Looking ahead to the Bengals game
The Ravens are in Cincinnati on Sunday with a chance to close ground in the AFC North. Here's a quick look at the Bengals:
Record: 5-2, tied with Steelers for first place in AFC North.
Week 8: Bengals had their bye.
What’s working: The offense is potent once again. Carson Palmer is over his injuries and Cedric Benson has given the Bengals a viable run game. On defense, the Bengals have been able to stop the run for the most part.
What’s not: The pass defense is vulnerable to the big play, allowing 10 touchdown passes. Ball security has become an issue, too. The Bengals have 11 giveaways, including seven Palmer interceptions.
Who’s hot: Benson. In Week 5, Benson ended the Ravens’ streak for not allowing a 100-yard rusher with 120 in Cincinnati’s 17-14 win in Baltimore. In Week 7, he battered his former team, the Bears, for 189 rush yards in a 45-10 Bengals’ romp. With the week off, Benson dropped from first in NFL rushing to fourth.
Who’s not: Tight end Dan Coats. Dropped passes and fumbles enabled J.P. Foschi, who didn’t start training camp with the Bengals, to move ahead of Coats on the depth chart. Still, the Bengals use a lot of two-tight end formations, so Coats will play. The Bengals brought in tight end Tony Curtis, recently released by the Ravens, for a tryout on Oct. 26, but did not sign him.
Offensive keynote: With three new starters in the offensive line, the Bengals have allowed just 11 sacks through seven games. They are hoping rookie tackle Andre Smith can return from a broken foot for this game.
Defensive keynote: The loss of pass rusher Antwan Odom (eight sacks) for the year to an Achilles injury has resulted in more big plays down the field. Jonathan Fanene has three sacks and the team has 17 overall.
Special teams keynote: Quan Cosby is averaging 13.1 yards per punt return.
Injuries: Fullback Jeremi Johnson (knee), safety Roy Williams (forearm) and Andre Smith (foot) are all expected to play.
Comments
Quan Cosby is not Bill's son. He may have been in Quan's corner on draft day, but they have no relation.
Posted by: Freddie Joe Nunn | November 3, 2009 9:24 AM
Quan isn't Bill Cosby's son...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quan_Cosby
Posted by: SHAMROCK | November 3, 2009 9:27 AM
I do believe the two Cosby's have no relation.
Posted by: paul | November 3, 2009 9:30 AM
Ken ~ I don't think Quan Cosby is the son of Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby had only 1 son, Ennis, who was tragically shot dead back in 1997.
Posted by: JohnB | November 3, 2009 10:14 AM
Kenny - double check your research....Cosby spent time w/ Quan around the draft but they are not related.
Posted by: Gene Schortz | November 3, 2009 10:32 AM
Ken...Despite appearing together on draft weekend, I don't think that Quan and Bill Cosby are not related.
Posted by: Ward | November 3, 2009 10:32 AM
Quan Cosby is NOT Bill Cosby's son.......,
Bill's only son, Enis was killed several years ago.
Posted by: MIB456 | November 3, 2009 10:44 AM
Ken stop making stuff up. Quan Cosby is NOT the son of Bill Cosby. As well documented in his playing days at Texas.
Posted by: Warren | November 3, 2009 10:45 AM
Bill and Quan are NOT related. They met after Bill watched the Fiesta Bowl and was impressed with Quan's play.
Posted by: rojamojr | November 3, 2009 11:00 AM
Jonathan Fanene is not related to Madonna either
Posted by: Lostboys | November 3, 2009 12:45 PM
Fanene does however look just like Rasheed Wallace.
And Sheneneh looked just like Martin Lawrence.
Posted by: Joe | November 3, 2009 2:53 PM
Wow, this turned into an episode of the "Cosby Show.' And I thought we were 'looking ahead to the Bengals game?'
I think the Ravens have been seething and looking forward to this rematch; the defense is ready to roar and the offense is licking it's chops to put up 30+ points in this one.
Lardarius Webb is a gamer on special teams and as a nickel db-and a future playmaker as a starting corner for this team.
"Play Like A Raven" will be the mantra for this Ravens team from here on out and opponents better BEWARE; THE REAL RAVENS are BACK!
Ravens 34-20.
~GO RAVENS!~
Posted by: Me, myself and YOU! | November 3, 2009 2:57 PM
Does anyone know if Quan Cosby is related to Bill Cosby? I heard something about them hanging out together on Draft day. Maybe Bill is his dad!
Posted by: Chris in Hawaii | November 3, 2009 8:30 PM
So, with no apologies to Edgar Allen Poe at all, how will the Ravens answer the question Will the Ravens beat the Bengals in the Paul Brown edifice, built along the Ohio River Shore? 'Tis impossible, says Paul's ghost who built Bengal teams of yore.So what saith the team, the Ravens of Baltimore? Will they be victorious in Cincinnati, and knock on the playoffs' door? Quote the Raven: NEVERMORE!
Posted by: Tom E Gun | November 4, 2009 11:27 AM
Quan is the ILLEGITIMATE son of Bill Cosby which is ok by me, don't get me wrong. He fathered him with one of his female staffers from the old tv show....so is that att settled now?
Posted by: rick | November 4, 2009 1:09 PM
Although Harbs(aka Buzz) likes to call all games "statement games", this one really is.
The Bengals physcially beat the Ravens in the last game. They were the quicker, stronger, and more motivated team. If the Ravens are to win, they need to play just like last week. They need to pound the ball to set-up the pass and beat the bengals in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
I hope the fact that they were "beat" last time provides the motivation that they need to show up big time for this game. If they don't, their season is over. Yes, over.
Posted by: Rick H. | November 4, 2009 1:11 PM
Cincy,especially being home,will play to impose their will on the Ravens and lean on the crowd for more motivation.Sounds like M&T stadium stuff,but Marvin knows what division he's playing in.I'll be real interested to see our coaching staff tested to pull a victory out; hopefully by lessons learned from the first meeting.I don't care if Benson gets another 100 yds; the O needs to operate to score 7 every drive if we're going to compete for the win during the 4th qtr.
Posted by: Dan R. | November 4, 2009 5:25 PM
Wow, Tom E Gun: I am impressed. I didn't realize you Northern Kentuckians could string together so many rhyming works, outside of a hill-billy bluegrass song. Sooner or later, your guys will look at their God-awful jerseys and remember who they are, the Bungles! Remember, Cinncinati is a great place...to be FROM!
Posted by: TAJ | November 4, 2009 7:00 PM
The Ravens needed to beat Denver last Sunday, they did. The Ravens absolutely have to beat Cincy, they cannot fall to 1-2 in the division and get swept by the Bengals. Just like the Bronco's game they will need this win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Flacco played his worst game by far against the Bengals and he will need to play well on the road, which he usually does. The good news here is that this time the O-line is healthy and the Bengals best pass rusher is out, which was not the case before.
Watching our defense against Denver gave me hope for this game. The defense did a great job of pressuring Orton and shutting down their running game. The only thing that concerns me is that the Broncos offense does not really throw downfield and Carson's arm scares people far more than Orton's. The defense we'll need to get pressure and hopefully Ngata can go as well to help shut down Benson, whose just off the charts right now.
Posted by: Marcus | November 5, 2009 12:58 AM