Yahoo Sports fantasy analysts Matt Harmon and Andy Behrens recap Baltimore's 41-38 overtime win at Cincinnati. Listen to the full conversation on the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast podcast – and subscribe on , , or

Show more

Video transcript

We care about Ravens 41 Bengals 38.

What a wild, joyous game, with a lot of passing in this game.

Andy, where do you want to start?

That said, um, it's amazing that you characterize it that way, because that's the first thing I wrote in my, um, my sparse notes on this game, an absolutely enjoyable game.

Um, that's like, that's why we enjoy the sport.

That's why we play fantasy.

Uh, that's why we, we, uh, we're tied to the league.

Um, it was great.

Uh, first of all on the Cincinnati side: Jamar Chase and T. Higgins are both phenomenal in my opinion.

Each of them, multiple scores, Chase gave us 10 for 193 and a couple of touchdowns.

Just, uh, an absolutely phenomenal game.

Burrough and Lamar combined for nine passing touchdowns?

Crazy.

Uh, just really, really good.

Uh, La Lamar Jackson threw three touchdowns to tight ends, none of whom were Mark Andrews.

That's a difficult question.

Andrews was involved, but what does that mean in a game where everyone was involved?

It's just really, really fun.

Uh, Derek Henry was having a bit of a quiet day until he made the play that decided the game, the 50-yard run, which was just, um, twists and turns really fun.

Um, and Cincinnati is a fantasy party right now because they have to try to stay ahead of their own defenses, you know, trouble.

Um, just um, you know, it's a really bumpy road for them now.

Yes, Cincinnati is definitely in trouble from a team perspective.

It was great to see their offense get rolling here.

You've mentioned many times in the pod that the, um, Ravens secondary isn't really the unit we're used to, there are flaws back there.

Uh, there are new players breaking and things like that. By the way, when we talk about the Bills' passing game later, we'll remember that this secondary limited the Bills' passing game in week four.

And here's Jamar Chase and T. Higgins, who are definitely better than all the receivers on Buffalo combined, but the one player still wouldn't be as good as Jamar Chase or something like that.

So, um, obviously there's a difference in talent level here, but these guys were wild and Andy, I thought coming into this game the Ravens were last in neutral pass rate in weeks three and four.

They were very happy with, hey, we're going to saddle up the big dog, Derek Henry, for a few carries and we're just going to let the teams fade into oblivion.

I really thought this game was going to go that way because we all knew the Bengals run defense was nothing special.

I found it very encouraging to see that when Cincinnati struggled through the air, Baltimore was able to give it back, and especially in the way they did.

Uh, this is from the next generation stats.

Lamar Jackson completed 10 of 15 passes from the middle of the field and was eight of 11 passes against man coverage for 97 yards and three touchdowns.

That was the highest score of his career in a game, which I found interesting.

Um, that's a pretty stark contrast to some of the passing performances that we had in Baltimore, especially earlier in the year when his very screen-heavy tackle, um, targeted running backs and stuff like that.

Like Z Flowers, we have real downfield targets.

We had Rashad Bateman playing on the sidelines, as you mentioned, with all three tight ends involved here to some degree.

So, you know, again, the Bengals defense isn't good, that's a caveat that has to be taken into account with this particular result, but still encouraging to see that when Baltimore is challenged, they can actually go out and throw the ball also a little.

Yes, it is indeed a huge development.

I'm glad you brought that up because coming into this game, Lamar had only attempted 33 passes in the previous two games.

Right.

And it was clearly a winning formula.

Um, it's really really nice to see them in a shootout and do it again with the caveat that it was the Cincinnati defense.

Um, I do think it's kind of like the idea that a passing game can put Baltimore on edge and they, you know, just can't get any stops.

Um, and it's not last year's version of the Ravens defense and that has to do with the personnel and that has to do with the fact that all the coaches are gone and it's just a defense that's kind of in transition Right now, the Baltimore defense is actually on some waivers in some of my leagues, and I understand that.

Um, they weren't great, um, and they were facing a, an offense that was going to put some numbers against them.

Now.

I like it, I don't know.

And sometimes Joe Brow isn't a very likeable character, but I find him a little likeable at the moment.

I mean, just like him, he's played so well and played so well all year and the offense is so fun and I would love to see, um, this version of the Bengals make a strong postseason run, but That's just unimaginable with this defense.

“Yeah, I mean,” Burrough said after the game, “like we’re not a championship-caliber team, um, and that’s very frustrating.”

I agree.

Uh, some, I think, I don't think Burrows are completely innocent and stuff.

There were at least a few throws where I thought maybe he missed some downfield stuff.

You can't spend all day harping on things like that with him.

Obviously he's not this team's biggest problem, but they're definitely going to be, you know, as Scott calls it, like the carnival team of the season where they just give up points on the other side and Burrow I have to get them back in the Throw game.

I don't know, there aren't too many other important developments in this area.

The only other thing I would like to note is that Zach Moss left the game late with an ankle injury.

Obviously, Chase Brown caught a touchdown in this game.

He had led the team with 12 carries for 46 yards.

So, uh, this obviously wasn't the right matchup to really start Chase Brown. When you really had to play it great, you got away with a touchdown.

But that's why he's not the starter, even if people drop Chase Brown early in the year.

Zack Moss is the starter.

That's why you want to hold on to those two guys because hey, if Zach Moss, you know, Knock on Wood, ever has to miss because of that ankle injury, you know, he gets a game, we get a game against him Giants next week where Chase Brown would probably be on the rankings.

Um, certainly among the top 15 defenders.

Yes, that's a really good thing to point out.

It was mostly Zach Moss' backcourt.

I just want to say, uh, you know, based on my casual check-ins on that game, uh, it seemed like it was mostly Zach Moss' backcourt before the injury.

Um, but that's a very good hint, because the upcoming duel seems to be pretty friendly.

Close