Defensive Improvements

[*SHRacerX*]

(05-29-2021, 07:16 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: 162 rushing yards per game would be the 2nd best running game in the league last year and only 6 yards from being the best (14 yards from being 3rd). 6.7 yards per carry is 1.2 yards more per carry than any team in the NFL last year.

So no, giving up stats that would make a team the 2nd best (if not arguably the best when factoring in efficiency) rushing team in the NFL isn't brilliance or doing a really good job.

Okay, so the defense forced the Ravens to punt 4 times. The Ravens in 2020 punted 53 times in 16 games, or 3.3 punts per game. 4 is barely above their average and hardly anything to hang your hat on when you got ran all over.

I wish this game were replayed on the NFL network so you could watch it again.  Though painful, you would see that despite doing absolutely nothing on offense, the defense held Baltimore in check for most of the early part of the game and at the very least kept Cincy in the game:

Bengals punt, Ravens get the ball at their 20 and get a FG

Bengals turnover on downs, Ravens get the ball at their 37.  Ravens drive the field for a TD

Bengals throw INT, Ravens get the ball on Cincy's 31 yard line.  Ravens drive 31 yards (with the help of a Dunlap PF) for a TD.

This is where the game could have gotten completely out of hand.  Here is what happened next:


Bengals fumble, Ravens recover at the 50 yard line.  Ravens get 4 yards on 4 plays and turnover on downs.


Bengals go backwards 10 yards and punt.  Ravens get the ball on their 21.


Ravens get 14 yards on 5 plays and punt.  Bengals get the ball on on their 25.


Bengals go backwards 1 yard on three plays and punt.  Ravens get the ball at their 30 yard line with 2 minutes to go in the half.  We all know where this is going, right?


Wrong, the Ravens throw an INT and Bengals get the ball on their 24 yard line.  


The Bengals go 3 yards on 3 plays and use up 22 seconds on the clock and punt the ball back to the Ravens.  


The Ravens quickly drive 34 yards and get a FG right before the half (in 51 seconds)


The Ravens next four drives (the rest of the game's possessions in the 2nd half for them) go as follows:


Punt


Punt


FG


Punt. 

If you don't see any defensive flashes there instead of completely inept offensive work, then I will stop trying.