How Ravens-Bengals clash on Thursday Night Football stacks up

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)

With apologies to the old NFC Central, the NFL’s new black and blue division is currently the AFC North. It’s a division that features elite defenses that play with speed and attitude, and a whiplash between high-end quarterback play and something of an homage to Trent Dilfer circa 2000 or (insert post-1999 Browns quarterback here).

Three of the four teams in the AFC North would currently qualify for the playoffs. That’s quite the feat amid strong play in that conference, and all the more remarkable considering the preseason favorite, the Cincinnati Bengals, are currently the one team on the outside looking in.

With the Bengals playing the Baltimore Ravens in a Thursday night brouhaha and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns preparing for a Grade-A quality rockfight, I wanted to use this week’s Overhang and stack up the best division in the NFL before the teams go toe-to-toe (and hand-to-hand) in a week that has huge ramifications for the division, the conference, the NFL, and indeed, the world.

Cincinnati Bengals

Strength: Joe Burrow. Come on

It’s Joe Burrow. I mean, come on. But it’s also the ability of Burrow to now move around like we know he’s able to. Post-bye Burrow has been checking into runs for himself and extending plays like he’s still in Baton Rouge:

best indicator that the Bengals haven’t been running QB Draws this season:

when Joe Burrow checked into one against the 49ers, LT Orlando Brown (#75, first season with the Bengals) had no fricken clue what Burrow called. pic.twitter.com/Q5Q80bgOQI

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) November 1, 2023

Cincinnati thrives with Burrow throwing repeated jabs before delivering blows when the Bengals get into striking range, with Burrow’s ability to extend plays helping to create plays when the initial plan goes askew.

The Bengals have added a few new twists to their offense this season as a way to combat defenses honing in on their tendencies. They are moving Ja’Marr Chase…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/the-overhang-how-ravens-bengals-clash-on-thursday-night-football-stacks-up-140055687.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2023-11-16 14:00:55

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