The Cincinnati Bengals enter Week 7 fresh off their Week 6 bye, sitting at 3-2. They now head into an AFC North hornet’s nest at M&T Bank Stadium to face a 4-2 Baltimore Ravens team looking to take control of the division. Here are five things to know about Cincinnati’s Week 7 opponent.
Derrick Henry Bouncing Outside Is Cincinnati’s Worst Nightmare
While opposing offenses avoid testing Dexter Lawrence II up the gut, Baltimore won’t hesitate to stretch Cincinnati out horizontally. Derrick Henry is one of the league’s most punishing finishers, carrying 46 times for 201 yards, forcing seven missed tackles, and generating five runs of 10-plus yards on perimeter concepts alone this season.
Baltimore loves tossing perimeter pitches to Henry and letting him rumble downhill against defensive backs. Cincinnati sits 30th in the NFL in yards allowed per carry (5.0) and has surrendered 11 of its 16 explosive runs on outside concepts and scrambles. If edge defenders get washed down inside and leave cornerbacks on an island against Henry, it is going to be a long, punishing afternoon for the Bengals.
Preparing for Lamar Jackson (or Surviving Tyler Huntley)
REUTERS/Sergio Moraes
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter has called Lamar Jackson day-to-day after the quarterback missed the previous two weeks with an ankle injury. Whether it’s Jackson returning or Tyler Huntley getting another start, Cincinnati faces a dangerous mobile quarterback threat.
The Bengals rank dead last in the NFL against quarterback and receiver runs, coughing up 9.0 yards per carry (207 yards on 23 attempts). Miami’s Malik Willis already exposed Cincinnati’s scramble lanes for 74 yards in Week 5. If the pass rushers get overaggressive on Sunday, either Baltimore quarterback will gladly take the free real estate.
Don’t Sleep on Zay Flowers on the Ground
Baltimore’s ground game doesn’t stop with the running backs. Zay Flowers is one of the nastiest gadget weapons at his position, ranking fifth among all NFL wideouts in rushing yards since 2023 with 6.9 yards per carry on 30 attempts.
The Ravens love using orbit motion, reverses, and jet sweeps to freeze second-level defenders and mess with their run fits. Cincinnati saw the danger in Week 5, when Miami broke off a 26-yard end-around. The Bengals’ linebackers and safeties have to keep their eyes clean and avoid getting caught chasing the wrong player.
Can Amarius Mims Keep Trey Hendrickson Off Joe Burrow?
A familiar face awaits Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati offense. Former Bengals star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson now anchors a Baltimore defensive front that thrives on putting quarterbacks in obvious passing situations.
The good news? Right tackle Amarius Mims has been an absolute brick wall. NextGenStats has Mims allowing a measly 4.0% pressure rate, the lowest among all NFL tackles, despite facing true one-on-one matchups on 87.6% of his snaps. If Mims can handle business on his side without slide help, Dan Pitcher can use extra tight end chips to protect Burrow’s blindside and keep the pocket clean.
Surviving the Middle of the Field Without Tanner Hudson
With Tanner Hudson done for the year, Cincinnati is expected to ask Erick All Jr. and Mike Gesicki to pick up the slack at tight end. That’s a massive ask against a Baltimore secondary that feasts on passes over the middle.
The Ravens play sticky underneath coverage and bait quarterbacks into forced throws between the hashes. Baltimore will do everything possible to take away deep shots on the boundary, meaning Burrow has to be absolutely precise without coughing up a turnover.
More on the Bengals
- Bengals May Be Using Ja’Marr Chase the Wrong Way
- Zac Taylor Shares Promising Bryan Cook Update Before Lamar Jackson Showdown
- Zac Taylor Calls the 2021 Win in Baltimore One of the Biggest of His Tenure With the Bengals
- Zac Taylor Addresses Facing Trey Hendrickson for the First Time Since He Left the Bengals
