Cole Jackson and Spencer Schultz are back for another episode of After The Tape, breaking down the Ravens’ defensive performance against Cincinnati. This was a tale of two halves, and the film tells us why. Joe Burrow’s average time to throw dropped from 3.49 seconds in the first half to 2.56 in the second, as the Bengals adjusted their formations, attacked the middle of the field and found answers for Jesse Minter’s pressure packages. We go through the coverage adjustments, Nate Wiggins’ struggles against Tee Higgins, Kyle Hamilton’s difficult afternoon and the missed tackles that continue to plague this defense. There was plenty to like about Baltimore’s first-half execution, but the bigger question is why they couldn’t sustain it.
Episode Rundown
00:00 – Introduction: A tale of two halves for the Ravens defense
01:15 – Joe Burrow’s adjustment: How his time to throw changed everything
04:35 – Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey: Why condensed formations created problems
08:06 – First-half film breakdown: Jesse Minter’s simulated pressures and aggressive coverage
10:45 – Pressure and coverage working together: How Baltimore took away Burrow’s options
13:10 – Cincinnati’s second-half adjustments: Shorter routes, quicker throws and attacking leverage
17:10 – Breaking down the Tee Higgins touchdown: Kyle Hamilton, Malachi Starks and the Cover 1 debate
23:10 – The tackling problem: Poor technique, missed opportunities and playing out of control
26:50 – Defensive leadership: Who steps up when things start going wrong?
29:15 – Why the defense looked different: Playing too conservatively and failing to disrupt Burrow’s rhythm
31:00 – Looking ahead to Buffalo: Josh Allen presents another major test for Baltimore’s tackling
32:40 – Accountability and execution: What Jesse Minter needs to fix
34:00 – Closing thoughts: Why the Ravens need to maintain their first-half intensity for four quarters
