Cincinnati Bengals: 5 keys to beating the Baltimore Ravens

We all planned this from the start.

Thursday Night Football in Baltimore promises to be a real challenge for the Cincinnati Bengals team, and the importance of this game cannot be overstated. A win would move the Bengals to .500 and keep them within striking distance of an AFC North title.

Here are five keys to beating the Ravens.

Sleep quickly

Thursday night road games are tough. The Bengals need to quickly transition from celebrating Sunday's win to preparing for their trip to Baltimore, finding time for some rest and rehab in between. This won't be easy. You have to be extremely disciplined and organized to go into this game and come out of it with momentum.

Score quickly

The last duel with the Ravens was a shootout. The Bengals have gotten off to slow starts far too often this season. They can't afford that in this duel. Joe Burrow and his team need to show momentum and cause a stir right from the start. If they start slowly, they might find themselves in a hole that they can't dig themselves out of.

Contain the passerby

So let’s talk pass rush. It was a problem to say the least. Trey Hendrickson was a one-man wrecking crew, but the thing is: one man isn't enough for a wrecking crew. The Bengals need to create pressure, but they need to create a specific type of pressure. They put pressure on Lamar Jackson while keeping him safe in the pocket. You can't let him stretch his legs.

Limit tight ends, but don't forget Zay

The Bengals have done pretty well against tight ends like Travis Kelce and Brock Bowers this season, but in their last game against the Ravens, they had 10 receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns to tight ends Mark Andrews, Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely delivered.

He's likely out with a hamstring injury, but Kolar and Andrews have shown they can do a lot of damage on their own. The Bengals need to find a way to contain this duo if they want to win this game.

Of course, Zay Flowers had seven catches for 111 yards alone, so he shouldn't be forgotten either.

Be balanced on offense

Joe Cool can do it, but this offense can't afford to play a one-dimensional style in this game. They're at their best when they can also run effectively, and Chase Brown has emerged as a serious weapon. If they can run the ball effectively, it also opens up a lot of opportunities in the passing game.