The Baltimore Ravens have won three straight games, but they aren’t winning in the most convincing of matters.
Their most recent victory, a 41-38 overtime victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, was only made possible after a missed field from the Bengals in the extra period. The Ravens’ defense has been gashed multiple times this season and made games closer than one would expect given the offense’s performance so far this season.
In their win against the Bengals, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow accumulated 392 passing yards and five touchdowns. At least one core member of the Ravens’ defense knows this is unacceptable if the team wants to compete for Super Bowls.
Star safety Kyle Hamilton sounded off on the defense’s performance, according to Pro Football Talk.
“I don’t really know how much the defense did for us to win,” Hamilton said of his unit’s showing against the Bengals.
“I think most of our problems is nothing structural, it’s fundamental stuff,” Hamilton told reporters on Wednesday, via Pro Football Talk.
“We’ve got to tackle, get off blocks, we’ve got to communicate. We’ve been saying this for five weeks now. It’s time to start actually doing it, not coming up here and just saying it. It’s up to us on the back end to get that fixed and go out and play a complete game.”
It’s early in the season still, but if Baltimore can’t figure out that side of the ball the Ravens will likely end up settling for another disappointing playoff exit.