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Intriguing Game- NFL, Week 11
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
Bengals: They were one of the hottest teams in football entering the game on Sunday against the Houston Texans. Many teams have underestimated the Texans this season and this was one of them as well. I’m just happy they aren’t where they started at the beginning of the season. 2021, they were surprising people left and right en route to their surprising Super Bowl appearance and last year, they came into the season with more experience under their belts. This year, it was a challenge in the beginning with the nagging calf injury of Joe Burrow and the offense just not clicking as we’ve become accustomed to seeing. Now, all that is out the window and as the season moves forward, the Quarterback is getting healthier. Joe is at his best when he is moving within the pocket and keeping that play extended. The Bengals lost a tough game on Sunday to Houston. My biggest takeaway was the slow start and the Texans were getting every and anything they wanted on Sunday. Another takeaway was the Bengals struggled to stop the run as Devin Singletary ran for 150 yards on 30 carries in that game. When they have their passing attack going, I love it because it’s prolific and is difficult to contain when all is clicking. However, I’d like to see them establish Joe Mixon some more because he brings balance and is tough to bring down when he’s getting his carries. He touched the football 11 times on Sunday in week ten and he can’t make an impact with that many carries. I feel Joe must touch the ball between 18 and 20 times for him to make an actual impact. In a very entertaining AFC North, the Bengals are sitting at 5-4 and in last place. If the playoffs were to start today, they would be on the outside looking in. Tonight, they will kick week 11 off with a huge divisional showdown in Baltimore.
Ravens: I’ve been singing their praises this year and rightfully so because they have been a good football team. Look at how they dominated the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks. They put them each away early and never looked back. Just when I think they were turning the page and getting over that bump in the road, What’s been the thing I’ve constantly said about the Ravens, especially last year? They always had a sizable lead late in games and they would blow it. That is exactly what happened to them on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Whey they built up the lead, I’m thinking they’re smelling blood and are about to put away another team for the third consecutive week. That wasn’t the case at all because they got complacent and they settled and look what happens when a football team does that. Baltimore should be ashamed of themselves and they let an opportunity slip from them to really take control of the division had they finished the game and won. A loss such as that can sting, but it’s not what happens to you, it’s how you respond to it. Now, I want to point this out. If you look at all three of their losses, one thing has been the common denominator and that’s Lamar Jackson struggling in the fourth quarter. Look at the loss against the Colts earlier in the year. Lamar fumbled the ball twice and lost one of them. In their second loss of the year against the Steelers, he threw an interception and lost a fumble and this past weekend against Cleveland, he threw two picks but one of them was tipped in the air so I can’t put necessarily put that on Lamar. I remember in that game against the Lions I said that was the best I’ve ever seen him look on a football field. That’s the Lamar I need to see on a more consistent basis. It’s a short week and the Ravens will welcome the Bengals to town tonight.
Bengals X-Factor: BJ Hill– This Cincy Defensive Line is solid and he’s a key contributor on the inside. BJ is so active with his stunts and push up front. He’s always getting his hands up to knock the ball down to still impact the play and he can quietly get after the passer. He’s second on the team with four sacks behind you guessed it, Trey Hendrickson. BJ is consistent when it comes to stuffing and filling those running lanes.
Ravens X-Factor: Keaton Mitchell– He’s really burst onto the scene. Keaton is the Ravens version of Devon Achane for the Miami Dolphins. He’s that speedy back with breakaway speed and can impact the game out the backfield. There was a play in the game against Cleveland where Keaton took the ball all the way to the endzone and not one Browns defender had a chance to stop him. Keaton can also catch the football as well and impact the game as a receiver.
Final Thoughts: See what happens when you overlook what’s in front of you? I say this all the time because it’s such a common occurrence in football. Focus on what’s in front of you and regardless of what happens, that big game you’re anxious to play in is still on the schedule, it’s not going anywhere. I saw a Bengals team that made some critical mistakes against the Texans and they also had trouble with stopping the run. The Ravens on the other side settled when it mattered in the second half and it cost them. When these two met back in week two, Burrow was still limping around and Baltimore defeated them. All these weeks later, the Bengals are a much different team and Joe is healthy most importantly. The Bengals must hold onto the football because this is a very opportunistic defense that will make you pay if you give them the ball. Can the Ravens exploit that Cincinnati weakness and run that football? This is a huge game for both teams who are looking to bounce back after losing tough games a week ago. I like the Bengals to bounce back here and win a big game on the road tonight.
Prediction: Bengals 27, Ravens 21
