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In a highly anticipated reunion, Trey Hendrickson did manage to hit his former quarterback on Sunday, but the Ravens' pass rush couldn't generate enough disruption to stop the Cincinnati Bengals' second-half surge.
Hendrickson, now with the Bengals, finished the Week 7 matchup with two quarterback hits, zero sacks, and no tackles in Baltimore's 35-13 loss. Mike Green accounted for the Ravens' only sack of the game. As a team, Baltimore totaled six quarterback hits but failed to bring down Joe Burrow after halftime, when the Bengals' signal-caller threw four touchdown passes.
The reunion had been a major storyline throughout the week, but its true impact hinged on whether Baltimore could disrupt Cincinnati's passing attack. Early on, the Ravens' pressure helped keep the Bengals scoreless in the first half. However, that effectiveness vanished after the break as Burrow repeatedly found answers.
Hendrickson's lack of a sack doesn't mean he failed to generate pressure. His pressure total, win rate, and the attention he drew from blockers require tracking data for a full evaluation. Still, the broader contrast was damaging: Cincinnati sacked Ravens quarterback Huntley four times, while Baltimore couldn't consistently finish its opportunities against Burrow.
Hendrickson supplied two hits, but the Ravens needed more drive-ending plays from their entire defensive front.
Key Analysis
The Ravens' inability to sack Burrow in the second half proved costly, as the Bengals' quarterback torched them for four touchdowns. While Hendrickson's pressure was evident, Baltimore's pass rush lacked the finishing touch to derail Cincinnati's offense. The disparity in sacks—Cincinnati's four to Baltimore's one—underscores the Ravens' need for more impactful plays from their defensive line.
Originally reported by yahoo.