“`html
Ravens and Bengals Prepare for High-Stakes Rematch
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Last month’s clash between the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals proved to be an exciting spectacle for fans of elite quarterback play, with stars Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow dazzling on the field. However, for defensive players, the matchup was more of a challenge.
Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey expressed his concerns candidly, stating, “We felt like we should have lost. We won the game, but we did not play well, especially as a secondary. Big plays — too many big plays — so we’re hoping to try to limit the passing attack and get going.” The Ravens narrowly emerged victorious in that match with a score of 41-38 in overtime, thanks to a crucial interception by Humphrey that allowed Baltimore to equalize and push the game into extra time. As both teams gear up for their rematch on Thursday night, the key question looms: will the defenses be better prepared to contain two high-octane offenses?
In their previous battle, Jackson threw for an impressive 348 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 55 yards. Burrow countered with 392 passing yards and five touchdowns. Currently, the Bengals, sitting at a 4-5 record, are striving to recover from a rocky start and have clinched three of their last four games since their defeat against Baltimore. The Ravens, now at 6-3, have found their rhythm after an initial 0-2 setback, winning five out of six games.
Jackson demonstrated his skill last weekend with a flawless passer rating of 158.3 in a game against Denver, while Burrow similarly shone with five touchdown passes in a triumph over Las Vegas.
Interestingly, Burrow wasn’t entirely satisfied with the Bengals’ commanding 41-24 win against the Raiders, remarking, “Some good, some bad. What’s there to be happy about?” Despite the inconsistencies in his team’s performance, Burrow is having a strong season overall, currently tied for second in the league with 20 touchdown passes alongside Jackson and just one behind Baker Mayfield from Tampa Bay. Moreover, Burrow boasts a completion rate of 70.2%.
In their last encounter, the Ravens were forced to mount a comeback in part due to a sluggish start from running back Derrick Henry, who finished the game with only 92 rushing yards despite a pivotal overtime run. A strong performance from Henry could be a strategy for Baltimore to control the game and keep Burrow and the Bengals’ offense off the field. Notably, the Ravens have achieved over 100 rushing yards in 42 consecutive games, just one shy of the NFL record shared with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974-1977 and the Ravens themselves from 2018-2021.
On the other hand, the Bengals have faced their share of challenges, particularly in their running game, which averaged just below 90 yards per game leading into last week. However, they made a significant improvement in their victory over the Raiders, with Chase Brown rushing for a career-high 120 yards. Brown, filling in for the injured Zack Moss, carried the ball 27 times, demonstrating his capacity to run effectively against a team with a weak rush defense.
The question remains whether Cincinnati can maintain this ground success against a stout Ravens defense ranked first in the NFL against the run. The performance of starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., sidelined with a knee injury, could prove crucial in this respect.
In terms of home field advantage, Baltimore holds an impressive record of 21-3 in prime-time games under coach John Harbaugh. This includes a flawless 8-0 record in “Thursday Night Football” matchups. Nonetheless, a short recovery period may impact players’ performances, potentially leading to fatigued bodies on the field come game time. Humphrey noted, “It always seems like whoever can recover the fastest is usually the team that looks the freshest. It’s a tough turnaround, but the reward after is cool when you win to get the extra days off.”
Jackson’s recent performance showcases his passing finesse, as he avoided overextending himself with runs, stating, “I just didn’t feel like I had to. Things were working in our favor. Guys were getting open; guys were catching the ball, linemen were protecting, running backs were catching the ball. Everything was just going our way, and I really didn’t have to run.”
“`