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Cincinnati Bengals: Two weeks of preseason shows how strong AFC North could be

By Steve Rivera

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 27: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on from the line of scrimmage against the Washington Redskins in the first half during a preseason game at FedExField on August 27, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 27: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on from the line of scrimmage against the Washington Redskins in the first half during a preseason game at FedExField on August 27, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – AUGUST 15: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball in the first half of a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at M&T Bank Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – AUGUST 15: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball in the first half of a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at M&T Bank Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

If his running makes you crazy, you aren’t the only one. If you’re a Ravens fan, it absolutely makes you cringe. Additionally, those same fans have to be absolutely ecstatic about quarterback Lamar Jackson and a sophomore slump that may miss the second year signal caller.

Now some reality. It’s still preseason football. If you’ve been under the impression that of the four teams in the division, Baltimore might take a step back, think again.

The Ravens head to Philadelphia for a Week 3 preseason matchup against the Eagles. As for how much Jackson plays remains to be seen. But this far into the preseason, two things look to be improved – ball security and his progress as a passer.

"“Lamar makes very few mistakes with ball handling right now. The snaps have been much more accurate than they have in the past, so that starts everything off on the right foot. You haven’t seen a lot of the more complicated ball-handling plays, but the ones we have run have been well done.”"

Last season, Jackson was a mess when handling the football. In 2018, he coughed it up 12 times, most in the NFL. If that improvement continues into the regular season, it could be scary for opponents in the AFC North as well as the league in general.

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