Ravens vs. Bengals: 3 key matchups to watch
By Joe Schiller
It’s a must-win game for the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Here are three key matchups to watch.
We’ve finally entered Week 17 and the Baltimore Ravens can finally clinch a playoff berth. It’s going to be the coldest game in franchise history but the Ravens have a chance to get to the postseason for the first time in two years. Standing in their way is the Cincinnati Bengals, who want to play every part of spoiler in the final week of the season.
It’s an AFC North matchup and you never can count out either side. Here are the key matchups to watch in today’s game.
3. Terrell Suggs vs. Clint Boling
Terrell Suggs has sipped out of the fountain of youth all season and it’s showed on the football field. He’s had one of his best seasons in recent years and leads the defense with 11 sacks. Suggs still knows how to get it done and the 35-year old will look to help the Ravens clinch a playoff berth today. He’ll have an advantage going after Clint Boling on the left side of the line.
Left tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, who Suggs beat for two sacks in Week 1, will miss today’s game with a shoulder injury. That means Boling will make the move from guard to tackle. As the Ravens have seen with James Hurst in the past, that’s not an easy move to make. Responsibilities are completely different and you’re out on an island on the outside. It’s Andy Dalton’s blindside and he’ll need to have eyes in the back of his head to look out for Suggs all game.
The Ravens pass rush has been absent in recent weeks. They weren’t able to get to Jacoby Brissett and it was a problem. Even a third-string quarterback is able to have success against a defense if he has all day in the pocket. Andy Dalton is turnover prone and that starts with getting pressure. If Suggs can do that, the secondary can take advantage.