The Baltimore Ravens need to leave Cincinnati with a win tomorrow.
I have been calling this a must-win game for several weeks, and I fully believe that to be true.
The ramifications of a win, or a loss are clear. If you win, you have avenged the home-loss, and pulled even with the Bengals within the AFC North. You have also added another valuable AFC win to the ledge.
If you lose, you fall two-full games behind Cincinnati, and have nothing on the board head-to-head.
For the Ravens to be a playoff team, the Ravens must have a win.
When Baltimore lost 17-14 to the Bengals on October 11th, it was a bruise to the ego. Not only had the Ravens lost a division game at-home, they had allowed the Bengals to march 80 yards on their final drive.
They had watched their consecutive game streak of holding opposing running-backs under 100 yards, ended by Cedric Benson. They had to deal with the knowledge that their penalties on that final-drive, greatly aided Carson Palmer.
As I said that the time, some perspective was required, and the Ravens defense remained among the elite in all of football. Up until that final drive, the Bengals had been held to 10 pts, and the Ravens defense had scored 7pts of their own.
Palmer, Johnson, Henry, Coles, Caldwell, and Benson are a talented enough group to put points the board against any defense. It will be a challenge to limit the Bengals on their home-field. If Ngata can not go, or is limited; it will be that much more difficult against the Cincinnati running-game. Still, I really do not see that as the lead question heading into this game.
In my-mind, the lead question is will the Ravens continue with the offensive adjustments seen in the game last-week vs. Denver?
The Baltimore offense scored 7 points in that first-game vs. the Bengals.
Rice, McGahee, and McClain combined for just 17 carries in that game. The Ravens will not win tomorrow, if they do not run the ball, and control the clock with possession drives.
I will give you two reasons why I expect better results for Baltimore tomorrow:
1) Jared Gaither
2) Antwan Odom
The Raven offense with Gaither on one-side, and Oher on the other, is simply different than the Raven offense the Bengals faced in Baltimore.
Odom did not have a sack against the Ravens, but he came into that Week 5 game with 8 sacks already on the board. Odom now being out for the year with injury, limits the pressure the Bengals can bring, and alters their defense.
I know that their rookie DE Michael Johnson has immense physical-skills, but he has yet to record an NFL sack. Not having to deal with Odom, and adding Gaither, is going to greatly change the complexion of this game.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.