Cincy Jungle
It’s hard to beat any team twice, but it’s not impossible.
Here is how the Cincinnati Bengals can do it in Week 15 when they host the Baltimore Ravens.
The linebackers have been taking a lot of heat for this, but the safeties are the real problem. I would love to see DaiJahn Anthony get a shot, maybe even Tycen Anderson. I also think this is a good week to put Dax Hill back in the slot. He’s always been good at covering tight ends, and the Ravens’ wideouts are not nearly as much of a threat as their tight ends.
If the Bengals kept Josh Allen in the pocket, they would have won last week, plain and simple. Lamar Jackson may be banged up, but he is still Lamar Jackson at his core. The Bengals cannot allow him to create time or pick up big yards with his legs. They need to keep him contained and collapse the pocket from the outside in.
They also need to make sure that a box linebacker has their eyes on him, whether it is a spy or a zone defender. They cannot let him get outside the pocket.
People always talk about defense in terms of “if we can just be average,” but that is an oversimplification. You can give up yards, just not points. Your defense has to tighten up in the red zone and force field goals.
Of course, to force a punt or a field goal, they need to win on third downs.
Finally, they have to be able to close the game by getting pressure on the quarterback. That used to be Trey Hendrickson’s time, but now they’ll need someone else to step up.
They need to take the pressure off Joe Burrow by getting Chase Brown going. The offensive line has shown a lot of improvement and the run game has been pretty solid, but last week Brown disappeared.
They have to not only establish the run, but also get some big chunk plays from Brown.
If you had never seen a football game until the last two weeks and all you did was watch the Bengals play the Ravens and the Bills, you’d know one thing.
Turnovers are important.
The Bengals were plus four in the turnover battle on Thanksgiving, and that’s a big part of the reason why they won.
Last week, they were in a good spot until two fluke interceptions cost them dearly.
