Week 6 has the 0-5 Cincinnati Bengals playing their division rival Baltimore Ravens, who lead the AFC North with a wobbly record of 3-2.
The 0-5 Cincinnati Bengals play the 3-2 Baltimore Ravens in a divisional matchup of two teams struggling to find some positive footings. Zac Taylor, the first-year head coach who is still looking for his first win, might have some positive vibes working this week with the potential return of wide receiver A.J. Green in the coming weeks. At this point, any news is good news.
Baltimore is coming off of a 26-23 overtime win against AFC North rival Pittsburgh. The Steelers, who hung in with the division leader despite losing starting quarterback Mason Rudolph, showed a few things Cincinnati might be able to exploit.
First, Lamar Jackson is struggling, especially with his accuracy. Against Pittsburgh he was hardly impressive, completing 19 of 28 for 161 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. He was also sacked three times. The hype brought with a stellar performance against a tanking Miami Dolphins team in Week 1 has manifested in what is now a significant issue in Baltimore.
The Bengals have a myriad of issues of their own. First, 0-5 is an indication that the problems in Cincinnati run deep and don’t necessarily get fixed if and when Green returns. That said, what Taylor needs now more than anything is the positivity a win can bring.
Week 6 isn’t a slam dunk for the home team Ravens. For the Bengals to get that first win, they will need to find a way to contain the best playmaker on the field, as Jackson can beat you in more ways than one.