The postseason is officially upon us. Coming off of a loss on Sunday, the Ravens aren’t entering this playoff rematch on ideal terms, but there were a lot of things to like about Sunday’s performance. The defense showed a lot of bright spots, and the young guys really stepped up in the absence of a lot of starters, but the most important thing that I saw was something that’s been in short supply recently: fire.
A fight breaks out on the Ravens sideline as Bengals are stopped on fourth down. Bengals OL Jackson Carman blocked Tyus Bowser onto Ravens sideline.
This has been a chippy game as you might expect, setting the stage for potential Round 3 next week.— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) January 8, 2023
The hits in this game have been vicious… Daryl Worley just annihilated Tee Higgins.
— Baltimore Beatdown (@BmoreBeatdown) January 8, 2023
Familiarity is certainly helping to breed contempt between these two division rivals who split the season series. It’s apparent to anyone watching that game that these teams absolutely hate each other, and the Bengals players had plenty to say after the game was over.
Bengals players were big mad yesterday. (via https://t.co/i07xvYsPXn) pic.twitter.com/7w3xrMsPnU
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) January 9, 2023
You know what? Good.
I’m not condoning dirty or late hits that are alleged by the Bengals players in the above quotes, and if you look at some of the highlights objectively, it did appear that the refs swallowed the whistles a few times on both sides, resulting in a chippier game. For better or worse, that’s AFC North football. You can complain about it, or you can act like you’ve been there before.
There are no feelings … Who cares?!🤣🤣
John Harbaugh is locked in pic.twitter.com/UXIJ2FL8hw
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) January 8, 2023
Roquan Smith was asked if he ever remembers having to play the same team back-to-back:
"Not really, but at the end of the day, it's just nameless, faceless opponents."
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) January 8, 2023
Now comes the all-important rubber game to decide the season series between these two. Despite some bumps and bruises to Gus Edwards and Roquan Smith during Sunday’s game, it seems like neither one is any worse for wear and I expect to see them in the rematch. With as much as these teams hate each other, I expect that any Raven physically able to pull on a jersey and take the field is going to be out there, and that the inactive report will look significantly shorter than this one.
Inactives at Bengals: pic.twitter.com/lXr7Ff30pa
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 8, 2023
Without a doubt, the biggest X-factor for the Ravens is the presence of Lamar Jackson, and so much of their viability as contenders is going to hinge on his ability to play. I’m hoping that my instincts are correct and that the Ravens are purposefully being vague about his status to force the Bengals to game plan for multiple QBs, but either way, Cincinnati is likely to be seeing a very different version of the Ravens than what they saw this past week. Baltimore’s players sound like they’re locked in and ready to deliver some payback.
CB @marlon_humphrey talks about turning the page to the playoffs for another matchup with Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/L2YBFycaqP
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 8, 2023
“It’s win or go home.”@CalaisCampbell talks about facing off with the Bengals again next week in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/LgV2EdIDmI
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 8, 2023
I wish I could tell you how Sunday’s game is going to end. I hope it’s a replay of the last time that these two met on Sunday Night Football.
The last time the Ravens played the Bengals on Sunday Night Football😌 pic.twitter.com/USJTB10f1W
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) January 9, 2023
What I do know is that if there was ever a time that we were going to see the best version of this year’s Ravens, this is it. I don’t know if they have enough in the tank to win in either Kansas City (should the Bills beat the Dolphins) or the Chargers/Jags winner (should Miami beat Buffalo), and right now, I don’t care.
All that matters is shutting Cincy up on Sunday night.
The #Ravens hold a 9-5 playoff record in rematch games (played a team again in the postseason). 3 of their 5 losses came against Pittsburgh. Most recently, Baltimore beat Tennessee after losing to them in the 2020 regular season. #RavensFlock
— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) January 9, 2023
2 Responses
Time to put up or……shut up!
Pay attention to people who shriek the other guy is a perpetrator, when the accuser hides behind masks or shouts you down when you point out the accuser’s history of in fact being guilty of the charges being leveled against others who are often true victims.
Gotta love these immature pathological defenses of denial projection and deflection.
Hmm, Cincy took out Tua T in an ugly QB throwdown, and while Damar H was likely a victim of circumstances with the incident last week, it did happen in Cincy….
And did you notice some of the hits against Buffalo before the game was stopped? Hurst the Jerk driving a Buffalo defender’s face into the turf during a block??
They go after Lamar’s legs, I say take the 15 yarder when the Ravens in reply bull rush Burrow and hopefully Bury him…
It is likely read as rude and unprofessional to write this comment, but, you can’t negotiate and bargain with people who think they can do whatever they want in their own stadium…