The AFC North is in shambles this season, and the Baltimore Ravens will attempt to take advantage of that when they take on the 0-5 Cincinnati Bengals this week.
Baltimore is favored by 11.5 points. The writers here at Ravens Wire seem to agree with the oddsmakers, considering our bold predictions include dominance by Baltimore on both sides of the ball. Let’s check out the four boldest predictions we came up with.
Matthew Stevens:
Ravens will hold Bengals to 150 net yards of offense
Cincinnati might have the ninth-best passing attack right now, averaging 258 yards through the air per game. But with injuries to A.J. Green and John Ross, as well as a lackluster offensive line and running back Joe Mixon struggling, the offense is at a breaking point.
The Ravens defense, not known for their might this season, has a major rebound game this week. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey is having a stellar season and locks down the only other weapon the Bengals have, wide receiver Tyler Boyd. Baltimore’s offense gets out to a quick lead and forces Cincinnati to play desperation football that the Baltimore defense capitalizes on.
At the final whistle, we’re left wondering if Baltimore’s defense is finally back to its old form.
Alex Bente:
Ravens defense notches three interceptions, including two from Marlon Humphrey
Humphrey will continue to make a case for himself as the best cornerback in the league. Following up on his game-breaking performance against the Steelers, he will give the Bengals’ depleted receiving corps fits as he disrupts play after play, coming up with the ball twice. Whatever shakiness Baltimore’s secondary has shown in the past becomes forgotten this game as the home team takes full advantage of an undermanned Cincinnati offense.
Vasilios Nikolaou:
Mark Ingram breaks Jamal Lewis’ single-game rushing record
The Bengals defense is plain awful against the run this season, giving up 250 yards on the ground twice in five games. Their 5.1 yard-per-carry average is laughable for a defense that has Geno Atkins on the interior.
Ingram has been incredible for the Ravens, and I think he has the chance to etch his name into Ravens history. He will slash the Bengals defense for over 295 yards, beating the team record set in 2003 by Lewis, who that year became the only 2,000-yard rusher in Ravens history.
Neil Dutton:
100 rushing yards for Gus Edwards
Ingram has dominated the Ravens backfield so far in 2019, but in a game that looks decidedly one-sided, it will be Edwards’ time to shine. The Bengals are seeing an average of 25.2 rush attempts by running backs against them this season, and are allowing 5.1 yards per carry to backfields. The Bengals’ injury-ravaged offense and woeful defense will do enough to ensure that they are comfortably out of contention by halftime, and the Ravens will take the chance to give Edwards a chance to put up some yards.
