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The Bengals and Ravens played an overtime thriller just a few weeks back. And while Baltimore emerged victorious, veteran cornerback Marlon Humphrey told reporters ahead of Thursday’s rematch that he’s well aware how badly the defense struggled in that game.
“We felt like we should have lost,” he said. “We won the game, but we did not play well, especially the secondary alone. Like I said, there were a lot of contested catches, but we allowed big plays—too many big plays—so we’re hoping to try to limit the passing attack and get going.”
Once again in Week 10, the Ravens squeaked by the Bengals—this time in Baltimore. Once again, quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry and the Ravens offense dissected the Bengals defense with ease.
And once again, the Ravens almost lost—because the defense was awful against the pass.
This is not a new problem for the Ravens. Entering Week 10, they had the NFL’s best run defense and the league’s worst pass defense.
The 280 yards and change Baltimore allowed through the air entering Week 10 is going up. Joe Burrow ravaged the Ravens Thursday night to the tune of 428 yards and four scores. Ja’Marr Chase caught three of those scores, topping 250 receiving yards.
Mind you, the Bengals didn’t have Tee Higgins for this game. They knew Burrow would lean on Chase—and there was absolutely nothing the Ravens could do about it.
It’s not like the team is unaware of this deficiency. The Ravens traded for veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White at the deadline, but he wasn’t even playing in Los Angeles—he’s no solution.
Jackson may well be the NFL’s MVP (again). Henry could be the first running back to gain 2,000 rushing yards in a season twice. But this Ravens team isn’t playing in New Orleans in February.
Not with a non-existent secondary.
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