The Baltimore Ravens return home to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Baltimore’s third straight divisional matchup. Oddsmakers expect the Ravens to win this game by a wide margin and it’s easy to see why.
Cincinnati is in the midst of a rebuild under new coach Zac Taylor. It appears as though Taylor is using this season to assess his roster before making larger changes. And it’s clear the Bengals are low on talent at a number of key positions both due to the previous regime and some injuries.
While Baltimore hasn’t looked great at times this season, they should be able to overwhelm Cincinnati on both sides of the ball. Let’s check out the four reasons the Ravens will beat the Bengals in Week 6.
The Ravens’ rushing attack
The Ravens running game currently is ranked second in the NFL, averaging 192.2 yards-per-game. Running back Mark Ingram has been as good of an addition as they could have hoped for.
In five games this year Ingram has rushed 74 times for 372 yards and six touchdowns. He’s come in and provided a very stable veteran presence to complement young backs Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. When combined with the legs of quarterback Lamar Jackson, it creates a deadly four-headed monster that has different skillsets and can cause confusion.
On the flip side, the Bengals’ run defense hasn’t been very inspiring either. They’ve given up 5.0 yards-per-carry this season, which bodes well for the Ravens’ rushing attack. With Baltimore’s offensive line looking to rebound after a rough performance last week, I expect it to be smooth sailing for Baltimore on the ground in Week 6.
Mr. Automa-Tuck
It seems like the Ravens could win every game because they have the best kicker in the game. Justin Tucker has been such a steady presence over the years for Baltimore and he proves time and time again how much he means to the team.
Tucker tied the game in the final seconds against Pittsburgh with a 46-yard kick and then hit the game-winning, 48-yard field goal against the win in overtime. Tucker is 10-for-10 on field goals this season and is 15-for-15 on extra points, extending his status as the most accurate kicker in league history.
If this game against the Bengals is closer than most expect and Tucker is required to come out and hit another game-winner, he has the confidence of all of Ravens nation behind him.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
Injuries to the Bengals’ wide receivers
It’s not a stretch to say the Bengals are thin at wide receiver. A.J. Green hasn’t played in a game this season due to an ankle injury while John Ross was coming into his own before being placed on injured reserve last week.
Cincinnati is now relying on Tyler Boyd to step up and be their No. 1 receiver. Though Boyd caught 10 passes last week against the Arizona Cardinals, he was really the only receiver to do much in that game. The Bengals will need to rely on young guys such as Auden Tate and Damion Willis to carry the load.
With the Ravens’ secondary coming around in recent weeks and Cincinnati’s issues with injuries, it’s safe to say Baltimore should be able to contain the Bengals’ receivers. That’s especially the case with cornerback Marlon Humphrey playing as well as he has been this season.
A shifting, injured Bengals’ offensive line
When most people think of the Bengals’ offensive line recently, the reviews aren’t glowing. And with no real changes this offseason, Cincinnati has largely kept the same offensive line that was a problem last year.
The Bengals’ offensive line has had a lot of moving pieces and a lot of injuries this year. Tackle Cordy Glenn hasn’t been as advertised. Tackle Andre Smith is a plug-and-play option who’s had to play more than anticipated. Billy Price has changed positions. Jonah Williams is on injured reserve. On top of that, Cincinnati has seen four starting offensive linemen on the injury report this week, putting their status in jeopardy for this game.
The Bengals have given up 20 sacks through five games already. With the Ravens’ pass rush also struggling, getting only nine sacks in five games, something has to give between the two. With injuries and some position changes for Cincinnati, I believe Baltimore will get the upper hand and make life difficult for Dalton.
