The Ravens Offense Proved Something in Cincy

Every NFL game is a chess match. Coaching staffs work tirelessly throughout each week to develop the perfect game plan that gives their team the best chance to win. However, if this past Sunday in Cincinnati is any indication, not everything will go according to plan. Teams will adjust, the opposing team will then adjust their adjustments, and so on.

Coming into Cincinnati it was no secret the Ravens offense was going to look to establish the run. That has been their identity ever since Lamar Jackson became the franchise quarterback, and even more so now that future Hall of Famer Derrick Henry is in the backfield alongside Lamar. The Ravens had also leaned more heavily on the run game the last two weeks. Per TeamRankings, the Ravens ran the ball on 70% of their offensive plays against the Cowboys and Bills. That formula led to the two most efficient outings of the season for this Ravens offense heading into a matchup against a Bengals defense that ranked near the bottom of the league in defending the run.

Unlike recent weeks however, the Ravens couldn’t get the ground game going. In the first half, Derrick Henry was only able to muster 22 rushing yards on 9 carries, averaging 2.4 yards per rush. This is due to the Bengals defensive game plan. They knew the Ravens were going to look to pound the rock, and they responded by showing “run stopping looks”, as John Harbaugh put it in his halftime interview. Harbaugh then went on to explain how the Ravens were going to have to respond to those looks by opening the playbook and leaning more on Lamar Jacksons arm. Not since Week 1 had an opposing defense forced the Ravens hand, and both times the Ravens have responded accordingly.

Lamar and the passing offense propelled the Ravens to 24 second half points as the Ravens QB once again reminded the league why he’s the reigning, 2-time MVP. The Bengals didn’t have an answer for the Ravens aerial attack, as this modified approach had the Bengals defense on their heels. In a time where John Harbaugh seems to get criticized for every move, he and offensive coordinator Todd Monken deserve a lot of credit for the offensive adjustments that were made at the half.

The Ravens offense won the chess match. Their ability to adjust on the fly is the reason they walked out of Cincinnati with a win. You want to run heavy personnel and stack the box?  Lamar will pick your defense apart through the air.  Back off and play more nickel? The Ravens dynamic rushing attack will feast, as they had shown in recent weeks.

The Ravens offense will surely face stiffer tests as the season rolls along. They are not the only team to have their way with this Bengals defense, but this offense will without a doubt be giving opposing defenses headaches throughout this season. As stated earlier, running the ball has been the offensive identity for quite some time, and that won’t change. However, if the Ravens can morph their offensive approach in real time based on the opposing defense’s game plan as effectively as they did this past Sunday, the best is yet to come.

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