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It’s time for the some football!

I mean real football. I mean football where the starters play the entire game and we aren’t spent trying to figure out which player will end up number sixth on the depth chart.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

The journey to Arizona has truly begun and the Ravens start with a familiar foe in Week One as they welcome the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals come off there third straight playoff appearance and are the reigning AFC North champions, earning their first division crown since 2009.

In Baltimore the Ravens are 13-5 all-time against the stripes and have won fve of their last seven against Cincy so if you’re someone who believes in history that’s a good sign. Still as we know the game is played between the lines and this Sunday will be their first test as the purple and black attempt to get back to the post-season.

Let’s take a look at the some of the match-ups that will impact this divisional contest.

Ravens Cornerbacks (Jimmy Smith & Lardarius Webb)  vs. Bengals Recievers (A.J. Green & Mohammed Sanu)

Baltimore’s secondary is probably the biggest question mark of the young season. Not that they don’t have talent but it’s weather or not their starters are physically ready to the task ahead of them. Smith, Webb and Asa Jackson were all essentially shut down for the past several weeks due to a variety of ailments. If you are believer that the pre-season at least gets players reps to fine tune their technique then the Baltimore corners will quickly be thrown into the deep end having to guard a dangerous group of pass catchers.

Fortunately the Ravens won’t have to deal with Marvin Jones, who fractured his foot last month as he’s been projected by many as a Fantasy sleeper. But these Bengals aren’t short on depth as Mo Sanu, who Jones leapfrogged last season seems re-energized by the competition and will man the outside spot instead. Sanu seems better suited to the inside in the slot but he can still cause problems for the Ravens defense. A.J. Green could be the the league’s best reciever next to Calvin Johnson. His 1,426 yards last season ranked him sixth in the NFL. Limiting big plays from the Pro Bowler will be important in slowing down the Bengal attack on Sunday.

Ravens Defensive Tackle Brandon Williams  vs.  Bengals Center Russell Bodine

The rookie from North Carolina has taken snaps with the first team offense since he arrived in Cincinnati and offensive line coach Paul Alexander feels confident that he can get the job done.  “That kid has so much talent; he’s loaded with talent. He has a tough, physical demeanor and he can block the big nose guards in our division. He’s exactly the type of player we’ve been looking for.” If that isn’t a ringing endorsement I don’t know what is. However he’s still a rookie and playing in front of a division rival while 70,000 plus are screaming during the snap count will be a new experience for him.

Williams has turned in a solid pre-season in this his second year and appears poised to become the line stuffer that Ravens brass envisioned when they drafted him as third rounder. Stocky and strong he’ll need to show that last season’s disappointment was merely part of the pro learning curve. He needs to disrupt the middle, take on blockers, and provide a wall in the run game to keep shify Gio Bernard from getting going.

Ravens Outside Linebacker Elvis Dumervil  vs.  Bengals Tackle Andre Smith

Elvis was a welcome addition to the Baltimore defense a season ago. Now in his second season Dumervill looks to become a more consistent pass threat for the Ravens defense. But don’t tell that to Cincinnati, as they remember how he terrorized their quarterback for three sacks during a Week Ten victory for the Ravens in Charm City. Pressure is the key to stopping quarterback Andy Dalton who has struggled mightily at the Bank throughout his career losing all three games and tossing seven interceptions.

Smith is a six-year vet who has dealt with lingering concussion issues throught the pre-season. He’s a solid pro that has a size advantage against the much smaller Doom. You do have to wonder how he’ll be able to perform and if the Bengals will have to turn to second year man Tanner Hawkinson to keep the pass rush in check.

Ravens Right Tackle Rick Wagner  vs.  Bengals Defensive End Carlos Dunlap

The Ravens offensive line a season ago was just one of the sources as to why the offense was one of the NFL’s worst. Now with several new players in place the team lead the league in rushing during the Exhibition season.

Of course now it’s for real and the first test for the new Right Tackle comes in the form of Dunlap. Dunlap paired with Wallace Gilberry dominated the line of scrimmage a season ago combining for fifteen sacks. So it will be the former Badger’s job not only to keep his quarteback clean but also to help establish the running game so Coach Kubiak’s offense can sell play-action.

Matt Jergensen
Matt Jergensen

Matt has lived in Maryland his entire life and is a graduate of Calvert Hall and Towson University. has always been an avid Baltimore sports fan. Since 2007, he has been writing and talking about Baltimore sports, especially the Ravens. His work has appeared on Ravens Gab, Russell Street Report, and he currently co-hosts a podcast “The Blitz- A Ravens podcast” with Brent Harris.

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