Ravens vs. Bengals: 4 recreation ball candidates

The Baltimore Ravens improved to 2-0 to start the season on Sunday, incomes a 27-24 victory over the Bengals in Cincinnati. The Ravens took an early lead and by no means trailed at any level within the recreation. That they had a decisive benefit whole yardage, first downs gained, and time of possession.

Who stood out on the workforce within the successful effort? Let’s break down among the prime performances from Week 2 — verify them out beneath and vote on your recreation ball recipient!

Lamar Jackson

After a shaky efficiency within the season opener, the place he turned the ball over twice with no touchdowns, Jackson bounced again in an enormous approach in Cincinnati. Jackson discovered a rhythm early and by no means wavered out of it, as he was accountable for the offense all afternoon.

Down two beginning offensive lineman and considered one of his prime weapons in Odell Beckham Jr., who exited the sport early, Jackson led 5 scoring drives whereas finishing 24-of-33 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns, good for a passer score of 112.8. He added 54 dashing yards on 12 carries, choosing up quite a lot of key first downs on the bottom.

He was particularly prolific within the second half. Instantly following an interception and 36-yard return from Geno Stone, Jackson delivered a 52-yard deep strike to Zay Flowers. That proceeded a three-yard landing cross to Mark Andrews three performs later. Early within the fourth quarter, his perfectly-placed 17-yard landing cross to Nelson Agholor, on third down, gave the Ravens a 10-point cushion.

On the ultimate drive of the sport, Jackson scrambled for a 12-yard achieve on third & 5 with simply over two minutes remaining. That set the Ravens as much as run the clock out late and stroll away with a victory.

Gus Edwards

Justice Hill drew the beginning at operating again and out-snapped Edwards within the first half, whereas in the end ending with another dashing try. Nevertheless, Edwards was the workforce’s simplest runner on the day. His 10 carries for 62 yards don’t wow within the field rating, however the “Gus Bus” made some essential performs all through the afternoon.

On the Ravens’ opening possession of the sport, Edwards’ 17-yard achieve contributed to the 75-yard drive. He capped it off with a dashing landing from one yard out to offer the Ravens an early lead.

Within the second half, Edwards performed a well-known “nearer” function to assist the Ravens churn clock and protect their lead late. He had a 20-yard rush to start a 12-play landing drive that expanded the Ravens’ result in 27-17. On that very same drive, he picked up two key third-and-short conversions to increase the possession.

He did so once more on the ultimate drive of the sport with a five-yard rush on third & 1 with simply over a minute remaining. This was successfully the nail within the coffin of the Ravens’ victory, because the Bengals had no timeouts and couldn’t cease the clock to get the ball again.

Nelson Agholor

Agholor performed an expanded function following Beckham’s exit with an ankle harm within the second quarter. After a zero-catch, zero-target displaying within the season opener, the veteran wideout tied for a workforce lead in receptions in Week 2 (5) and led the workforce in receiving yards with 63.

The previous first-round decide got here alive within the second quarter with first-down receptions of 11, 10, and 17 yards, respectively. His 17-yard catch on the ultimate drive of the quarter helped push the Ravens into scoring territory, which was key as a result of it preceded two holding penalties that mixed for -20 yards. The drive ended with a subject purpose earlier than halftime.

Then, early within the fourth quarter, Agholor had an eight-yard catch to create a short-yardage third down situation, which was transformed by Edwards. Three performs later, Agholor created separation in one-on-one protection and caught one other 17-yard cross from Jackson for a landing. That expanded the Ravens result in 27-17 within the ultimate body of play.

It was a strong all-around receiving efficiency from No. 15, who was overshadowed in Week 1 however got here up large at the moment in Cincinnati.

Geno Stone

Now a full-time starter at free security in-place of the injured Marcus Williams, Stone continued to show his worth with a memorable efficiency. The previous seventh-round decide made arguably the most important play of the sport with a pink zone interception on Burrow and subsequent 36-yard return within the third quarter.

The Bengals drove 58 yards on their opening drive of the second half and had been threatening to both tie the sport at 13-13 or take their first lead of the sport. Burrow focused Higgins over the center of the sphere on third down and Stone jumped the route completely. That play led to a landing from the Ravens a couple of performs later.

Other than this play, Stone was the protection’s main tackler on the day with 9 whole, seven of which had been solo. He performed a key function in limiting large performs and serving to maintaining a lid on an explosive Bengals’ passing assault.

Honorable mentions —

Jadeveon Clowney: The veteran edge rusher was the Ravens’ most impactful cross rusher and completed with two quarterback hits, one sack, and a tackle-for-loss. He was a power across the line of scrimmage and within the backfield.

Rock Ya-Sin: Ya-Sin had a vital cross breakup in protection of Ja’Marr Chase, the place he dislodged a back-shoulder catch ultimately zone to forestall a landing. He was the simplest cornerback at the moment and didn’t enable any noticeable large performs.

Zay Flowers: Flowers had a extra quiet efficiency than within the season opener, however his 52-yard deep reception was the most important offensive play of the sport. He gained 68 yards in whole on 5 touches.