The Bengals took on a beat up Ravens team and put up one of their best performances. The offence unsurprisingly dominated, putting up 42 points on the board, and kneeling down inside the Baltimore 10 to end the game. The defence was solid overall, but also had some moments that are a sneaky cause for concern.
The Good:
– QB, Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow is an obvious one after his record setting performance. He set the Bengals franchise record for passing yards with 525, which was also good enough for 4th in NFL history. Despite facing an undermanned defence, Burrow still faced pressure in the pocket, and his awareness to navigate around it was at an elite level. His accuracy was also on point, including on multiple deep shots.
– WR’s Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd
With 525 passing yards to go around, it does not come as a surprise that the big three dominated. Higgins led the way, putting his contested catch and high pointing ability on display. He dropped 194 yards on 12 catches, with 2 of those going for TD’s.
Chase was next up. He did not score, but turned 7 catches into 125 yards, as he continues his push for offensive rookie of the year.
Boyd only made 3 catches, but he made the most of them. He went for 85 yards with the highlight being a 68 yard catch and run TD. Boyd toasted his opponent with an incredible route. The safety had already gone elsewhere, leaving the space open for Boyd to get into the end zone untouched.
– RB, Joe Mixon
Mixon had a decent day on the ground, rushing for 65 yards and a TD. However, his game on Sunday is yet another example of why he needs to be more involved in the passing game. He was able to turn 6 receptions into 70 yards and an additional TD. Mixon showed that he is not only a threat out of the backfield, but can be spread out wide in the formation as well. He was targeted on a deep route by Burrow and the two connected for 52 yards.
– DE, Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson was part of a pass rushing unit that made things uncomfortable for Josh Johnson and that completely stifled the Ravens rushing attack. He kept his sack streak going on Sunday, while also showing improvement against the run, compared to earlier in the season.
– DT, BJ Hill
Hill had another solid game for the Bengals. He might have flown a bit under the radar to the average fan watching, but he was a positive factor in the team’s game plan to stop the run. It was especially important given DJ Reader’s absence. He was disruptive at the line, eating up blocks and making stops when the opportunity was there.
– S, Vonn Bell
Bell had some blips in coverage, but was also able to snag an interception. His biggest contribution came in run support, whether he was coming down from the safety position or lining up down low. The Bengals safety was able to contribute five tackles on Sunday.
– CB, Eli Apple
Aside from James Proche, the Bengals didn’t let Baltimore’s wideouts do much damage. Eli Apple performed well, continuing his streak of good performances. Trae Waynes was in the lineup for this one, but he was a backup in this one. It seems that Apple has officially jumped Waynes on the depth chart, moving into the number 2 spot.
The Bad:
– Covering TE Mark Andrews
This is the second time in three weeks that coverage against the opposing TE has been an issue. Just a couple weeks after they let Kittle go wild, Mark Andrews was the biggest contributor in the Ravens passing attack, leading the undermanned unit to score 21 points. The TE turned 8 receptions into 125 yards and a TD, beating guys like Germaine Pratt, Vonn Bell, Jessie Bates, and Tre Flowers.
Modified Homescreen Image Via: All-Pro Reels (CC)
