09-21-2015, 12:56 PM
Can't make a prediction, however some things to think about.
The Ravens have lost Suggs for the year, traded away Ngata and are very inexperienced on Defense.
The Offense is much stronger than the Defense for the Ravens, but that isn't really saying anything as the Ravens Offense has never been scary. Steve Smith isn't what he once was, though he is still a scrappy player. They don't have the TEs as an outlet for Flacco and the run game isn't what it used to be without Rice in there.
So on paper, this is a chance for the Bengals to take what should be an easy game and improve to 3-0 while dropping a division rival to 0-3 and hopefully ending their bid for a post season appearance.
What we should be concerned with is coming out flat. The Ravens shouldn't beat us, but that doesn't mean that we can't beat ourselves. Turnovers, poor clock management, unfocused and undisciplined players leading to costly penalties and underestimating a divisional team just because of the records could spell disaster for us.
With the Browns hosting the Raiders and the Steelers playing the up and down Rams, we could end week 3 tied for 1st place with the Browns and the Steelers at 2-1.
The Ravens have lost Suggs for the year, traded away Ngata and are very inexperienced on Defense.
The Offense is much stronger than the Defense for the Ravens, but that isn't really saying anything as the Ravens Offense has never been scary. Steve Smith isn't what he once was, though he is still a scrappy player. They don't have the TEs as an outlet for Flacco and the run game isn't what it used to be without Rice in there.
So on paper, this is a chance for the Bengals to take what should be an easy game and improve to 3-0 while dropping a division rival to 0-3 and hopefully ending their bid for a post season appearance.
What we should be concerned with is coming out flat. The Ravens shouldn't beat us, but that doesn't mean that we can't beat ourselves. Turnovers, poor clock management, unfocused and undisciplined players leading to costly penalties and underestimating a divisional team just because of the records could spell disaster for us.
With the Browns hosting the Raiders and the Steelers playing the up and down Rams, we could end week 3 tied for 1st place with the Browns and the Steelers at 2-1.
