John Harbaugh calls Bengals 'the most talented team in the league'

Ravens coach John Harbaugh had nothing but kind words for the Bengals ahead of Sunday's game. Chris Humphreys/USA TODAY Sports

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  Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- To avoid the first 0-3 start in franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens must overcome their biggest challenge of the season on Sunday, when they play the Cincinnati Bengals. At least, that's the opinion of Ravens coach John Harbaugh.

Asked about the Bengals' wide receivers, Harbaugh went out of his way to bestow a major compliment on the AFC North leaders.

"I’ll tell you, I do believe it is the most talented team in the league," Harbaugh said.

You read that correctly. Not the Patriots. Not the Packers. Not even the Stealers.

Harbaugh puts the Bengals above all of them based on their personnel, and Cincinnati is indeed loaded with impact players. For the last four years — all playoff seasons — the Bengals have been known as one of the most balanced teams in the league. The biggest knock on Cincinnati has been its quarterback, but this season Andy Dalton has yet to throw an interception, get sacked or lose a fumble.

"We have great respect for them, for their coaches [and] the way they play," Harbaugh said. "Obviously, it starts with A.J. Green, but the whole cast of characters there on offense is very talented and gifted – tight ends, running backs, quarterback. The whole group is very good, and they have a heck of an offensive line. I’d say they’re the complete package, talent-wise.”

Cincinnati has certainly earned such respect. The Bengals have beaten the Ravens in three straight meetings, including a sweep last season. The last time Harbaugh knocked off Cincinnati was November 2013.

If the Ravens can't end that streak Sunday, they will fall three games behind the Bengals. That would be a lot of ground to make up against the most talented team in the NFL.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/22152/john-harbaugh-calls-bengals-most-talented-team-in-the-league

IT'S A TRAAAAAAAPPPP!

They plan to win this game and by labeling us the best in the league, ...they would have beat the best.

The label doesn't help them if they lose, ...and they will.

They plan to win this game and by labeling us the best in the league, ...they would have beat the best.

The label doesn't help them if they lose, ...and they will.

Just looking at their defense and some of the highlights of the Oakland game.  They simply don't look capable of getting much pressure on Andy nor do they seem able to cover multiple receivers well.   Also, Flacco isn't going to have all day to throw like he did against Oakland.   

We all wondered what Baltimore had done in the off season to get such a high pre season rank,...the answer was nothing. 

Just looking at their defense and some of the highlights of the Oakland game.  They simply don't look capable of getting much pressure on Andy nor do they seem able to cover multiple receivers well.   Also, Flacco isn't going to have all day to throw like he did against Oakland.   

We all wondered what Baltimore had done in the off season to get such a high pre season rank,...the answer was nothing. 

But Ozzie is a genius.

But Ozzie is a genius.

Walks on water, shits rose petals.

Walks on water, shits rose petals.

And pisses liquid gold.

Does this remind anybody else of what Belichick did last year?

John Harbaugh is the biggest crybaby of all the head coaches  He can go fuck himself.

 

The Bengals are the better team, they've proven they can win on the road in Baltimore, and being desperate won't make the Ravens more focused. Both teams were going to be amped for this one regardless of the records.

And fwiw being a so-called wounded animal isn't an advantage. If it were the Bengals would have won a Super Bowl last year.

I've been saying it for months. The Bengals are a better team than they were a year ago. Perhaps much better. Meanwhile, the Ravens bled talent during the offseason.

Bengal players won't need to be motivated for this one.

 

John Harbaugh is the biggest crybaby of all the head coaches  He can go fuck himself.

 

You can play the drinking game on Sunday where you have to drink every time Harbaugh has an incredulous look on his face.

Without ex-players giving their coaches our play calls it should be a game we win.

Just looking at their defense and some of the highlights of the Oakland game.  They simply don't look capable of getting much pressure on Andy nor do they seem able to cover multiple receivers well.   Also, Flacco isn't going to have all day to throw like he did against Oakland.   

We all wondered what Baltimore had done in the off season to get such a high pre season rank,...the answer was nothing. 

I think this would have been a win even with Suggs in the game, ...without him it's almost a homecoming game for us.

Your right, ...they did nothing to help themselves this off season and that is the whole reason I had this one pegged as a win.

I was just looking at their depth chart. They seem really thin on D without Ngati, Suggs, Elam.....I don't see a great threat.

Offense isn't much better. If we shore up our run D, Forsett isn't Gordon, and cover the TE that scored a couple of TDs last week and stop Smith from pushing off, I don't see much of a threat there either.

 

Ravens can cause the defense problems by attacking the LBs of course.     One of our worse front 7 games had to be last year's home game against Ravens.     They do a lot of play action and Flacco counter boots.   He had all day and they often drag a receiving option to the same side Flacco rolls.   On the shallow routes the LBs can't get lost or left behind.

With #80 and a dive back they'd do straight line short route stop and turn in front of the LBs a bunch of times then start double moves off that.   They get enough of that stuff the pass rush will have a difficult time.     However, San Diego has more speed and they got their plays but I don't think Baltimore has the equivalent skill guys.