This is the other game, aside from the Chiefs vs Patriots I am porously looking over, paying attention and looking forward to the most. First things first... ..
First and foremost I am a Ravens fan.
Secondly I am trying to look at this game objectively as possible.
Lastly I am betting with my wallet and not my heart.
but let's get one thing straight...
The Ravens have some serious obstacles to overcome to start off the season.
1. The Ravens are not a real good road team(in the regular season).
And I say the regular season because the Ravens have had better success on the road in the playoffs than most current teams but as far as regular season goes... Harbaugh and Flacco are 31-41 on the road and most alarmingly the road woes have plagued them since winning the Super Bowl where they have been an abysmal 10-22 on the road since....
2. The Bengals have owned Joe Flacco & Ravens as of late
Flacco is 8-9 in his career against the Bengals. since winning the Super Bowl, Flacco has a 2-6 record home & away against the Bengals..
3. Paul Brown Stadium is home to some of Flacco's worst performances in his career
Don't have the exact numbers but going off memory i am sure his comp % and INT rate is up there with the worst performances in any stadium he's played in . it's not uncommon that Flacco will have a 3 or 4 INT game and throwing 50, maybe 60 passes a game. As a result, Flacco is also 2-6 lifetime in 8 games at Cincinnati...
4. The Bengals currently have a 5 game win streak against the Ravens at home
Currently that is the longest win streak the Bengals have enjoyed against their rivals...
but here is why i think that changes this coming Sunday....
1.) The Ravens Defense In The Secondary
I know it was just the preseason, but the Ravens defense which was borderline top 10 last season may have just improved this year, on paper at least. they looked mostly dominant in all 4 games especially the 1st unit. The 2nd and 3rd units also fed off on the energy as well. Most of the improvements have been made in the secondary with the addition of Tony Jefferson, and Brandon Carr. I think this new-look secondary is quicker and will finally be able to contain AJ Green who has been a dagger for the Ravens since joining the Bengals. If this is the first big test for the Ravens secondary who better than Green to see what this group is capable of.
2.) The Bengals Offensive Line just got worse.
They let go of two of their best linemen in Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler. The rest that stayed graded poorly last season. The Bengals O-line underperformed and allowed 41 sacks. I just don't see that changing much this year which is unfortunate because the Ravens pass rush improved a bit last season and I feel that with an improved secondary the Ravens will be able to buy more time for the pass rushers to get to the QB.
3.) The Ravens Are Deep In Their Front Seven
Not only do the Ravens still have a motivated Terrell Suggs, who at his old age is soon turning 35, is reportedly looking leaner in camp. He had 8 sacks last season and I'll be the first to say it, I predict he'll get more this year, at least 10-12 sacks if he stays healthy. They also retained their best run stuffer in Brandon Williams with anew contract. that was important. The interior run defense will be tough once again with Williams and Micheal Pierce. Matt Judon, Zadarius Smith and Brent Urban looks like they are all ready to take the next step in their 2nd, 3rd and 4th year respectively. Ravens even stocked up more on D-linemen in the draft with rookies Tim Williams, Tyus Bowser and Chris Wormley. Williams and Bowser looked good in preseason. Only questionable i have is will Kamalei Correa step up and take full command of Zachary Orr's spot. Correa looked a bit tentative tackling and some questionable decision making on whether to drop back in coverage or rush to the line sometimes overpursuing and missing a tackle.
4.) Bengals are down a few starters due to suspension
Twiddle-dee and twiddle-dum would best describe Pacman Jones and Vontaze Burfict. They always seem to get into trouble one way or another and cost the Bengals important games. I think their abscence will be felt on defense. When matched up pound for pound vs Baltimore's defense they are no match. the Bengals defense is still capable of making stops. Aside from picking up a quality free-agent in Kevin Minter, they really didn't add much to their defense. Michael Johnson returns to Cincy but he is washed up. The run defense wasn't necesarily the Bengal's greatest strength last season and without Burfict they won't be quite as formidable.
to be continued...