3 advantages the Bengals have over the Ravens in 2022

The Cincinnati Bengals handled Baltimore with ease in 2021 but to win the AFC North again, they’ll need to replicate that. It’s time to look at a few advantages the Bengals have over the Ravens and the chances of sweeping their rival in 2022.

The Baltimore Ravens have grown into the Cincinnati Bengals‘ biggest rival in the AFC North. Let’s recap all the events that have transpired in this rivalry since 2019.

First, Lamar Jackson spin moved his way into Nick Vigil’s nightmares.

Then, after benching Andy Dalton on his birthday, the Ravens obliterated Zac Taylor and crew 49-13 in Ryan Finley’s debut. Lamar Jackson celebrated this trouncing (of an 0-9 football team) by wearing sunglasses on the sideline.

Onto 2020 and the Bengals savior Joe Burrow gets befuddled and embarrassed 27-3 in his first Ravens matchup. Later that season, the Ravens ran up the score in Week 17 to the tune of 38-3.

In the first matchup of 2021, the Bengals win 41-17 at M & T Bank stadium with the No. 1 seed on the line. Burrow threw for 416 yards and Ja’Marr Chase embarrassed Marlon Humphrey.

Later that season before a pivotal AFC North tilt, Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale tells the media “I don’t think we’re ready to buy a gold jacket for Joe (Burrow) yet” to which Burrow responds with 525 yards in a 41-21 drubbing.

After the embarrassment, John Harbaugh confronts Zac Taylor on the field for piling on the yardage.

Burrow then wore a Santa Hat and calls Martindale’s comments “unnecessary”

Following the game on ESPN former Raven Bart Scott marks Burrow with the Ravens’ infamous “Red Dot”

I mean WHAT A RIVALRY! I’m sure this list is only about to grow with a Sunday Night Football tilt and a season finale on the docket for the Ravens and Bengals in 2022.

What advantages will help the Bengals dominate this rivalry, and continue their recent torture of Baltimore?

All stats are courtesy of pro-football-reference.com

Joe Burrow

“I love playing the Ravens because they talk.”

Joe Burrow’s quote on The Full Send Podcast set the tone for who the Bengals’ biggest rival will be during his career. Whether it was his experience as a rookie or the disrespect from Don ‘Wink’ Martindale, something about Baltimore has them on Burrow’s bad side.

In Week 7, the Bengals won 41-17, embarrassing the 5-1 Ravens and a healthy Lamar Jackson. Then in week 16, the Bengals won 41-21 vs Tyler Huntley and a banged-up secondary, but Burrow threw for a franchise record 525 yards.

Burrow performed better against the Ravens in a single season than any quarterback in history in 2021.

I’m sure the Ravens are circled on the schedule in Joe Burrow’s locker, and that’s a great sign for their matchups in 2022, especially considering his already historic domination of the franchise.

The Bengals are underdogs

The Baltimore Ravens are the favorites to win the AFC North in 2022, per WynnBET. The 2019 and 2020 division champion is getting the benefit of the doubt from NFL experts, as they have the best odds to win their division over any team that finished last in 2021. Currently, the Ravens have  +150 odds to win the AFC North while Cincinnati has +185 odds.

Only the Broncos (+270), who added Russell Wilson, have similar odds to go from worst to first. Everyone else has odds at +650 or longer to storm from the cellar to win their division.

The doubt surrounding Cincinnati, and the hype feeding Baltimore is the biggest advantage the Bengals currently possess over their division rival.

The Bengals are defending AFC Champions and underdogs in their own division. A rare occurrence that should stir the Bengals locker room into a ‘nobody believes in us’ frenzy.

Being the more talented team and the underdog is a monumental advantage.

Lou Anarumo

Is it possible the Bengals’ defense has figured out Lamar Jackson? They were dominated by Jackson early in his tenure – highlight spin moves and all. They’ve limited the 2019 MVP in their last three matchups.

Jackson has made plays in these matchups but hasn’t been elite vs Lou Anarumo’s defensive approach. The type of drop eight and crazy coverages Patrick Mahomes saw in the AFC Championship was first debuted to contain Jackson.

The Bengals are dedicated to keeping Jackson in front of them — Mitigating big plays, and generating a pass rush on key downs.

In 2020, the Ravens still scored 27 and 38 points in two blowout wins, but the Bengals offense didn’t score a touchdown in either game.

Now that Anarumo’s versatile defensive scheme is backed up by a top-10 offense, it becomes a much stiffer challenge for Greg Roman and the Ravens MVP quarterback.

What other advantages do you think the Bengals have in the most intense rivalry in the AFC North?