2024-10-07 12:40:03
Baltimore’s defense has plenty to fix.
Watching film of this game will be difficult for Baltimore’s defense. The Bengals scored too often, too easily, and had too many big plays.
Even when the Ravens got Cincinnati into third and long, they couldn’t make a key play to get off the field. The Bengals were 7-for-7 on third down conversions to start the second half, leading to two long touchdown drives that kept Cincinnati in front and kept Jackson and the Ravens’ offense off the field.
Until Humphrey’s interception, the story of the game was the Ravens’ inability to keep Cincinnati from moving the ball through the air almost at will. Chase (10 catches, 193 yards, two touchdowns) turned a simple wide receiver screen into a 70-yard touchdown by running through Baltimore’s secondary unimpeded.
Burrow and Chase are exceptional players. But a secondary that includes Humphrey, Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Brandon Stephens, Nate Wiggins, and Ar’Darius Washington should not be picked apart with frequency. The Ravens’ defense has plenty to talk about, but at least they’ll be doing it after a win.
“There are plenty of things to look at and pick apart, things that we’ll be working hard to improve on,” Harbaugh said. “But I’m proud of the guys to keep believing.”
