Flying with the Flock: Ravens vs. Bengals Recap January 8th 2023

Game Overview

From the jump, it was apparent Anthony Brown was in over his head, throwing two interceptions in his first three drives. Both were ugly misfires that were converted into touchdowns by the Bengals.

At the top of the 2nd quarter, the Ravens were down by 17 and it looked like Cincinnati was going to score 60 points. But Brown’s rock-bottom start to the game meant there was nowhere to go but up, and to his credit, he improved.

His funky whip of a throwing motion generates more power than Tyler Huntley’s hyper-traditional style, and although he lost control of the ball more frequently than Snoop, he also applied more pressure on Cincy’s defense.

He completed some tough passes down the field and even developed a back-shoulder repertoire with Sammy Watkins. There’s no doubt it was a careless offensive performance, but it was also more exciting than the typical snooze-fest we’ve been subjected to the past six weeks. The emergence of rookie tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar was a much-needed lift for an offense that lacks weapons at receiver.

This performance was an encouraging sign that the Ravens’ offense could get back on track with Lamar Jackson under center. 

Final Thoughts

In an era where players are all friends off the field, and likeness and brand-building trumps all, this is a true rivalry.

Whether it be the Bengals’ coin-flip celebration trolling the Ravens or the un-grounded post-game comments complaining about the physicality of the game, it’s apparent that these teams do not like each other.

Everything about the Bengals rubs me the wrong way. Joe Burrow saying the team’s Super Bowl window is “[his] whole career” at the postgame presser while wearing his pompous white turtleneck sweater saturated with the smoke of the locker room cigar he lit up after a regular season game just summarizes everything that irks me about him.

It’s obvious that the Bengals are fat and fed, ready to rest on their laurels and cruise their way to another Super Bowl. But they aren’t ready for the scrappy, pissed-off Ravens team that awaits them in the first round.

Lamar Jackson is going to come back, Omar-from-The-Wire- style, and lead this team of hungry dogs to scratch and claw for their playoff lives next week. 

Savor this moment, Bengals fans, because this time next week your team will be watching from the couch as the Ravens advance to the divisional. 

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinatti Bengals

Sunday, 1/15 at 8:15 pm on NBC

Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of 1/10/23.