Baltimore Ravens: 3 Bold predictions vs. Bengals, Week 6

The Baltimore Ravens get a nice matchup against the Bengals in Week 6 but what can they show against their division-mates? Bold predictions for Baltimore.

After a blistering 2-0 start to the season, the Baltimore Ravens have stumbled quite a bit recently. They couldn’t handle the Chiefs in Week 3, got trounced by the inconsistent Browns in Week 4 and needed overtime against the Steelers’ backup quarterbacks to win last week. Now they welcome the winless Cincinnati Bengals to M&T Bank Stadium in Week 6 and need to show something.

Lamar Jackson looked ready for superstardom in the Ravens’ first two games but hasn’t been at that level since. More pressingly, though, the Baltimore defense has been disappointing, even in favorable matchups, over the last couple weeks. Luckily, the Bengals have been one of the NFL’s worst teams to this point, failing on both sides of the ball.

Will the Ravens be able to take advantage of that at home in Week 6? The prevailing logic would say yes and that the better question is how convincingly will they win. Let’s examine that as we make three bold predictions for the Baltimore Ravens against the Bengals in Week 6.

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3. Jackson garners 400 combined yards

Since his hot start that was garnering premature MVP buzz, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has come back to earth as of late. He’s thrown for under 250 yards in each of his last two games while combining for four touchdowns and five interceptions. And while he has 136 yards rushing in those outings, Action Jackson hasn’t looked quite as explosive as you’d hope.

While that may be true, the Bengals have one of the worst defenses in the league and are susceptible against both the run and pass. That fits right into what Jackson does and he’s going to take advantage in a game where the Ravens need him to step up and make a statement. The second-year quarterback will deliver, totaling 400 yards combined between his passing and rushing and torching Cincinnati.

2. Thomas nabs two picks off Dalton

The elephant in the room in Baltimore is that their defense has not played well this season. They allowed the Steelers, starting Mason Rudolph and ending with a third-string quarterback, to put up 23 points and force overtime. And that’s not the first moment of concern. Playing Andy Dalton and the Bengals might be the right medicine for the Ravens defense to show back up though.

Cincinnati is averaging just 16 points per game this season and Dalton has been pedestrian after a hot start. Moreover, he has four interceptions in his last four games. Veteran safety Earl Thomas will take advantage of that. Owner of one out of Baltimore’s four interceptions, Thomas will double that total in Week 6 alone with two picks off Dalton.

1. Ingram has 200-yard day

Mark Ingram has not been the best running back in the NFL by any means through five weeks. However, the veteran newcomer in Baltimore has been impressive. He’s taken 74 carries for 372 yards and six touchdowns on the season, helping lead the way in the Ravens’ potent rushing attack. Having said that, he’s coming off a lackluster showing against Pittsburgh where he averaged only 2.3 yards per carry.

The veteran is about to bounce back in a big way, though. The Bengals have produced one of the worst run defenses in the NFL this season, giving up 167.6 yards per game on the ground. Both Jackson and Ingram will make them pay but, as the Ravens milk the clock late, Ingram will continue to feast and will finish the day with a monster 200-yard outing.