For the primary time this season, the Baltimore Ravens will discover themselves standing reverse a fellow AFC North workforce.
The Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals conflict in a pivotal divisional contest between bitter rivals. The Ravens swept the matchup final season with 27-24 and 34-20 wins over Cincinnati.
Each groups enter Sunday’s matchup with some momentum. The Bengals (1-3) earned their first win of the season in Week 4 with a 34-24 victory over the Carolina Panthers, whereas Baltimore (2-2) has gained two in a row, together with a dominant 35-10 win over the beforehand undefeated Buffalo Payments.
Listed below are three issues to observe when the AFC North rivals conflict of their Week 5 matchup on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Paycor Stadium.
Can Nate Wiggins maintain his personal?
Nate Wiggins has quickly ascended to a starter on protection and has seen an enormous uptick in his taking part in time since lacking Week 2 as a result of a neck harm. Wiggins noticed essentially the most taking part in time of his profession towards the Payments, solely permitting one catch for 5 yards and practically had the primary interception of his profession on a few events.
The Bengals are a distinct beast, although, in comparison with the receivers Wiggins was lining throughout from towards Buffalo. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are probably the greatest receiver tandems within the NFL and might wreck a recreation in the event that they’re constantly getting open. Joe Burrow can be one of many league’s most correct passers and will not hesitate to repeatedly go after Wiggins if the Bengals receivers are constantly profitable the matchup.
Wiggins will possible be put to the take a look at on quite a few events and if he holds his personal, not solely wouldn’t it go a good distance towards slowing down the potent Bengals’ passing assault, however it may well cement the Ravens rookie as a budding No. 1 cornerback.
Will Baltimore preserve the identical offensive line?
If it ain’t broke, do not repair it.
The Ravens reshuffled their offensive line after Andrew Vorhees could not play, sliding Patrick Mekari to left guard and inserting Roger Rosengarten into the beginning lineup at proper sort out. The outcomes? Baltimore dashing for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
The Ravens offensive line additionally did not permit a single stress on Lamar Jackson within the lopsided victory.
Vorhees was listed as questionable, although, it is truthful to surprise if the workforce ought to even hassle pushing him if there’s any doubt that he can go. Given the offensive line’s success final week, operating it again with the identical group stands out as the wisest transfer for the Ravens.
Will Derrick Henry make extra historical past?
Within the final two weeks, Derrick Henry has been precisely what the Ravens hoped he could be after which some.
The previous All-Professional has run for 350 yards and three touchdowns in Baltimore’s final two video games. He additionally set the franchise report for longest landing run along with his 87-yard rating on the workforce’s first play on offense towards the Payments.
Now, he’ll be dealing with a shoddy Bengals rush protection.
Cincinnati has allowed the fifth-most dashing touchdowns this season and the eighth-most dashing yards per recreation. Panthers operating again Chuba Hubbard had 18 carries for 104 yards and a landing in Week 4 towards the Bengals and the Washington Commanders had three dashing touchdowns of their 38-33 win over Cincinnati.
With Henry’s scorching streak and the Bengals struggling to cease the run to this point this season, the recipe may very well be there for one more historic efficiency from the previous Offensive Participant of the 12 months within the first AFC North divisional recreation of his Ravens tenure.
Be sure you bookmark Baltimore Ravens on SI for the most recent information, unique interviews, movie breakdowns and a lot extra!