Welcome To The Jungle

By: Mike Rifkin

On Sunday the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens 41-21.  Yes, the Ravens had to start Josh Johnson at quarterback because of Lamar Jackson’s injury and Tyler Huntley being placed on the Covid list and the Ravens have a ton of injuries but this was a statement by the Bengals. The Bengals had not swept the Ravens in a season series since 2015. In the season series the Bengals outscored Baltimore 82-38 in the season series. Quarterback Joe Burrow had a 71.4 completion percentage 941 yards seven touchdowns and an interception in the season series against Baltimore, including 525 yards and four touchdowns on Sunday.  For the first time since 2009 the Bengals have swept both the Ravens and the Steelers.

At 9-6 they sit at the top of the AFC North with two games to play. Those two games will be a test to this team as they play the Chiefs and Browns to end the season. The Bengals have won two in a row after losing two in a row. A year after tearing his ACL quarterback Joe Burrow has a 69.9 completion percentage 4,165 yards, 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 105. Joe Mixon, who is second in the NFL in rushing, Ja’marr Chase, Tee Higgins who both have over 1,000 receiving yards and Tyler Boyd the Bengals have one of the most dynamic offenses in the league.  The Bengals have only been held to under 20 points three times this season, they average 27.3 points per game. 

The Bengals offense will get most of the headlines but the defense has been very good as well. In the offseason the lost pass rusher Carl Lawson to the Jets and replaced him with Trey Hendrickson who signed a four year 60 million dollar contract with the Bengals is fifth in the NFL with 14 sacks. The Bengals as a team have 41 sacks which is sixth in the NFL. Last season they had 17 sacks which was dead last in the NFL. Lou Anarumo, who is in his third season as defensive coordinator, has seen his defense improve. Last season this defense gave up 26.5 points per game, this season they have given up 21.6 points per game. Last season they gave up 148 yards rushing per game and this season they give up 92 yards rushing per game.  

Zac Taylor should be one of the frontrunners for Coach Of The Year because nobody saw this coming from the Bengals.The Bengals have made a lot of progress this season and if they get into the playoffs don’t overlook them because they can be a very dangerous team not just this season but going forward.