The Cincinnati Bengals enter their bye week with a chance to make a statement against the Baltimore Ravens. While much of the attention will naturally fall on Joe Burrow, for good reason, this team has several other players capable of creating matchup problems for Jesse Minter and company.
The Ravens are looking to get back on track aftertheir Week 6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The challenge for them is that Cincinnati can threaten defenses in different ways. Its receiving corps features two productive wideouts. The backfield offers another dimension, and the Bengals have added significant power to their defensive front.
Baltimore cannot afford to focus exclusively on Burrow and overlook the players who can make his job easier or disrupt the Ravens'
offense. Here are a handful of names worth circling if you haven't already.
Ja'Marr Chase, wide receiver
Ja'Marr Chase remains the Bengals' most dangerous playmaker outside of Burrow. His four receiving touchdowns tie for the team lead, while 71 yards after the catch demonstrate his ability to turn routine completions into explosive gains. Three of his receptions have gone for at least 20 yards, and 14 catches have moved the chains for first downs.
Chase averages 10.7 yards per catch, but that figure doesn't fully capture his ability to change a game with one touch. Baltimore's secondary must limit his opportunities after the catch and prevent him from turning open-field space into another Cincinnati scoring drive.
Tee Higgins, wide receiver
Tee Higgins presents a different challenge because of his size, catch radius, and ability to win contested throws. He leads Cincinnati's receivers with 43 targets and averages 84.6 receiving yards per game (that also leads all Bengals receivers). His six explosive plays lead the team's receiving corps.
Higgins and Chase are tied with 27 receptions apiece, but Higgins has been particularly reliable on possession downs, with 21 catches resulting in first downs. His production gives Burrow another dependable option when defenses concentrate on Chase, making Baltimore's coverage decisions especially important.
Chase Brown, running back
Chase Brown gives Cincinnati a way to attack defenses without relying exclusively on its passing game. He has carried 71 times for 246 yards, averaging 49.2 rushing yards per game, with a longest run of 13 yards.
Brown also contributes as a receiver, catching 24 of 28 targets for 124 yards. That versatility could force Baltimore's linebackers to account for him in both phases and keep the defense from focusing solely on Cincinnati's wideouts.
Mike Gesicki, tight end
Mike Gesicki has made his opportunities count, recording 12 receptions and four receiving touchdowns, tying Chase for the team lead. His longest catch is 25 yards, and three of his receptions have gained at least 20 yards.
His touchdown production makes him particularly dangerous near the goal line, where defenses naturally focus on Chase and Higgins. Baltimore must identify Gesicki's routes and keep him from finding open space when Cincinnati gets into scoring range.
Dexter Lawrence II, defensive tackle
Cincinnati added significant interior power with Dexter Lawrence II, and his production shows the impact he can have up front. Lawrence has recorded 14 tackles, including six for loss, and three sacks, giving the Bengals a disruptive presence who can affect both the running and passing games.
For Baltimore, the challenge will be preventing Lawrence from controlling the line of scrimmage. His ability to penetrate the backfield could disrupt the Ravens' rushing attack and force their offense into unfavorable down-and-distance situations, making it harder to establish the balance needed against Cincinnati.
Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle
Jonathan Allen gives Cincinnati another interior defender who can create problems for opposing offenses. He has totaled 16 tackles and three sacks, plus a pass breakup and a forced fumble, showing he can contribute beyond simply occupying blockers.
Allen's presence alongside Lawrence could put considerable pressure on Baltimore's interior offensive line. If the Ravens cannot contain that duo, Derrick Henry and the Ravens' rushing attack could have fewer chances to find space, and the pocket could collapse before passing plays have time to develop.
The Bengals have enough talent beyond Joe Burrow to make Baltimore defend every level of the field. The Ravens' margin for error will shrink if Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins dictate coverage, Chase Brown creates problems underneath, Mike Gesicki capitalizes on openings, and Cincinnati's defensive front disrupts the offense. Winning those individual battles will be essential if Baltimore hopes to come away with a much-needed division victory.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Six Bengals beyond Joe Burrow, the Ravens must contain
