Cincinnati Bengals: Keys to victory, players to watch vs. Ravens in Week 2
By Kenn Korb
Previewing the Week 2 contest between the Baltimore Ravens (1-0) and the Cincinnati Bengals (1-0).
One week into the 2018 NFL season, we’ve had some early questions answered around the league, and depending on who your favorite franchise is you could be be feeling quite optimistic or plenty pessimistic. Fans of the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals each land in the optimistic camp as we enter Week 2.
But which team shall go into Week 3 with the same feeling? We’ll find out on Thursday Night Football.
Let’s look ahead to the matchup and figure out which team will be 2-0 after two games.
Which Offensive Line Will Hold Up?
These two teams are pretty similar when it comes to their lines. Both offensive lines came into this season as weaknesses even with much-needed changes in tow (whether through the draft, free agency, or returning from injury). On the other side of things, the defensive lines and pass rushers for each team are possibly the biggest sources of strengths for each franchise in 2018.
Here, we get to see each team’s biggest strength against what could still be a major exploitable weakness for each side.
Looking at Cincinnati’s blockers, they will have to hope that the big investment they made in trading for Cordy Glenn at left tackle was the correct choice. He’s likely to be matched with Terrell Suggs pretty often, and outside of some chip blocks from tight ends he’s going to need to hold up by himself against a guy who had a sack last week, seven 10+ sack seasons, and 126.5 sacks in 213 career games.
Any extra help is likely first to be aimed at the right side of the line, which is where undrafted third-year guard Alex Redmond and maligned former Giant Bobby Hart are attempting to be passable (the results aren’t great so far).
If those two can be passable against guys like Za’Darius Smith (73.1 Pro Football Focus [subscription required] pass rush grade in Week 1), Tim Williams (one sack vs. Buffalo), and Matthew Judon (eight sacks in 2017), Cincinnati’s offensive weapons should have a chance to shine.
On the other end, everybody not named Marshall Yanda will be under the microscope. He should be fine in his matchup against the non-Geno Atkins defensive tackles Cincinnati give snaps to (Andrew Billings and Ryan Glasgow), but the crazy depth of pass rush options Cincinnati has should worry them everywhere else.
Atkins should be double-teamed all game by left guard Alex Lewis and center Matt Skura — and he’ll still likely make some plays. Tackle Ronnie Stanley probably will have some help from Baltimore’s many tight ends, but it’s hard to believe that’ll be every play. When they don’t keep two tight ends back, Carlos Dunlap, Carl Lawson, Jordan Willis, and Michael Johnson will all get the sort of one-on-one outside matchup they can consistently win.
Whichever offensive line manages to keep their opposition at bay likely brings home the win.
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