Quick Hits |Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase Looking At Another Marquee Matchup; Goal-Line Stands Lift Bengals Defense Against King And His Court
BALTIMORE _ Add another potential marquee matchup in Thanksgiving’s marquee matchup pitting Bengals’ perennial NFL MVP candidate Joe Burrow against the Ravens’ two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
In the first seven matchups between the two, the clubs have combined for 53.9 points per game. Only the Jackson-Patrick Mahomes bouts (56.8) have yielded more among active quarterbacks making more than five starts against each other
And the last time Bengals All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase played here, he All-Pro-ed the Ravens on 264 yards that were two yards shy of his career high and gave him the most yards against any team in a season with 457.
Like that night here last year, Chase doesn’t have running mate Tee Higgins, out with a concussion. But that’s about the only thing that looks the same.
Chase is not only coming off a one-game suspension, but his quarterback is playing for the first time in 75 days. Plus, Burrow, who has been practicing full the last two weeks, is staring at a Ravens’ defensive personnel deployment different than the one he ripped for 428 yards and four touchdowns.
The Ravens have won five straight with a rampaging defense that since week eight has allowed an NFL-leading four touchdowns, 13.4 points per game, 26.6% of third downs and a 65.6 passer rating. Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher says the turning points have been health and the acquisition of safety Alohi Gilman in last month’s trade swung with the Chargers the day after the Bengals picked up Joe Flacco from the Browns.
Pitcher says the move has freed up the already lethal safety Kyle Hamilton to be even more dangerous as a hybrid linebacker-defensive back.
“He was playing more in the post as a true safety prior to that, and since then he’s been back down playing more as the nickel closer to the line of scrimmage,” Pitcher said this week. “He’s really good in that role. He essentially offers the (speed) and pressure ability of a high-level linebacker in the form of a safety that can cover. When you have a piece like that, it’s like having some of the guys we have on offense that can do things that really put you in tough spots.”
Hamilton, a fourth-year player the Ravens grabbed in the 2022 first round out of Penn State, is one of three NFL players this season to play at least 120 snaps at high safety, nickel, and outside linebacker.
“I think Kyle Hamilton is one of the best players at his position,” Pitcher said. “Certainly, if not one of best defensive players in football.”
If Hamilton is the Ravens’ “Swiss Army Knife,” then Chase is the Bengals’ “Ultimate Chess Piece.” Chase can line up all over the yard, and it’s going to be interesting to see how many times they go at it now that Hamilton is inside, a spot where Chase causes damage.
Chase remembers going against Hamilton maybe once or twice, but now that he’s in the slot, that may change even though the Ravens have two nickel packages, with Hamilton being a big factor in the one they use on potential running downs.
Without Higgins, Chase is expecting to see the same kind of attention.
“A lot more zone I would say,” Chase said. “Really just six strong (split field) when Tee was in there a lot. Played quarters and a lot of two. Maybe some man with double when Tee’s not out there. Man with everybody else and just double me.”
