Early Look at Cincinnati Bengals' Week 7 Matchup vs Baltimore Ravens

The week seven matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, and it could potentially be for first place, depending on what happens here with Baltimore and Cleveland. But I think that the one thing, and tying the Seattle Seahawks to the Baltimore Ravens, the one thing that Mike McDonald did very, very well in his career with the Ravens and ultimately got the head coaching job in Seattle, and we've seen what he's done with that defense, he had a magic potion that was slowing and agitating and irking Joe Burrow. And it felt like Joe was starting to figure it out. And then Mike McDonald gets a head coaching job. And it was a really big win for the Bengals that that happened, at least on paper, right? Well, next week, i.e. week seven, this is going to be their first crack at Jesse Minter. Defensive-minded coach, someone that they faced in the past, but first time that he's going to be calling plays against them. Obviously, you have the Trey Hendrickson element of it, and he's taking some heat right now. Had surgery on his hand, has multiple fingers that he's dealing with, multiple fingers that are in a wrap, brace, whatever you want to say. He's going to play in Cleveland, but the point remains. That's going to be a big storyline this week. Him, Trey Hendrickson trying to get after Joe Burrow, and obviously the Orlando Brown Jr. element of it, and giving Orlando help, and that will certainly happen. Justin Madibuike, is someone that's really, really good on the interior of that Baltimore defensive front. But the two best teams, one thing I'm certain about going into today, I think the two best teams in this division are very clearly Cincinnati and Baltimore. And the Bengals should feel like they're the best team. And I'm sure the Ravens should feel like they're the best team. And they do. To me, those two teams are far and away better than the other two. And I get it. They're going to be Steelers fans that say, James, the Steelers just beat the Bengals. I get it. No doubt. I think the Bengals shot themselves in the foot a bunch. And when you do that in the NFL, you lose. And so that's a big part of it. And so for me, I'm looking at this game today, just kind of saying, all right, how does Baltimore without Lamar do against Cleveland? Do they just go there and handle business? And then two, if they don't or do, it doesn't really matter. How is this Bengals offense? How is Joe Burrow going to look against a new defensive coordinator or a new defensive mind, a new head coach? And there's going to be unknowns there. And you don't want to fall into that Mike McDonald element thing where, heck, Tyler Huntley in a playoff game had you tied 17-17 in the fourth quarter until the Hubbard-Yard dash, until the fumble in the jungle. And that's a very real thing that happened. And there are a bunch of reasons for that. But one of them was Mike McDonald and that defense having Joe's number a little bit and having this offense's number a little bit. And that's the other thing. There's been a lot of talk about the run game. From a passing game standpoint, one, I think Jamar Chase is due for a huge, huge week. At some point, huge game. Hasn't had that yet. Tee Higgins was on a scorching pace until this past week. Hopefully, he can be really, really close, if not all the way back to 100%. But Andrei Iosifov is still a few weeks away. Dante Myers has emerged some. Kobe Young, I think, is going to make his return in week seven. And so you would love, love for these pass catchers at that wide receiver wide receiver three is more of like pass catcher three right and Mike Gesicki has four touchdown every game he has a touchdown or a catch in rather he has a touchdown this year he's been great but you lose Tanner Hudson you're going to be tweaking things tight end wise and so i'm just curious who emerges there and it's going to be a need because if i'm Jesse Minter i'm going to say don't let Jamar beat you don't let Tee Higgins beat you that's why there's been so much talk about the run game the Bengals are going to throw the ball all over that dang field. And we certainly know that we're going to have you covered all week long. I want you to do one thing today. Enjoy the football Bengals fans. Enjoy it. Enjoy every second. I hope you have fantasy football luck. If that's what you're doing, if you're wagering on some of these games, hope you have luck with that as well, but enjoy the time, breathe, kick your feet up. And until next time, which is going to be this week when it's Bengals Ravens and a lot on the line.