Welcome back to another edition of 5 Questions, a weekly collaboration with other SB Nation sites to preview the Ravens’ upcoming matchups. This week, the Ravens are playing the Cincinnati Bengals, so
Anthony Cosenza of Cincy Jungle is on hand to answer Baltimore Beatdown’s questions about Week 13.
1. What changes are you expecting going from Joe Flacco to Joe Burrow?
Honestly, this week, not much. Joe Burrow likes to adlib and create more post-structure, so that will differ, but in a short week, I don’t expect wholesale changes. Burrow likes to operate more out of the spread formation and shotgun, but the running game has been revived under Flacco and the threat of play-action, so in the effort of protecting Burrow, I’d still expect to see that on Thursday Night.
2. The Bengals defense has looked better in the last two weeks despite giving up 60 points. What is behind those improvements, and are they sustainable?
Unfortunately, after an absurd statistical run by Flacco with the Bengals, the last couple of weeks have featured returns for touchdowns by the opposing defense. That has played into the overall points given up.
Young players are getting more time in the wake of injury and a players-only meeting a few weeks ago may have resonated, so the defense is taking baby steps forward. Myles Murphy, a former first-round pick, has been particularly impressive off of the edge. Tackling has been a tick better and they’re creating more big plays on that side of the ball than they did for most of Flacco’s stint as a starter.
3. How much hope remains among fans to somehow make the playoffs with Burrow returning? Is there a divide of those who would rather not risk Burrow getting injured again at this point and those who want to fight until the end?
Realistically, it’s low. It’s a fun storyline to have him back for a holiday primetime game, but he and the offense tend to pick up their stride in November after he’s already started a half a season. We saw their crazy momentum late last season.
The one thing that could bring optimism for the Bengals’ contingent is the fact that this offseason was really the first time No. 9 saw a full training camp and preseason action (sadly ironic, given his Week 2 injury). So, maybe he and the offense hitting the ground running won’t be as steep as years past, but while he’s “healthy”, he’ll be missing Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson on the opposite side of the ball. Still, even with Flacco playing well overall, his quicker-than-expected recovery and willingness to go back out there in an extremely-important game may inject some life into this Bengals team.
4. With Trey Hendrickson out, who will be the Bengals’ biggest pass rush threat?
Again, I’ll go back to Murphy. 2025 first-round pick, Shemar Stewart is on I.R., and Murphy has played well in the wake of injuries to both he and Hendrickson. He’s notched a sack, another tackle for loss and has been disruptive.
I’ll also say that possible interior disruption from B.J. Hill could play a factor, as well as the athleticism of Joseph Ossai. Still, with Hendrickson out, it’s on the duo of Bengals rookie linebackers (Demetrius Knight, Jr. and Barrett Carter) to play effective spy roles on Lamar Jackson, as well as continued Pro Bowl-level coverage from third-year man, DJ Turner. Dax Hill will also be an interesting player for Cincinnati’s secondary, as he may move around his coverage assignments often on Thursday.
5. Similarly, who is one lesser-known offensive player who could step up with Tee Higgins sidelined?
It will probably be Mitchell Tinsley. He was an undrafted wide receiver who flashed in the preseason and in the rare occasions he’s been given looks and/or been active, his touch-to-big play ratio has been insane. He had a great touchdown grab in Week 2 and another against the great Christian Gonzales of the Patriots last week.
