Baltimore vs. Cincinnati
Ravens Defense Locks Down on Bengals, as Baltimore Routs Cincinnati 27-3
For the second time in as many games against AFC North opponents, the Baltimore Ravens held a rival to single digits in scoring. After a 38-6 rout of Cleveland in Week 1, the Ravens dominated on defense and was efficient on offense in a 27-3 victory over rookie quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 of this unique 2020 NFL season.
Linebacker Patrick Queen was the star of the game, recovering two fumbles—one for a game-icing touchdown in the fourth quarter—and recording six solo tackles, including one sack. In all, the Ravens defense sacked Burrow seven times (including an NFL record five from the secondary), but the rookie Queen had a breakout game against his former LSU teammate.
"I knew when I got drafted and Joe got drafted that we were going to be seeing each other twice a year," Queen said from the locker room after the win. "It's the start of a great rivalry. I'm glad I got the first win out of it."
Burrow did complete 19 of his 30 passes but was held to just 183 yards through the air, zero touchdowns, and one interception by Marcus Peters. Burrow also rushed for just 10 yards, and Joe Mixon accounted for 59 yards on the ground on 24 carries. Overall, the Ravens (4-1) held Cincinnati (1-3-1) to 205 total yards and a dozen first downs.
"It's one thing to put a game plan together, and that's good, and that's important and valuable," head coach John Harbaugh said after the game, "[and defensive coordinator] Wink Martindale did a great job and the whole staff, but let's give credit to the players, really, above all. They played with great discipline, great energy, and it was really great to see."
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The Ravens didn't put up impressive numbers on offense, but they didn't have to on this day. Lamar Jackson was 19 of 37 for 180 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, but the reigning NFL MVP ran for just three yards on two carries. Mark Ingram II was the leading rusher for Baltimore with 57 yards.
On the receiving end, Marquise Brown led the team with six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown while tight end Mark Andrews also had six catches for 56 yards and a score. Andrews was pleased with the unit's performance in the opening half, but added that there's plenty of room for improvement despite today's outcome.
"I know in the first half, we were kind of flying around, doing our jobs, and I was happy with what we did," Andrews said postgame. "We have a lot to get better at. We'll look at the film, get better, and be a better offense. I know our defense balled the heck out, man."
After forcing a punt, the Ravens scored on a 46-yard Justin Tucker field goal on their first possession to make the score 3-0. After forcing a stop on fourth down on the next Bengals possession, Baltimore had perhaps their best drive of the game, going 15 plays and chewing up nearly all of the remaining time in the first quarter after starting the drive with 7:59 remaining. The drive ended when Jackson found Andrews for a five-yard score on 3rd and goal.
Peters then intercepted Burrow on the next possession, giving the Ravens the ball inside the red zone. Two plays later, Jackson found Brown for a two-yard score, giving Baltimore a 17-0 lead just one play into the second quarter.
That would be the last touchdown by the offense in the game. Tucker missed a 61-yard try going into halftime, and he connected on a 39-yarder late in the third quarter. Midway through the fourth quarter, Burrow connected with Mike Thomas, but Marlon Humphrey punched the ball out. Queen then scooped it up, and 52 yards later, he had his first defensive touchdown in the NFL.
Baltimore had a chance for their first shutout in nearly two years, as they blanked Tennessee 21-0 on October 14, 2018, but the Bengals kicked a 38-yard field goal on 4th and 7 with 37 seconds in the game to make the score 27-3. It was just the fifth time since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 that a team kicked a field goal in the final minute of a game to avoid the shutout.
Jackson and the offense haven't been as prolific as they were a year ago, but perhaps more encouragingly, the defense is really starting to show their identity, as they have for much of this franchise's existence.
Baltimore's defense is holding teams to 15.2 points per game, which is the best average in the NFL. If you take out the Week 3 loss to Kansas City, the Ravens have allowed only four touchdowns and created nine turnovers.
Aside from Cincinnati, the AFC North is looking strong as the moment, as three of the five AFC teams with four wins reside in the North: Pittsburgh (4-0), Baltimore (4-1), and Cleveland (4-1). The other two clubs are Buffalo (4-0) and Kansas City (4-1), who suffered their first loss of the season today in a home defeat at the hands of Las Vegas.
Jackson said after the game that he's happy the team is 4-1 while the offense still tries to figure things out and return to their 2019 form.
"[We] just need to keep getting first downs when we're on third down. Converting—that's probably what I would say is our biggest downfall—is converting and finishing drives. We get better at that, and we're going to be good," Jackson said.
Next week, the Ravens travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles. The very early line shows Baltimore as a 7.5-point favorite, and if that holds, it will be the first time in 15 years that the Eagles are more than a touchdown underdog at home. Baltimore is 1-0 against the NFC East this season after a 31-17 win at Washington last week, and the Eagles are 1-3-1 after falling to Pittsburgh on Sunday.
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