This game magnified other offensive issues.
Through Week 3, the Ravens were averaging 37 points per game. Over the past nine games, they’ve averaged 18.2 points per game.
Consider that Cincinnati entered Week 13 ranked last in the NFL in total defense. You couldn’t tell that from watching the game, which makes Baltimore’s offensive issues more concerning, particularly this late in the season.
Baltimore became the first Bengals opponent that failed to score at least 10 points by halftime. After scoring on their opening drive, the Ravens didn’t score on their next seven possessions, and the turnovers kept coming.
Very little about the Ravens’ offense looks consistent lately. Derrick Henry (60 yards rushing) was the team’s best offensive player against Cincinnati but only got 10 carries. The Bengals held Zay Flowers to two catches for six yards, and he had a touchdown nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty.
Isaiah Likely had five catches for 95 yards, but his fumble in the second quarter was a huge momentum swing in Cincinnati’s favor. He ruined what would’ve been a 44-yard touchdown reception by reaching the ball out in front of him as he neared the goal line. That allowed Bengals safety Jordan Battle to knock the ball away
Entering Year 3 in Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken’s system, the Ravens expected to be a high-scoring, explosive offensive team. That hasn’t materialized, and Jackson said he could not pinpoint why the offense had struggled of late.
“I don’t know. I can’t call it,” Jackson said. “I don’t want to make anything up. That’s the biggest key right now, just being consistent from the first quarter to the fourth quarter and not putting our defense on the field.”
The Ravens have plenty to work on offensively before they face the Steelers.