Finally, Ravens Give Fans Some Real Reason for Optimism

What better sums up NFL divisional football then Baltimore getting shellacked at home Thanksgiving night by Cincinnati, getting handled by Pittsburgh, then going back on the road and shutting out Cincy?

For the Ravens, it was the most crucial three game stretch of the season. After the first two games fell the opponents’ way, confidence was drained throughout the Ravens flock. For the first time in recent memory, all Russell Street Report writers who submitted their pick for the game chose the Bengals, with the average margin of victory being just over 10 points.

Lamar Jackson entered 4-0 against the Bengals in Cincinnati, and he remained undefeated in an all around dominant performance. Jackson looked more springy than he had over the last few weeks, showing some burst that had been missing. He broke off two scrambles over 10 yards, an assuring sign for both the team and the flock, who had begun to spiral into disarray over the quarterback’s recent performance.

“I believe I told you guys this week that I was feeling better. I guess you had to see it to believe it,” Jackson said postgame.

Derrick Henry also played a big part in the Ravens’ offensive success. Though he continued to split carries with Keaton Mitchell, Henry had 11 totes of his own to the tune of 100 yards on the ground. Henry hadn’t reached the century mark since Nov. 16 in Cleveland, and his 9.1 yards per carry was by far his highest mark this season.

The defense finally showed that they could slow down an elite offense. The unit played well against Miami, Cleveland, Minnesota, and the Jets, but struggled against premier offenses like Buffalo, Detroit, and Kansas City.

Ja’Marr Chase still had his share of chunk plays, but nearly every other aspect of the Bengals offense was stunted. Dre’Mont Jones especially came out of the gate hot, and noted the difference he saw in his opponent.

“I felt from play one that they weren’t ready to play. It was too cold for them,” Jones said postgame. Jones recorded five quarterback hits against the Bengals, and he’s totaled 20 since Baltimore traded for him in early November.

Tavius Robinson rejoined the Ravens front and made an immediate impact in pass rush that had been missing the last few weeks.

Robinson recorded a sack, as well as the quarterback hit and pressure that resulted in the Kyle Van Noy to Alohi Gilman pick six touchdown.

Multiple players pointed out the intensity of the midweek preparation, especially after two consecutive AFC North losses. Lamar Jackson said postgame that he believed this was the best week of practice this year, and Marlon Humphrey said he was sore after Friday’s practice, something that was atypical to Humphrey.

The Ravens will be tested once again this Sunday against the New England Patriots (11-3), but the signs are there for a Ravens turnaround, and the Ravens enter as 2.5-point favorites in their house.

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