The Baltimore Ravens know well that their Week 6 loss to the Cleveland Browns was a missed opportunity. They've been reminded of it constantly. The bigger question is whether it was only a missed opportunity or a sign of deeper problems. You can find arguments for both sides, but in football, teams learn to move on quickly. Jesse Minter's squad must do the same now, as the Cincinnati Bengals come to town in hopes of delivering Baltimore its third loss.
One disappointing result can't become two in a row. It also doesn't erase everything this team has done well through its first six games. The challenge now is separating the mistakes from the strengths. The Ravens have shown they can control certain aspects of games, even when the final score hasn't
reflected their efforts.
Those qualities won't guarantee a win, but they give Baltimore a foundation to build on as it tries to respond. Cincinnati presents a different challenge than Cleveland, especially with a rested Joe Burrow leading an offense that can exploitdefensive mistakes. Baltimore will need to execute more consistently, but it also has reasons to believe it can compete with its division rival. Several encouraging trends from the first six games deserve attention as the Ravens prepare for Sunday's meeting.
Baltimore has limited individual rushers
The Ravens haven't allowed a single opposing rusher to reach 100 yards this season, even though three teams have collectively surpassed that mark. The Indianapolis Colts rushed for 102 yards in Week 1, the Dallas Cowboys gained 148 in Week 3, and the Atlanta Falcons finished with 110 in Week 5.
Jonathan Taylor and Javonte Williams each finished with 98 rushing yards, while Bijan Robinson managed 86. No other tailback has gone over 48. Baltimore's ability to keep one runner from taking over a game has kept opposing offenses from consistently dictating the terms of a matchup. Cincinnati will test that discipline, but continuing the trend could force the Bengals to rely more heavily on Burrow's arm.
The Ravens have generally controlled the ground game
Baltimore has outgained its opponents 909-603 on the ground this season, holding the advantage in every game except its most recent contest against Cleveland. TheBrowns edged the Ravens 93-87 in rushing yards, a narrow difference that nevertheless contributed to Baltimore's inability to sustain its offensive momentum.
According to the Bengals' official Week 7 scouting report, Next Gen Stats show Baltimore allows just 3.8 yards per carry, the 10th-lowest average in the NFL, and has surrendered a 38% rushing success rate, the seventh-lowest. Maintaining that defensive efficiency while rediscovering its own rushing production could help Baltimore dictate the pace against Cincinnati.
The turnover margin remains a positive
Baltimore enters Week 7 with a plus-two turnover margin, having forced six turnovers while losing possession four times. That balance gives the Ravens another encouraging trend to carry forward, particularly after a defeat in which their offense struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Turnovers can shape a divisional game by creating short fields, ending promising drives, and giving an offense extra possessions. Against Burrow and the Bengals, protecting the football while creating opportunities to take it away could prove especially valuable.
Kyle Hamilton's versatility gives Baltimore an advantage
Good coaching means putting players in positions where they can succeed, and Kyle Hamilton's deployment offers a compelling example of that principle. Yes, this has been mentioned, but the discussion never grows tiring. Plus, some numbers after six weeks of action further drive the point home.
According to the aforementioned Bengals scouting report, Hamilton has played 33% of his snaps in the slot, another 33% at linebacker and 20% at safety. He also leads all NFL defensive backs with seven run stuffs, defined as tackles for a loss or no gain.
His versatility allows Baltimore to use one of its best defenders in multiple roles, giving Jesse Minter's defense flexibility without sacrificing Hamilton's impact near the line of scrimmage. Zay Flowers hassaid Baltimore's coaching staff has found different ways to use his skill set, and Hamilton is benefiting from a similarly creative approach on defense.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens can lean on these strengths to rebound against Cincinnati
