&T BANK STADIUM, BALTIMORE uTV: CBS, DIRECTV 705
Announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn
About the Bengals: A disappointing season got worse Sunday when the Bengals lost WR (hamstring) and RB
(torn anterior cruciate ligament). Green was the team’s best offensive weapon, and Bernard was a pivotal part of the run game and the pass game. The Bengals just haven’t clicked this season, for a variety of reasons, and losing Green and Bernard at this point makes a late-season revival unlikely. The Bengals haven’t established a consistent run game, haven’t blocked well and have given up too many big plays on the other side of the ball. To win what should be a grinder in Baltimore, they’ll need RB to have a big game, and they’ll need to create turnovers. QB Andy Dalton still has Pro Bowl TE Eifert to make plays, and now rookie WR Tyler Boyd has to grow up fast.
About the Ravens: The Ravens appear to be improving, and their goal of returning to the playoffs after a lost 2015 season is in sight. The defense has played well enough to pick up an offense that’s showing signs of life. QB trusts in WRs and
and the Ravens are starting to put together better drives. Though the Ravens were disappointed in last weekend’s loss, they should be encouraged by the way they were able to run the ball early in the game against the Dallas Cowboys’ solid defense. The Ravens have struggled to run consistently, but, especially as the weather turns nasty, they’ll need to have an effective run game to complement their run defense. The defense is built for November and December, AFC North-type football. If the offensive line can get healthy and spark the running game, the Ravens will be a tough opponent the rest of the way.
Smith returned this season to get to 1,000 career catches and help the Ravens get back to the playoffs, and over the last several weeks he clearly has been Flacco’s top target. Smith’s work in the middle and under zone defenses opens things
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
up over the top, and with the Bengals having significant coverage issues the opportunity exists for Smith to catch a bunch of passes.
The secondround pick has become a rotation player, mostly out of the slot. But with Green out, Boyd will see his snap count rise significantly and get to learn on the fly. He had his biggest statistical game last weekend, and he’ll start getting more chances to make plays down the field.
The Ravens have a plus 3 turnover ratio this season, allowing them to stay in games and win their share.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Step up: The Ravens have one of the league’s best run defenses, and without Green the Bengals lose their best chance of throwing it vertically. That means Eifert, Boyd and WR
need to make plays in the passing game and make defenders miss after the catch.
2. Protect the ball: Both teams figure to employ conservative game plans, and, given the state of the Bengals offense, the Ravens will be fine turning things over to their defense to win it. That means they can’t turn the ball over and give away scoring opportunities early.
3. Block Geno: The Ravens have had to shuffle their offensive line a few times and have been hit hard by injuries at guard. That could be bad news against Bengals DT
one of the most disruptive interior players in the league.
Zac Johnson