RSR Predictions for Ravens @ Bengals

The (1-0) Ravens travel to Paycor Stadium (the company that subsidized the Joe Burrow signing) to take on the (0-1) Bengals at 1PM this Sunday. The hosts are currently listed as 3 ½ point favorites.

Last season the teams split the regular season series and faced each other for third time in the Wild Card round, where Cincinnati escaped with a 24-17 win. The Ravens lead the regular season series v. the Bengals, 28-26. Under John Harbaugh the Ravens are (15-15) against Mike Brown’s franchise although Cincy does hold a (10-5) edge over the purple and black in games played in the Queen City.

How will it play out on Sunday?

Tony Lombardi

Both teams struggled on offense during Week 1. Lamar Jackson & Co. were held to 265 yards of offense while Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase & Co. were unable to slay the “elves” in Cleveland, accumulating a paltry 142 yards of offense while falling to the Browns, 24-3. And it could have been worse if Deshaun “Freaky” Watson had even a decent day.

This one will be a defensive struggle, the difference being that the Ravens $260M man will outduel the Bengals $275M man.

• Lamar throws for 255 yards while Burrow struggles to eclipse the 200-yard mark. Lamar will connect with OBJ for a score in the red zone and hit Rashod Bateman from 40+ yards out for another score. Those will be the highlights.

• Neither team rushes for over 100 yards.

• Kyle Hamilton will tip a Burrow pass while blitzing and it lands in the waiting arms of Jadeveon Clowney.

• The Ravens win coupled with a Steelers victory over the Browns leaves the good guys atop the AFC North.

Ravens 19, Bengals 13

[Related Article: Can The Ravens Exorcise Paycor Demons?]

Rob Shields

In some ways, this is a great week to playing at Cincinatti. They are coming off of an awful game against Cleveland and Joe Burrow just hasn’t played much football in the last several months. There is still rust there and that could impact their passing game..a passing game the Ravens did a very good job defending last year.

The issue is that the Ravens have five devastating injuries (I’m assuming Mark Andrews plays this week) to key players that won’t be on the field for this game and two of those are in the secondary.

Winning on the road in the division is tough enough but not having four pro bowl level players at key positions makes it even harder.

The running game can be effective but it now lacks explosion. Maybe Keaton fsMitchell can provide that when he gets healthy but the lack of explosion from the backs at the moment is a potential issue.

If the Ravens defensive front can get after Burrow all game long, they have a chance. I think that’s the biggest key to the game.

Offensively, the line is banged up and that isn’t exactly going to help with the struggles we saw in Week 1. This offense is going to take time to get going but I would feel much better about this week if they were healthy.

I think the injuries end up being a difference in this game, which is something we have seen before between these two teams.

Bengals 27 Ravens 17

Kevin McNelis

Division games are always tough, and the Ravens are on the road against a team that’s vexed them recently. Cincy did just get dog-walked by the Browns a week ago, but I wouldn’t count on them to roll over and die in their home opener.

— Houston’s defenders talked about how much pressure they were able to put on Lamar Jackson in the pocket last week because he was content to stand and sling it. Between last week’s pressures, Baltimore’s beat up O-line, and the Bengals defense allowing yards on the ground to Deshaun Watson last week, expect to see Lamar tuck and run successfully a few times. #8 eclipses 75 rushing yards and scores a rushing TD.

— Baltimore’s defense may not have a Myles Garrett up front, but the Ravens defense showed some teeth last week, and the Bengals O-line showed vulnerabilities. My spider sense is saying this is a big game for Broderick Washington, as Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo continue to generate pressure off the edges, and big #96 benefits from it. He records a TFL on Joe Mixon and sacks Burrow at least once.

-Unfortunately, with reports that Marlon Humphrey still isn’t practicing and Marcus Williams on the shelf for the time being, I think the Bengals receiving game comes alive in this one. Ja’Marr Chase gets back on track with 100+ yards, including two conversions on 3rd and long.

Thinking with my heart, I know that the Ravens can win this game if the defense brings pressure like they did last week. Cincy’s secondary also has question marks, so maybe the new-look receiving game gets it going. Thinking with my head, Cincinnati has been a nightmare destination over the last few seasons, and I think it’ll take a big turnover to win this game. It’ll be a shootout.

Cincy 31 Ravens 27

Jared Pinder

I am usually optimistic when making predictions, but not today. Due to the recent injuries the Ravens have sustained, I am not confident they can get this win. The main issue is this O-Line, which looked terrible before the injuries, and now we are looking down the barrel of Sam Mustipher going up against D.J. Reader. I do think the Ravens can have a decent day defensively with a rusty Burrow and a bad Bengals line, but the offense isn’t in sync, and going up against one of the better pass rushes in football is a recipe for disaster that will hold the Ravens back this week.

– The Ravens defense has a good day having two-plus sacks and a pick. However, Joe Burrow makes a couple of plays and gets at least three touchdowns.

– The offense struggles mightily, and Lamar gets sacked three-plus times. Lamar is able to put up some points, and Zay Flowers puts up his first touchdown.

I wish I could feel confident, but not with these injuries. I don’t see how the Ravens can win without Marlo, Linderbaum, Stanley, and maybe Andrews.

Bengals 21 Ravens 10

Darin McCann

There’s a lot going on with this one.

Possible playoff redemption for one team? Check.

High-priced quarterbacks coming off uneven performances? Check.

Injuries that could swing the pendulum? Check.

A mental struggle between eating pit beef or chili during the game? Check.

I felt good about the Ravens chances on this one when I first saw the schedule release, and maybe a little less-good now with the injuries. Still, this should be a fun game with a lot of hits and taunting, and I’m always up for that cocktail. How about some predictions?

• Lamar Jackson runs for 100, throws for 200 and compiles three combined touchdowns.
• The Ravens put an emphasis on stopping the Bengals pass game, and Joe Mixon runs for more than 80 yards.
• Roquan Smith hits double digits in tackles, records another sack and a pick, and starts getting whispers in early Defensive Player of the Year conversations.
• Tee Higgins grabs two touchdowns as you just can’t double- or triple-cover everybody.
• Rashod Bateman records a touchdown of more than 50 yards.

 

Ravens 27 Bengals 24

Derek Arnold

I watched the Bengals-Browns game this week, and it looked to me to come down to two things:

* Cleveland responded much better to the adverse weather conditions than did Cincy

* Myles Garrett

Unfortunately, the Ravens will have neither of those things on their side Sunday (forecast says mid-70’s and mostly sunny).

So, I expect the Bengals passing attack to look much better than it did in Week 1, especially against a secondary missing two huge pieces. That’ll be enough to send the Ravens to 1-1.

Bengals 27 Ravens 20

Chris Schisler

Will the Baltimore Ravens beat the Cincinnati Bengals? The answer is yes. While the Ravens have a ton of injury concerns, the front seven will flex its muscles and get them past Cincinnati. The Ravens need to take advantage of the early season rust. Give me the Ravens to have three takeaways and five sacks and it keeps the Bengals down. Mike Macdonald showed last season that he has a solid plan for the Bengals. Picking the Ravens is a vote of confidence in the defensive coordinator.

The first game got some of the rust off for Lamar Jackson. Now it’s time for him to put on a show. Look for Jackson to force the issue with his legs and create plays in every way he can. Jackson will break out two big runs, and score on another long scamper in Cincinnati. Nothing will ever top the “Houdini” spin but this game will provide highlights that will go along with it. Look for the Ravens to have a high yardage total on the ground due to runs from Jackson and a breakaway run from Justice Hill down the sidelines. The offensive line will keep the Ravens in check to a degree, but this will be a much smoother performance.

Bold Predictions:

• Lamar Jackson rushes for 125 yards with 60 of them on a touchdown run.
• Justice Hill breaks out for a 40-yard touchdown run.
• Ja’Marr Chase has two touchdowns, but nothing else works all that well for the Bengals offense.
• Justin Tucker makes three field goals over 50 yards.
• David Ojabo has two sacks and another forced fumble against Joe Burrow
• Roquan Smith has the game-winning interception on the final drive.

 

Ravens 23 Bengals 21

Brennan Stewart

Man, what a tough game to predict.

It’s fair to say that both of these teams didn’t look how we thought they would last week, especially Cincinnati. This Sunday, the winner is going to be the team that has worked out the most Week 1 kinks, and Baltimore seemed to have less issues left than Cincy by the end of their respective games. One thing is certain, Baltimore’s defense is going to have a field day up front.

Here’s what I got:

• Roquan Smith accounts for 1.5 sacks and at least reaches his eight tackles from last week.
• The linebacker corps will earn at least six sacks on Joe Burrow (Jadeveon Clowney is guaranteed one this time).
• Justice Hill will be favored on the goal line again and tacks on another rushing touchdown.
• Cincinnati finally finds success in the air this week. Tyler Boyd, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins combine for at least two touchdowns and over 250 receiving yards.
• Joe Mixon is guaranteed a touchdown.

 

It’s gonna come down to the wire, but Baltimore will get its revenge for its playoff loss and break its two-game losing streak in the series.

Ravens 24 Bengals 21

Tanner George

Now the Ravens’ season really begins. After what was basically Preseason Game 4 against the Texans, the team takes a trip to the Jungle to play the $275M man Joe Burrow and the dreaded Bengals. After the wild card loss last year (Tyler Huntley’s fumble is permanently burnt into my brain), the Flock might actually hate Cincy more than the Steelers… setting the stage for what should be an epic showdown early in the season.

Despite a poor showing last week, I have full confidence that the Ravens offense will look a lot smoother on Sunday. Jackson and Flowers keep their electric connection going, while OBJ gets more involved. However, in true AFC North fashion, scoring figures to be at a premium. Mike McDonald’s defense will again shut down Burrow and Chase, highlighted by a relentless pass rush. That’s not to say that a few big plays won’t be given up, considering the lack of depth in the secondary.

Top Performers

Sunday should be a relatively modest game on the stat sheet, but a couple of Ravens should have big games. These guys will be the ones leading the team to a 2-0 start to 2023:

• Lamar Jackson: 25/36, 215 yards, TD, INT
• Gus Edwards: 18 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs
• Zay Flowers: 9 catches, 126 yards, TD
• Roquan Smith: 13 tackles, sack, FF
• Patrick Queen: 11 tackles, sack, INT
• Kyle Hamilton: 7 tackles, .5 sacks, INT

 

Ravens 24 Bengals 20

Chad Racine

With the Bengals coming off last week’s shellacking, they will be a hungry determined team. Also, the Ravens should be equally as fired up for some revenge after last year’s playoff loss. Neither team looked sharp last week; this one should be a close battle. My biggest concern is the Ravens’ secondary now without Marcus Williams and Marlon Humphrey.

— Joe Burrow will have a much better week than last week throwing for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

— Joe Mixon will be held to just under a hundred yards and no touchdowns.

— Chase will be more focused on playing the game instead of running his mouth this week. He will have four receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown.

— Lamar will run for 65 yards, a rushing touchdown, and one passing touchdown.

— Zay Flowers will once again shine with 5 receptions for 85 yards.

— O’Dell Beckham Jr. will be the recipient of the passing touchdown.

— David Ojabo will have another strip sack.

— Roquan will once again look like Ray Lewis with a sack, key 3rd down stops, and an interception.

 Ravens 24 Bengals 20