For the second straight week, the Ravens allowed zero first-half points and built up a double-digit lead, only to get shut out in the second half and lose. This time, the end result was worse, as the Ravens were outscored 35-0 over the final two quarters.
Here are report card grades for the team’s offense and defense from a demoralizing Week 7 loss.
Quarterback: C-
Tyler Huntley’s final stat line is indicative of a solid performance, as he completed 68% percent of his 34 passes with over 300 total yards
and a touchdown. However, after a few good drives in the first half, Huntley fizzled out as the game progressed. He was off-target on a fourth-down conversion throw and potential touchdown pass in the end zone. Huntley rushed only three times for 12 yards; his rushing prowess has strangely not been utilized much at all over the past few weeks.
Running Back: D+
Derrick Henry had his worst rushing output in recent memory against the Bengals, gaining only 45 yards on 17 attempts. Henry continues to find little running room behind the Ravens’ offensive line and has not appeared as decisive lately hitting holes and breaking tackles. He’s averaging only 3.9 yards per carry on the year now. Justice Hill had six touches for 33 scrimmage yards and Rasheen Ali got a few carries late in the game.
Wide Receiver: C+
Zay Flowers continues to excel despite the Ravens’ overall offensive struggles. He had one his best games of the season, totaling eight catches for 137 yards with a 48-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game. The rest of the wide receivers had minimal production. Rashod Bateman caught a pair of passes for 33 yards and Ja’Kobi Lane reeled in three receptions for 25 yards. Lane had a chance for a touchdown but the throw to him in the end zone was slightly too far outside.
Tight End: C-
For the second straight week, rookie Josh Cuevas was the leading receiver in the tight end room. He caught only two passes but gained 35 yards. Mark Andrews was targeted four times and caught three balls for 23 yards. Andrews has not exceeded 28 receiving yards in a game since Week 2 and also had another false start penalty in this game. Matthew Hibner returned from injury but was not a factor. Perhaps most concerning is the lack of notable blocking prowess the Ravens are getting from their tight ends. The offense definitely misses Pat Ricard and Charlie Kolar in the run game.
Offensive Line: D+
The Ravens cannot buy any injury luck on the offensive line. As soon as Cam Jurgens made his debut with the team, Vega Ioane suffered a knee injury early and did not return. The Ravens had multiple pre-snap penalties again from different offensive linemen and surrendered four sacks along with seven quarterback hits. Even more concerning than their pass protection consistencies is the group’s struggles in run blocking. The Bengals had one of the worst run defenses in the league entering this game and yet they completely shut down the Ravens’ rushing attack. The Ravens continue to get little push up front and no runs of 10+ yards were created in this game.
Defensive Line: D+
The Ravens were able to shut down a middling Bengals’ rushing attack, to the tune of just 73 yards on 20 carries (3.7 yards per carry). However, the Bengals were not looking to run the ball in the second half anyways when they trailed by 13 points. Baltimore’s defensive front did very little to impact the game in the second half from a pass rushing standpoint. Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones each finished with a pair of tackles and one quarterback hit, but Burrow had time to throw in the second half and picked the Ravens apart.
Edge Rusher: C-
The stage was set for Trey Hendrickson’s “revenge game” against his former team, but he had just one tackle with two quarterback hits. Hendrickson and the rest of the edge rusher group was not much of a factor versus Joe Burrow. Mike Green did have one nice sack and a tackle-for-loss, but Zion Young’s production continues to be a little underwhelming. This was the Ravens’ first game without Tavius Robinson and his absence was felt.
Linebacker: D+
Impact plays from the Ravens’ linebacker group were not prevalent in this game. Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson combined for 14 tackles, but they each recorded no tackles for loss, quarterback hits or sacks. Smith had a chance to make a pass breakup or interception on a pass attempt over the middle but was beaten for a catch instead. The linebackers evidently did a good job bottling up the run, but they were party to some of the struggles in pass coverage as well.
Cornerback: D
It was a difficult second-half performance for Marlon Humphrey, who missed multiple tackles that resulted in big gains. Humphrey and Nate Wiggins both struggled defending the Bengals’ star wide receivers. Tee Higgins dominated the Ravens for 148 yards on six catches with a touchdown and had a long 44-yard reception. Ja’Marr Chase only had 62 yards but scored a touchdown and ripped off a lot of yards after the catch.
Safety: D+
Kyle Hamilton had one big tackle for loss on a third-and-short rushing attempt. Aside from that, there weren’t many successful plays from the safeties at all. Hamilton uncharacteristically missed multiple tackles including one at the goal line where the Bengals then scored. Malaki Starks did the same. With Jaylinn Hawkins sidelined, backups K’Von Wallace and Keondre Jackson both played expanded roles. Wallace had four tackles and a quarterback hit.
Special Teams: C
Tyler Loop bounced back in this game by making both of his field goal tries, albeit they were each 34 yards or shorter. Ryan Eckley was effective punting with three punts for 145 yards. LaJohntay Wester did not return any of the Bengals’ four punts The Ravens have not received many explosive plays in the return game this year.
