The Baltimore Ravens entered their Week 7 matchup against Cincinnati confident in their cornerback group, but the Bengals exposed major coverage problems in a second-half collapse that has raised questions heading into Sunday's game against Buffalo.
Baltimore led 13-0 at halftime before allowing 35 unanswered points, with Joe Burrow repeatedly finding openings against a secondary featuring Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins.
Burrow completed 16 of his final 18 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns after halftime, while Tee Higgins finished with six receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown. Ja'Marr Chase added five catches for 62 yards and a score, creating another difficult afternoon for Baltimore's defensive backs. NFL
The performance marked
a significant regression for a secondary that had shown improvement at times this season.
Humphrey and Wiggins entered the Cincinnati matchup with encouraging coverage grades, but the Bengals consistently found ways to generate separation and capitalize on favorable matchups. The Ravens also struggled to adjust when Cincinnati began attacking different areas of the defense.
Burrow found success after the Bengals improved their early-down efficiency, avoiding difficult third-down situations and creating better opportunities against Baltimore's coverage. That adjustment played a significant role in the second-half scoring surge, which included touchdowns on five consecutive possessions. Cincinnati Bengals
The Ravens will face another difficult challenge against Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, who enters Week 8 directing the NFL's highest-scoring offense.
Buffalo has several receiving options that can exploit coverage breakdowns, including Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman.
For Humphrey, improved slot execution will be particularly important. Baltimore has struggled to consistently prevent receivers from finding openings in the middle of the field, placing additional responsibility on Kyle Hamilton and the linebackers.
Wiggins must also respond after experiencing difficulties against Cincinnati's outside receivers. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver faces an important decision regarding how aggressively to pressure Allen without exposing his cornerbacks to difficult one-on-one assignments.
The Ravens need more coordinated pass rush and better coverage execution, especially when opposing quarterbacks extend plays outside the pocket.
Baltimore's secondary has enough talent to recover from its disappointing performance against Cincinnati, but individual ability alone won't solve the problems that emerged Sunday.
The Ravens must communicate more effectively, tackle consistently, and respond when Buffalo changes its offensive approach.
Another second-half collapse could leave Baltimore with a third straight loss and increase pressure on a defense expected to compete with the AFC's better units.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens cornerbacks see redemption after being dominated by the Bengals
