If we’ve learned anything about the NFL this season, it’s to expect the unexpected. That’s why, despite the odds being stacked against them, no one should be surprised if the Ravens dethrone the Bengals in Sunday night’s wild card playoff game.
Despite Lamar Jackson’s injury, the Ravens made the playoffs for the 10th time under John Harbaugh. Despite injuries to several key players, Baltimore managed to win 10 games while displaying the toughness and fortitude that has become its trademark.
The Ravens’ first-round opponent is a team they are extremely familiar with. In fact, the two teams played this past Sunday, when the Ravens lost a closer-than-expected game given the fact that Harbaugh sat six of his starters. Baltimore split its season series with Cincinnati, which is hoping to have a successful defense of its AFC title.
The Ravens, however, are looking to end the Bengals’ title defense before it can truly begin. Let’s take a look at the three reasons why Baltimore will pull off the upset on Sunday night.
Baltimore knows how to contain Burrow
Like a boxer on the ropes, the Ravens were the victims of vicious Joe Burrow body blows in 2021. Burrow, egged on by then-Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s lack of praising comments of him, lit up Baltimore to the tune of 941 yards and seven touchdowns as the Bengals swept their division rival.
Burrow, however, was far less effective in Cincinnati’s two games against Baltimore this season. He threw for just 432 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in those games. For only the second time this season, Burrow completed fewer than 60% of his throws in this past Sunday’s win over Baltimore.
Burrow was admittedly off on Sunday, but the Ravens deserve some of the credit for his underwhelming performance. The Ravens, after all, boasted the NFL‘s third-ranked scoring defense during the regular season. While they were just 26th in the league in passing yards allowed, Baltimore’s defense was fourth in the league in third-down efficiency and third in red zone efficiency.
A good portion of the Ravens’ defensive success can be attributed to the midseason acquisition of linebacker Roquan Smith, who is just days removed from being rewarded with a lucrative extension. Smith would certainly love nothing man then to celebrate his new deal than with a big performance in Cincinnati. Baltimore’s defense,…
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