The Baltimore Ravens are 0-2 under John Harbaugh for the first time in his eight-year stint as head coach, but we're not writing them off even in the wake of last Sunday's deflating loss at Oakland. In fact, we're convinced that Week 3 will bring them a win at home against Cincinnati. Here's 3 Reasons Why The Ravens Are Guaranteed To Beat The Bengals.
1. The Home-Field Factor
The Ravens have opened the season with two road losses, with the defense looking listless minus Terrell Suggs in front of a jacked-up crowd in Oakland last week. Now, the team who opened with the ninth-best odds to win the Super Bowl this season (per Bovada) gets a crack at an AFC North opener in its home opener. There's too much talent on this squad, Suggs or no Suggs, to drop this pivotal division battle at home -- especially with how loud the Ravens faithful will be in hopes of rejuvenating their boys in purple.
2. The Dalton Swoon
Bengals QB Andy Dalton has been electric in the Bengals' first two games, completing 68% of his passes for 483, five touchdowns and no interceptions. That's all well and good NOW for Cincinnati, but the classic Dalton Swoon is coming and likely in this game. The Ravens defense is embarrassed and pi**ed off after last Sunday's debacle in Oakland. Andy Dalton always follows two steps forward with three steps backwards. Put two and two together, and you better not be starting Dalton in your fantasy league this week.
3. A Running Game Wake-Up
If Justin Forsett continues to struggle at a 3.8 yards per game clip, Lorenzo Taliaferro's carry load is going to increase dramatically. If he starts to break out of his funk, then Taliaferro's going to function as one heck of a change-of-pace option with Forsett running wild. Either way, we expect Baltimore's running game (with Javorius Allen included) to come back in a big way against a Cincinnati run defense (4.7 yards per carry given up) that was decidedly average in Weeks 1 & 2.
Back to the Baltimore Ravens Newsfeed