Follow the game between the Bengals and the Ravens on Thursday at 8:15 p.m., with RDS2 and RDS.ca.
The matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals last month was a dream matchup for those who like to see good quarterbacks in action. Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow spent the majority of the game crossing the field back and forth with great ease.
For the defensive backs, however, it was a little less pleasant.
“We felt like we should have lost,” Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. We won, but we didn’t play well, especially the secondary line. Big plays – too many big plays – so we hope to limit the passing game. »
The Ravens beat the Bengals 41-38 in overtime last month. The teams traded touchdowns for a while until a successful interception by Humphrey allowed the Ravens to make a field goal that forced overtime.
The question now, heading into Thursday’s rematch, is whether the defensive units will be better equipped to slow down Jackson and Burrow.
Jackson threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns while running for 55 yards with his legs in the last game between the two clubs. Burrow allowed his team to advance 392 yards through the air, being at the origin of five majors.
The Bengals (4-5) are trying to get out of a precarious situation early in the season, having won three of their four games since the game against the Ravens (6-3). The latter have won five of their last six meetings after starting the campaign with an 0-2 record.
Burrow was not impressed at all with his team’s latest performance, despite a 41-24 victory against the Raiders.
“Good and bad,” he said more than once after Sunday’s game. What should we be happy about? »
Despite the Bengals’ frequent missteps, Burrow is having a good season. His 20 touchdown passes tie him for second in the league with Jackson, one behind Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Ravens had to come from behind in the first game between the two teams, in part because Derrick Henry was unable to get into the game. Even with a long run in overtime to set up the decisive field goal, he finished the game with 92 yards rushing.
Allowing Henry to get some good carries early could help the Ravens keep Burrow’s offensive unit off the field.
The Ravens have rushed for at least 100 yards in their last 42 games. That’s one less than the record set by the Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-77) and Ravens (2018-21).
