The AFC North has the talent to be one of the league’s better divisions in 2015, and finishing the year as division champs will be a tough task for any one of its members. The Cincinnati Bengals currently lead the division at 2-0 as they head to Baltimore to face the 0-2 Ravens. Baltimore has a lot of roles to fill on defense, giving Cincinnati a big momentum advantage heading into Week 3.
Bengals vs. Ravens 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Ravens are looking for their first division win against the 2-0 Bengals in Week 3.
Quarterback Andy Dalton is still trying to prove that he can lead the Bengals past the first week of the postseason, and he has started the season on the right track. Dalton is two games into his fifth year in the league, and has completed 41 passes for 483 yards and five touchdowns. He also has yet to record an interception, which is a good sign following a season that included 17 of them.
Dalton has done a good job thus far spreading the ball around, hitting eight different targets, with his leading receivers being tight end Tyler Eifert, running back Giovani Bernard and wide receiver A.J. Green. Against the San Diego Chargers in Week 2, the quarterback even found offensive lineman Jake Fisher for a 31-yard gain into the red zone.
With options on offense that go beyond the regular looks, like a receiving offensive lineman, the Ravens' defense will have a lot to prepare for ahead of the matchup. This will be a tall order for a defense that has struggled following the loss of its Pro Bowl leader, Terrell Suggs. In the Ravens' first game without Suggs the line failed to get a sack, and the secondary has been run over both of the first two games.
The team would be 1-1 heading into Week 3, but the defense allowed the Oakland Raiders to go 80 yards in under two minutes for a game-winning 12-yard touchdown pass to Seth Roberts. In both games this season, Baltimore’s secondary has failed to cover deep throws in key moments. The Ravens added yet another cornerback this week, giving them depth at the position, but only five players have more than four years of experience.
Is quarterback Joe Flacco elite?
This question will be answered soon if he fails to rejuvenate his offense and make plays late in games. Flacco is 50-of-77 passing for 501 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. The team has lost by fewer than seven points in both games this season. A long pass to put the defense off balance could have changed both outcomes.
Flacco's offense isn't short of talent. It includes the likes of wide receiver Steve Smith, running back Justin Forsett and tight end Crockett Gillmore, who have a combined 410 offensive yards so far this year. The Raven's passing game has been limited to short routes with no one stepping up as a deep threat in Torrey Smith's absence.
The Ravens lead the Baltimore-Cincinnati series 20-16 all-time, but Flacco has struggled in those matchups, throwing 13 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in his 14 games against the Bengals. This is an important win for the Ravens, but the Bengals could prove to be too much for them to contain.
How to watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md.
TV: CBS
Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker
Radio: Cincinnati | Baltimore
Online: NFL Game Pass
See More:
