This is a big one.
We all had this one scheduled from the beginning.
Thursday Night Football in Baltimore promises to be a true challenge to this Cincinnati Bengals team, and the importance of this game cannot be overstated. A win would get the Bengals to .500 and keep them in striking distance of an AFC North title.
Here are five keys to beating the Ravens.
Sleep Fast
Thursday night road games are tough. The Bengals need to transition quickly from celebrating Sunday’s victory to prepping for their trip to Baltimore and find a little time in between for some rest and rehab. That’s not going to be easy. They need to be extremely disciplined and organized to come into this game ready to come out swinging.
Score Fast
The last matchup with the Ravens was a shootout. The Bengals have been slow to start far too often this season. They cannot afford to do that in this matchup. Joe Burrow and company need to come out swinging and light up the scoreboard from the very beginning. If they are slow to start, they could find themselves buried in a hole they can’t dig their way out of.
Contain the Passer
So, let’s talk about the pass rush. It’s been an issue to say the least. Trey Hendrickson has been a one-man wrecking crew, but the thing is that one man isn’t enough for a wrecking crew. The Bengals need to generate pressure, but they need to generate a very specific kind of pressure. They to pressure Lamar Jackson while keeping him securely in the pocket. They cannot allow him to extend plays with his legs.
Limit Tight Ends, but Don’t Forget about Zay
The Bengals have done pretty well against tight ends like Travis Kelce and Brock Bowers this season, but in their last matchup with the Ravens, they gave up 10 receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns to tight ends Mark Andrews, Charlie Kolar, and Isaiah Likely.
Likely is out for this one due to a hamstring injury, but Kolar and Andrews have shown they can do plenty of damage on their own. The Bengals have got to figure out a way to contain that duo if they are going to win this one.
Of course, Zay Flowers had seven catches for 111 yards all by himself, so they better not forget about him either.
Be Balanced Offensively
Joe Cool can sling it, but this offense can’t afford to play a one-dimensional style in this game. They are best when they can run effectively as well, and Chase Brown has emerged as a serious weapon. If they can run the ball effectively, it will open up a lot of opportunities in the pass game as well,