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FBF Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 28,057
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Ravens @ Bengals Mon 7pm Est
Game-day details
Mon., 7 p.m. ET, Paul Brown Stadium
Weather forecast from AccuWeather.com:
Mostly cloudy. High: 79. Low: 58
Why To Watch
In what is bound to be a tight three-team race for the AFC North title between Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, this Week 1 matchup just might determine the division champ. The Bengals, coming off a disappointing '06 season, are looking for a fast start to regain the top spot in the division. The Ravens, who won the AFC North last year, look to keep the Bengals down and hold the crown.
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was unable to return to peak form last season, after sustaining a major knee injury in the playoffs in January '06. He will be looking to start the season off right against one of the NFL's top defenses. The Ravens must adequately replace free-agent defector Adalius Thomas, who moved on to New England, to remain an elite defensive unit.
The Bengals' defense went through drastic changes at linebacker, and the secondary was dinged in preseason. The addition of running back Willis McGahee gives the Ravens a much-needed home-run threat, relieving some pressure from aging-but-effective quarterback Steve McNair.
Both the Ravens and Bengals have enough talent to win 10-plus games and make a deep run into the playoffs. The jury is out on the Bengals' defense, and the Ravens never have been able to build an above-average offense in their existence despite many trade and free-agent signings. This is an interesting matchup of strength-vs.-strength and weakness-vs.-weakness.
Ravens Keys For Success
1. Establish the Willis McGahee Era. McGahee didn't do much in preseason, but the pieces are in place for him to have a strong debut for Baltimore. Running left -- behind tackle Jonathan Ogden, guard Jason Brown and center Chris Chester -- the Ravens can collapse defensive end Justin Smith and defensive tackle John Thornton inside and use fullback Justin Green to pick off outside linebacker Rashad Jeanty. This should allow McGahee to use his solid short burst to slash through the hole and get into the secondary.
2. Throw to tight end Todd Heap over the middle. Bengals middle linebacker Ahmad Brooks struggles in coverage, and Heap can get off the snap and get down the middle of the field to take advantage of the mismatch. Heap shows great quickness and hands, and he runs crisp routes. He can run an "arrow" route directly at Brooks, get the linebacker on his hip and then pivot to the sideline and catch easy passes for solid gains.
3. Blitz up the middle. Bengals left guard Stacy Andrews is a new starter, center Eric Ghiaciuc lacks true strength and right guard Bobbie Williams can be beaten by speed rushers. Nose tackle Kelly Gregg can use his quickness against Williams, and massive end Haloti Ngata should tie up both Ghiaciuc and Andrews. This should free up inside linebackers Bart Scott and Ray Lewis to blitz up the gut of the Bengals' offense. It would cause quarterback Carson Palmer to slide laterally in the pocket and toward outside rushers Terrell Suggs and Trevor Pryce
Bengals Keys For Success
1. Get Rudi Johnson going early. The Bengals must establish Johnson early in the game by attacking the right side of the Ravens' defensive line. Running behind tight end Reggie Kelly -- one of the league's best blocking tight ends -- Johnson can wear down the defense. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth and Andrews are massive players who can move piles. Andrews, taking over for free-agent departure Eric Steinbach, has the strength to hold the point of attack against Ngata. With Whitworth blocking Suggs, and Kelly chipping and then hitting the second level to block outside linebacker Jarrett Johnson, who is attempting to fill Adalius Thomas' shoes, this will leave fullback Jeremi Johnson to lead on Lewis and spring Rudi Johnson for big gains.
2. Throw deep to Chad Johnson. Johnson has vowed to return to elite form, and getting open downfield against Baltimore is a good start. When lined up against hobbled cornerback Samari Rolle, who missed part of training camp with a sprained ankle, Johnson must set up Rolle with a quick fake to the inside and then go deep. A long Palmer-to-Johnson connection is sure to get the home crowd into the game.
3. Blitz Ravens quarterback Steve McNair. McNair has a strong arm, but leg injuries in recent years has significantly hindered his ability to scramble. By blitzing linebackers Jeanty, Brooks and/or Landon Johnson on most pass plays, the onus will be on McNair to get the ball out early. That should allow cornerbacks Deltha O'Neal, Johnathan Joseph and rookie Leon Hall opportunities to jump short routes for interceptions. The Bengals' linebackers also are not as good in coverage, so blitzing them keeps them from making mistakes in coverage
When the Ravens Have the Ball
RUNNING GAME
Willis McGahee finally got out of Buffalo and will be the key ingredient to the Ravens' offense if they expect to get to Super Bowl 42. Running behind the left side of the Ravens' offensive line, McGahee can have good success against the Bengals. Left tackle Jonathan Ogden and left guard Jason Brown make for a formidable run-blocking duo. As they drive off the ball, Ogden can handle the right defensive end, either Bryan Robinson or Robert Geathers, by himself. This will leave Brown and the center, either Mike Flynn or Chris Chester, to double-team nose tackle Domata Peko. The right guard, either rookie Ben Grubbs or Chester, can cut John Thornton to the ground. Right tackle Adam Terry can force Bengals left end Justin Smith upfield. This will leave fullback Justin Green to lead-block on strongside Rashad Jeanty. The Bengals need to get middle linebacker Ahmad Brooks to flow downhill quickly and flash in the hole to make McGahee shuffle his feet. Weakside linebacker Landon Johnson needs to play gap- conscious and hold the backside cutback lane because McGahee has good vision and the nimble feet to make the quick cutback. Advantage: Ravens.
PASSING GAME
Steve McNair is a former Pro Bowl quarterback and league MVP, but he looked pedestrian in his first season with the Ravens. The Bengals' secondary needs to take advantage of the Ravens' receiving corps, which is decent but by no means great. The Ravens' biggest pass-catching threat is tight end Todd Heap. He is McNair's safety valve. Heap has a clear matchup advantage against Brooks. Look for Heap to use his quick feet and savvy route running to shake Brooks out of his breaks and get open in the middle of field on arrow routes and curls. The Bengals will need cornerbacks Deltha O'Neal and Johnathan Joseph to handle wide receivers Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason man-to-man. This will free up safeties Madieu Williams and Dexter Jackson to help Brooks with Heap in passing situations. A jam by an outside linebacker on Heap off the ball also will help buy Brooks time in coverage. Advantage: Bengals.
THE BLITZ
The Bengals need to bring pressure at McNair all game long. Linebackers Brooks, Jeanty and Johnson need to blitz the offensive line hard, especially to the left side of the Ravens' line. Ogden has missed the entire preseason with a leg injury and will not be at 100 percent for Week 1. By getting Ogden off-balance, the Bengals can put a lot of pressure on the Ravens' younger linemen. Blitzing with linebackers will also create one-on-one matchups for Smith against Terry. Terry's feet aren't quick enough to stay with Smith all game, so the Ravens may be forced to keep in Heap to block, thus taking away McNair's hot read on blitzes. Advantage: Bengals.
IN THE RED ZONE
The Ravens will use backup running back Mike Anderson in the red zone and short-yardage situations to pound away at the heart of the Bengals' defense. If unsuccessful, Heap will always be the first passing option. To confuse the Bengals' defenders, who will be in a jumbo package for the red zone, the Ravens will split out Heap to the slot. Here he will be aligned against a linebacker he can beat with his quickness or a safety he can outmuscle. The Bengals need to get Williams to match up against Heap when he lines up wide and get as physical as possible with the tight end off the ball. Advantage: Bengals
When the Bengals Have the Ball
RUNNING GAME
Running back Rudi Johnson is having a strong preseason and will look to continue that trend against one of the NFL's top run defenses of the past five seasons. A new starter as the replacement for departed free agent Eric Steinbach, mammoth left guard Stacey Andrews is built more for run blocking than pass protection. By also aligning outstanding blocking tight end Reggie Kelly on the left side of the line, Johnson should be effective running off-tackle.
A basic run for the Bengals will have the left tackle, whether it's Andrew Whitworth or a healthy Levi Jones, turning out outside linebacker Terrell Suggs off the snap. Andrews will down block on equally massive end Haloti Ngata. Kelly must come off the ball low and chip to the second level to pick off the other outside linebacker, Jarret Johnson. Fullback Jeremi Johnson will lead through the hole on inside linebacker Ray Lewis. Rudi Johnson must read this block and adjust his cut accordingly. Center Eric Ghiaciuc must climb to the second level and seal the other inside linebacker, Bart Scott. Right guard Bobbie Williams and right tackle Willie Anderson must execute turn-back blocks on nose tackle Kelly Gregg and end Trevor Pryce. Advantage: Ravens.
PASSING GAME
The Bengals are loaded at wide receiver and will need all of their playmakers to have big games against the Ravens. No. 1 wideout Chad Johnson must get back to the Pro Bowl form he showed in 2005 and starting in Week 1 against cornerback Samari Rolle would be a great first step. Rolle is playing on a gimpy ankle so Johnson must set him up on hitches and speed outs to gage Rolle's quickness, then take him deep to get the Bengals on the board.
Second wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh will have his work cut out for him going against cornerback Chris McAlister, but look for slot receiver Tab Perry to get a good game going against the Ravens' nickel back. Perry is strong going across the middle and is a tough runner after the catch. The Ravens will need safeties Ed Reed and Dawan Landry to help the cornerbacks over the top. Houshmandzadeh and Perry are the primary receivers on crossing routes. Reed and Landry need to deliver hits and take away the inside passing lanes for Carson Palmer. Advantage: Bengals.
THE BLITZ
The Ravens have a complex blitz scheme, and with the athletes they have at linebacker, they can line up in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 front. Scott is one of the NFL's best blitzing linebackers, and Reed excels at timing plays from the deep halves. From a 3-4 alignment, the Ravens will drop Suggs deep to cover the area vacated by Reed, who will blitz the gap between the guard and tackle. Scott will creep up to the line late and take an interior rush while Lewis stunts the opposite center-guard gap. This blitz may confuse the Bengals' offensive line. Palmer must be willing to check out of his initial play call and hit Kelly with a quick curl in the middle of the field. Also, Rudi Johnson is underrated as a pass blocker and is not afraid to deliver blows. Advantage: Ravens.
IN THE RED ZONE
Look for the Bengals to pound the ball up the middle or off tackle against the Ravens in the red zone, especially on early downs. Once they get the Ravens' defenders attacking the line of scrimmage, Palmer will fake the handoff to Rudi Johnson and then fade a pass to the back of the end zone for either Chad Johnson or Houshmandzadeh. The Ravens will need to leave Rolle and McAlister to fend for themselves. This will allow Reed and Landry to crowd the line to stop the Bengals' rushing attack. Advantage: Ravens.
The Bottom Line
The Ravens have one of the NFL's best defenses, and that will be the difference in this low-scoring game. Lewis, Scott and safety Ed Reed will neutralize Palmer and both Johnsons, Rudi and Chad. This will leave the game in the hands of the Ravens' offense, and McGahee will eat up the clock and take home a road win.
Pick: Ravens 17, Bengals 14
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Ravens @ Bengals Mon 7pm Est
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