The Cincinnati Bengals face a familiar challenge when they meet the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7. Trey Hendrickson, who spent five seasons in Cincinnati, now lines up for their AFC North rival.

Meanwhile, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor faced a question about the difficulty of scheming against his former defensive end. With Hendrickson now lining up for Baltimore, Taylor acknowledged his ability before pointing to the challenge posed by the defense as a whole.

He stressed that Cincinnati must develop an effective game plan and execute it well to give themselves the best chance of winning:

“He's a good player, and again they got a lot of good players in their defense, and we got to put together a great plan and be able to execute it and give ourselves the best chance to win.”

Taylor shifted the focus from the reunion to the challenge ahead. Cincinnati will need a clear plan and sharp execution to handle Baltimore’s defense.

Cincinnati must prepare for more than just Baltimore's DE

Trey Hendrickson is just one area of a Baltimore defense Cincinnati must study closely.

The Ravens have other capable defenders who can disrupt plays. And so, Zac Taylor's team cannot focus solely on one pass rusher. Cincinnati’s offensive line must recognize pressure and protect the quarterback. The entire offense also needs to execute its assignments and avoid predictable situations.

The reunion may draw attention, but Baltimore’s wider defensive threat will test Cincinnati’s preparation from the opening snap.

Written by

Sayantan