The silver lining of Sunday’s devastating loss to the Cleveland Browns is that the Ravens will get a quick turnaround with the Thursday Night Football matchup with Cincinnati. Let’s hope they have short memories; I know I’m not over the Week 10 defeat just yet.
After a frustrating game that could have been iced with a fumble recovery, Baltimore got back down to business on Tuesday, practicing recoveries:
Making up for those missed fumble recoveries at Ravens practice Tuesday: pic.twitter.com/xe5dtyeyqn
— Giana Han (@giana_jade) November 14, 2023
Reason for excitement could be the uniform matchup this week, as the Ravens will be wearing their famous all-blacks:
Wear black with us Thursday night 😈@Invisalign | @Patrickqueen_ pic.twitter.com/4Tz83fUUBc
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 14, 2023
With a blackout night game being an exciting occasion, players were asked how they’d describe them at Tuesday’s practice. Who do you agree with more, Lamar Jackson or Roquan Smith?
One word to describe the all black uniforms? @Lj_era8 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/0uvnZcUmbR
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 14, 2023
Roquan Smith told reporters that when he thinks of the Ravens “all back” uniforms…he thinks of death row. 😈👀 pic.twitter.com/ladaGDxinh
— Ravens Nation LIVE (@LIVERavenNation) November 14, 2023
While my personal favorite is black jersey/purple pants, there is something special about the all-blacks under the lights. That’s especially true when facing a rival in a must-win game, which is the case Thursday.
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It appears that Cincinnati will be countering with all-white, but that we’ll be robbed off the white helmets on Thursday evening. I hope I’m wrong, because white helmets would bring an all-time uniform clash to Amazon Prime Video.
Regardless of uniform combinations, Roquan Smith says he’d be ready to play right now:
"Line it up. It could've been a game today, I'm ready." pic.twitter.com/GEHI3tD4xV
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 14, 2023
I love the enthusiasm, but we’ve got some availability concerns to iron out. The Ravens were missing a few key names yesterday:
Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr. was among seven players missing at practice. He’s got a sore knee.
Also absent:
LT Ronnie Stanley (knee)
LG John Simpson
ILB Trenton Simpson (concussion)
OLB Kyle Van Noy (groin)
OLB Jadeveon Clowney
CB Marlon Humphrey (calf) pic.twitter.com/ZR9B1me1Di— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) November 14, 2023
Baltimore has a number of inconsistencies that fans would like to see improved. The Lamar Jackson quote and defensive graphic below indicate that having the questionable players back against Cincinnati could be huge.
Lamar Jackson is confident the Ravens’ downfield passing game will bounce back.
“In practice, we do it all the time. … We just need it to transition to the games.” pic.twitter.com/hOWRRDw9yY
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) November 14, 2023
The Raven have a Jekyll and Hyde defense.
On the left: their early-game efficiency since 2022. (Best-in-the-NFL good!)
On the right: their efficiency in "clutch" late-game settings since 2022. (Worst-in-the-NFL bad!)
How is that possible? More: https://t.co/7a9g9LGDpU pic.twitter.com/6UCoVjIPxz
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) November 14, 2023
Yes, the issues include games in which they’ve played shorthanded, but to execute to the best of their ability, the team wants to be at full strength. Particularly on the defensive side, Baltimore must start closing out games better. It sure would be helpful to have Simpson, Van Noy, Clowney, and Humphrey active on Thursday.
They’ll need the crowd behind them, too. Here’s Jackson speaking to the craziness of The Bank under the lights:
"When you're in M&T Bank Stadium at nighttime, with our crowd? It's electrifying." @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/NU1aC2TYJY
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 14, 2023
Against a divisional rival that’s talked a lot of trash in recent years, I expect a raucous crowd, just like Jackson.
But the QB has continued to receive hate in the media following the loss on Sunday, which I personally feel is undeserved. Luckily, it doesn’t seem I’m alone in the Ravens Flock in thinking so:
Lamar Jackson is perfectly capable of a fault and has many things to improve upon but if you can’t see what he brings to the Ravens and how much he elevates the team I don’t know what to tell you man lol
— RAMEY (@HoodieRamey) November 14, 2023
Most importantly, Harbaugh believes in him, too:
"I'm a Lamar Jackson guy. That's my guy. I believe in him." pic.twitter.com/aigLP4RreM
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 14, 2023
To close out this week, let’s hear how both teams are talking about the other. First, Harbaugh anticipates a closely contested matchup between teams that know each other inside-and-out:
"You know the teams and they know you." pic.twitter.com/nTk6wEzyAV
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 14, 2023
Meanwhile, Cincinnati players are sharing similar sentiment. Germaine Pratt knows that it’ll be the type of game where executing the fundamentals will count, but Joe Burrow admits he wasn’t at full strength in the Bengals’ Week 2 loss.
"Everybody's got to do their 1/11" Germaine Pratt on challenge this week for Bengals D vs. Lamar Jackson and Ravens offense pic.twitter.com/RIzZT9pWwl
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 14, 2023
" Joe Burrow says he didn't have his "full toolbox" in Week 2 loss to Ravens. Will he to find ways for more explosive plays. pic.twitter.com/fOqUGaQStx
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 14, 2023
It should be a fun game!
