NFL Week 2: Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals Recap

Photo credit to Sam Greene via Flickr

NFL

Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals Recap

Week 2 of the 2018 NFL season kicked off with an AFC North face off on primetime. With first place up for grabs in the division, both of these teams were expected to come in with an exceptional game plan. This matchup was previewed by TSJ earlier in the week.

Baltimore debuted a new uniform combination and tailback Joe Mixon was eager to prove teammate A.J. Green’s comment’s right in a star-studded matchup. So how did the Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals play out?

1st Quarter

With much anticipation for this matchup; this game got off to a noticeably slow start. The first 2 drives were highlighted by a Geno Atkins sack and an injury scare to star Ravens linebacker, C.J. Mosley. He would be later diagnosed with a bone bruise and ruled doubtful to return to the game. On the very next drive, Flacco would throw an interception to the Bengals Cover 1 safety (Jessie Bates), giving Cincy great field position.

The Bengals would finish the drive with a play-action halfback toss call out of the shotgun, faking out the defense and allowing A.J. Green to burn cornerback Tavon Young for a touchdown. After a Baltimore punt, Dalton and the Bengals would deliver a 5 play, 80-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by A.J. Green beating Tavon Young once again for yet another touchdown.

The Ravens next drive would be highlighted by yet another presnap penalty by tight end Nick Boyle and the 2nd sack by DT Geno Atkins. Bill Lazor and his Bengals offense would continue where they left off.

2nd Quarter

With the Ravens secondary continuing to get manhandled and a costly hand to the face penalty by veteran Terrell Suggs on 3rd and 13, A.J. Green would score his 3rd touchdown in 17 minutes, this time on 2nd-year player Marlon Humphrey.

The following drive, Flacco would make a horrid read in triple coverage, a pass that was somehow caught by newly-acquired John Brown for a gain of 45 yards. A Darqueeze Dennard PI call followed by a “Buck” Allen TD would make the score 21-7, Bengals. Cincinnati would then proceed to score their 4th consecutive offensive touchdown, with Dalton throwing his 4th touchdown of the half.

Baltimore’s next drive would end with a 4-and-out with two consecutive inaccurate throws by Flacco on 3rd and 4th downs respectively. A Cincy 3-and-out and a Ravens 7 play, 81-yard drive, finished by 3rd-round pick Mark Andrews would finish off the first half of the Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals. Bengals up 28-14 at the end of the first half

2nd Half

Baltimore would begin the 2nd half with another stop on defense and a 55-yard FG from Justin Tucker. On Baltimore’s next possession, the Ravens would go for it on 4th and 2, and fail to convert. After a 4th consecutive 3-and-out from Cincy, Flacco would throw another interception, this time to safety Shawn Williams.

After another stop by the Ravens defense, Baltimore would complete a 12 play, 87-yard drive capped off by a beautiful connection from Joe Flacco to John Brown. Cincinnati would respond with a field goal to stretch the lead to eight points with 2:59 remaining in the game.

Next drive, the Bengals would send a safety blitz and cause a Flacco fumble that was recovered by the Bengals. Cincy would hit another field goal in garbage time, securing the 34-23 victory over the Ravens.

Fantasy Implications

The fantasy buzz for this matchup was surrounded by budding star Joe Mixon. Furthermore, It seems that everyone has forgotten that A.J. Green still exist. That is until Green proceeded to score three touchdowns in the 1st half. Dalton also tossed four 1st half TD’s.

Wideouts John Brown and Tyler Boyd respectively had good fantasy performances as well. Alex Collins and tight end Tyler Eifert disappointed yet again in week 2. That wraps up the Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals recap, stay tuned to TSJ for more NFL week 2 recaps!

Photo credit to Sam Greene via Flickr