The Baltimore Ravens will likely be on the highway in Week 2 the place they’ll tackle the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Though they’re heading into the matchup as gentle underdogs in opposition to two-time defending AFC North champions who acquired shellacked in a lopsided loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 1.

In nearly each recreation, there’s a play or two made that helped swing the momentum again right into a group’s favor or lengthen their result in put an opponent away for good. There are a handful of choose gamers who aren’t being talked about as a lot forward of this recreation that could possibly be pivotal in figuring out the result of this Week 2 contest.

Under are a handful of these particular person gamers that might show to be deciding components.

OLB Jadeveon Clowney

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The three-time Professional Bowler had an underrated but very disruptive Ravens debut in opposition to the Houston Texans—who drafted him No. 1 total in 2014—in Week 1 though it wasn’t mirrored within the field rating. Clowney could possibly be poised for his breakout recreation in purple, black, and white after watching his most up-to-date former group—the Cleveland Browns—completely terrorize and torment Joe Burrow and the Bengals’ offensive line with relentless stress.

One of the crucial inventive and efficient schematic wrinkles that the Browns used to always harass Cincinnati’s two-time Professional Bowl sign caller was letting four-time Professional Bowl defensive finish Myles Garrett transfer inside. Cleveland Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz let him get up and choose which inside offensive lineman he wished to move on his approach to collapsing the pocket from up the center. Though Clowney isn’t fairly the identical stage of elite athlete as Garrett and the chance of him trying to tug a crossover on Bengals heart Ted Karras is low, he may nonetheless be a really disruptive power as a move rusher who may take turns with Odafe Oweh lineup in and out.

DB Geno Stone

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The fourth-year professional is slated to make his ninth profession begin in opposition to the Bengals on Sunday instead of the injured Marcus Williams who’s out with a pec damage. Fortunately he acquired 8 video games of invaluable expertise below his belt final season below the identical circumstances when Williams missed time with a dislocated wrist.

Whereas he wasn’t and isn’t the identical splashy ballhawk because the high-priced defensive again that he’s stepping in for, Stone remains to be a stabilizing presence within the backend that may unlock Kyle Hamilton to go make performs all around the area and dissuade quarterbacks from attempting to throw the ball deep down the sector. In school and for flashes within the NFL, Stone has proven a nostril for the ball and though he solely has one profession interception within the common season, it was a superb showcase of the playmaking expertise a group seems to be for in a beginning caliber free security.

WR Rashod Bateman

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The 2021 first-rounder had a stable Week 1 outing by hauling in all three of his targets 35 receiving yards in his first recreation again since having his 2022 season reduce quick by a Lisfranc foot damage. With all the eye that first-round rookie Zay Flowers and three-time Professional Bowler Odell Beckham Jr. will doubtless garner, Bateman could possibly be the beneficiary of some key one-on-one conditions the place he may take benefit to make some large performs and even rating. When wholesome, he has confirmed that he possesses a whole ability set by way of arms, route, operating skill, elusiveness within the open area, and a pure skill to separate.

P Jordan Stout

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The complete league is effectively conscious of the kind of reliably clutch weapon that future Corridor of Fame kicker Justin Tucker is however the second-year punter seems to be on his approach to establishing himself as effectively. In Week 1, Stout averaged 49.8 yards per punt on 5 makes an attempt and pinned the Texans again in their very own 20-yard line 3 times.

His skill to flip the sector and put opposing offenses in a disadvantageous area place by pinning them again deep is an incredible asset and weapon. It may possibly assist the protection doubtlessly set their group’s offense with a shorter distance to journey to get into scoring place for a landing or area aim in what is going to doubtless be an in depth recreation.