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Watch: Joe Mixon scores first TD of season to give Bengals lead over Raiders

Joe Mixon scored his first TD of the year against the Raiders.

Joe Mixon has his first touchdown of the year and the Cincinnati Bengals secured the lead over the Oakland Raiders in the process.

After a gutsy call from Zac Taylor on a fourth down to keep the drive alive, the Bengals marched down the field in the first quarter to take the lead over the Raiders, 7-0.

Mixon, in front of a friendly crowd given his hometown, ripped off a wicked field-reversal to make the score official.

After his first 100-yard game of the season a week ago in a loss to the Ravens, Mixon’s first touchdown is something the Bengals hope spurs a revival of the ground attack and eventually leads to some wins.

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Ravens demolish Texans 41-7: Instant analysis

The Baltimore Ravens absolutely demolished yet another playoff contender, taking down the Houston Texans by a final score of 41-7.

The Baltimore Ravens demolished yet another playoff contender, taking down the Houston Texans 41-7 in Week 11.

Though the Ravens and Texans got off to a slow start, Baltimore heated up quickly and put Houston in their rearview mirror before halftime. With Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and the offense applying pressure on the scoreboard, the defense applied pressure to Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, forcing bad throws and mistakes.

Take a look down below at my instant analysis of each scoring drive to see how the game flowed through four quarters.

First quarter:

 

Second quarter:

Ravens 7 – Texans 0

Drive analysis: We finally got a typical Ravens drive after a first quarter full of mistakes. Baltimore got tight ends Hayden Hurst and Nick Boyle, as well as fullback Patrick Ricard involved in the passing attack. Jackson adds 12 yards on the ground before wide receiver Seth Roberts highpoints a pass in the middle of the end zone for a touchdown.

 

Ravens 14 – Texans 0

Drive analysis: The Ravens are in a rhythm now. This drive got started with a 17-yard pass to Marquise Brown before Jackson picked up another first down with a 12-yard run. Running back Gus Edwards added a big run, finding a crease on the left side and outracing defenders for 26 yards into the red zone. A perfectly-placed 18-yard touchdown throw to tight end Mark Andrews add to the lead.

Third quarter:

Ravens 21 – Texans 0

Drive analysis: Getting the ball to open the second half, Baltimore marched down the field. A huge pass interference call on a deep throw to Brown got a big chunk of yards. Willie Snead got a high pass for a big first down before Ingram gets a short dump-off pass he took 25 yards untouched for a touchdown.

 

Ravens 24 – Texans 0

Drive analysis: Another game and another highlight-reel worthy run by Jackson. He showed power and agility, breaking away from and juking out defenders on a 39-yard scamper. Jackson was contained far better in the red zone, forcing a 34-yard field goal.

 

Ravens 27 – Texans 0

Drive analysis: Pressure got to Watson, forcing him to scramble and throw across his body. Right into a pile of Ravens players with linebacker Josh Bynes coming down with it. The offense is now playing conservatively, letting Tucker kick a 46-yard field goal to extend their lead and chew up clock.

Fourth quarter:

Ravens 34 – Texans 0

Drive analysis: Baltimore’s defense got the job done, stopping Houston on fourth down to get the ball back and keep the shutout going. The offense was content grinding down the clock until Andrews took a pass over the middle 51 yards into the Texans’ red zone. Two plays later and Jackson found Ingram on a 12-yard touchdown pass.

 

Ravens 34 – Texans 7

Drive analysis: With the game over and the Ravens sitting on the deep pass, running back Carlos Hyde broke open up the middle and raced defenders into the end zone on a 41-yard run.

 

Ravens 41 – Texans 7

Drive analysis: The Ravens are just trying to milk the clock and end this game with Robert Griffin III in now. But Edwards apparently wanted to get in on the fun as well, breaking off a 63-yard touchdown run. He made a great jump cut on the left side and it turned into a track meet as Edwards glided down the field untouched.

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Titans were in attendance at Colin Kapernick’s workout

The future remains uncertain at quarterback for the Titans, and it’s clear the team is keeping its options open.

The future remains uncertain at quarterback for the Titans, and it’s clear the team is keeping its options open.

Tennessee was also one of eight NFL teams in attendance at Colin Kapernick’s workout on Saturday.

The workout was supposed to be held at the Atlanta Falcons facility, but Kaepernick changed the location and circumstances last-minute due to his own reservations with what the league was doing.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions were some of the other teams that attended.

The original event was set to include 25 teams.

Neither Marcus Mariota nor Ryan Tannehill is signed onto a contract for next year, so it will be interesting to see if the team – or any other club for the matter – would make the move to add the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback to the roster.

Bringing on Kaepernick doesn’t necessarily sound like the best move for the Titans at this point in the season, or at any time between now and next season, given the talent of the 2020 NFL Draft class.

Prospects like Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert and Jordan Love have plenty of upside and would probably serve as a better long-term option for Tennessee than Kaepernick would.

The Titans will face the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars next at 3:05 p.m. CT on Sunday.

Watch again: Lamar Jackson shreds the Texans on a 39-yard run

Another game and another highlight-reel worthy run from Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. He showed power and speed on this run

Lamar Jackson is [insert uninvented adjective]. In what has become a weekly occurrence, the Baltimore Ravens’ second-year quarterback is destroying every defense in his path with remarkable, logic-defying runs. Against the Houston Texans in Week 11, Jackson yet again proved he’s the most electric quarterback in the league.

The Texans had the elusive quarterback nearly wrapped up when, in true Jackson fashion, he casually slipped through their fingers and moved upfield with a burst of speed and vision that can only be described as… “whaaaaa?”

Jackson then slipped past another defender and, with the aid of a Hayden Hurst block, set his sights on the end zone. With seemingly the entire Texans’ defense in tow, Jackson ran 39 yards ahead like a bullet. If not for Texans safety Justin Reid, this one may have gone the distance.

Ian Eagle’s “uh oh” to prelude the play might be my favorite thing ever. It was perfect, probably because we were all thinking it.

And that’s the magic of Jackson.

If he has the ball and the slimmest of chances, anything can happen. Even when the opposing defense has him covered and cornered, he can make you pay. And it’s become arguably the most exciting trend in the NFL… a trend Ravens fans can’t wait to see continue.

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Ravens DT Michael Pierce, WR Chris Moore inactive vs. Texans

The Baltimore Ravens are without defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who suffered an ankle injury last week, against the Houston Texans

The Baltimore Ravens will be without the services of starting defensive tackle Michael Pierce in Week 11 against the Houston Texans.

With the Texans featuring one of the best rushing attacks in the league, Pierce’s absence due to an ankle injury will put more pressure on the Ravens’ defense to remain stout upfront. However, there’s some hope defensive tackles Domata Peko and Justin Ellis will help after both were signed earlier this week.

The need for both Peko and Ellis could be why rookie cornerback Iman Marshall is also listed as inactive. Marshall was activated from injured reserve earlier in the week, having missed the entire season thus far. But with Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Carr, Marcus Peters and Jimmy Smith still in the secondary, there’s a bigger need to offset Pierce’s absence on the defensive line.

Take a look at the list of inactives for both Baltimore and Houston this week.

Baltimore Ravens inactives:

QB Trace McSorley
WR Chris Moore
WR Jaleel Scott
CB Iman Marshall
G Ben Powers
DT Zach Sieler
DT Michael Pierce

Houston Texans inactives:

WR Steven Mitchell Jr.
WR Will Fuller V
CB Bradley Roby
CB Vernon Hargreaves III
ILB Tyrell Adams
T Chris Clarks
DE Joel Heath

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Can Joe Mixon bail out Bengals defense and spur an upset of Raiders?

Can Joe Mixon help the Bengals beat the Raiders?

The Cincinnati Bengals sit on the edge of an 0-10 start to the Zac Taylor era.

A 5-4 Oakland Raiders team is the only thing separating the Bengals from such a dubious fate.

The Bengals are on the road for their second game after the bye week. The first was a 49-13 home loss to Baltimore. And while it’s easy to pin that debacle on the MVP candidacy of Lamar Jackson, Cincinnati has struggled on defense all year. The team coughs up 429.4 yards per game, worst in the NFL. Don’t forget 173.0 rushing yards per game (last) and 28.8 points (fourth-worst).

This is all worth spotlighting because the Raiders — winners of two in a row– have put up 31 and 26 points in those victories. Rookie of the Year contender Josh Jacobs has averaged 4.8 yards per carry with 811 yards and seven scores, tallying 39 first downs. Derek Carr has completed 70.8 percent of his passes with a 14-4 touchdowns-interceptions ratio and a tight end, Darren Waller, leads the team in receiving with 588 yards and three scores.

Given Cincinnati’s inability to stop the run or tight ends, this is problematic. The front office cut Preston Brown while trying to shake up the locker room, but the bulk of the responsibility still falls on rookie Germaine Pratt, who continues to go through weekly growing pains.

It seems the only hope for the Bengals out west rests on the shoulders of the offense experiencing a turnaround. Thanks to some changes in approach to gap play, Joe Mixon got going for 114 yards on a 3.8 average last week. But rookie starter Ryan Finley coughed up 14 points of his own on turnovers.

Normally, the lack of worthwhile film on a new rookie starter under center might help a team like the Bengals pull off a few surprises. But asking Finley to make another leap in a brutal environment without guys like A.J. Green and John Ross is a tough sell.

Unless Mixon has an otherworldly performance, it’s easy to see this one falling into a familiar feeling. Oakland cruises on the ground and opens up a lead early. Finley, shoved into playing from behind, makes a few understandable mistakes as he learns on the fly and the Bengals head back to Cincinnati with an 0-10 record.

Prediction: Raiders 30, Bengals 14

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Report: Ravens did not attend Colin Kaepernick workout

The Baltimore Ravens were not among the eight teams in attendance at Colin Kaepernick’s workout this weekend.

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As former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick continues his comeback attempt into the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens don’t seem to be terribly interested. The Ravens were not among the eight teams present at Kaepernick’s Saturday workout, according to Adam Schefter.

The NFL had put together an out-of-the-blue workout for Kaepernick at the Atlanta Falcons’ facility, seeing 25 teams represented according to a statement from the league. But with disputes over the transparency of the workout between the quarterback and the league, Kaepernick provided a sudden change of plans, moving the workout to a separate facility and out from under the constraints put on by the league. Though Kaepernick’s workout was considered to be positive, Baltimore already has three mobile quarterbacks that fit their scheme on their roster and for cheap.

Baltimore had previously teased the idea of signing Kaepernick back in 2017. When Joe Flacco went down with an injury that season, Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters the team had not ruled out signing Kaepernick at the time. Owner Steve Bisciotti also noted the team had discussed the idea internally. But much has changed with the team since that point, leaving the Ravens set at quarterback right now.

Baltimore now has Lamar Jackson as their franchise quarterback and earning MVP talk in just his second season in the league. Backing him up is former Washington Redskins quarterback and Heisman winner Robert Griffin III. In the third-string role is former Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley.

Griffin is under contract through the 2020 season and carries $1.5 million and $2.5 million cap hits in each season, according to Over The Cap. McSorley is under a rookie contract that has him signed through the 2022 season. Jackson, if using the fifth-year option available, is on a rookie deal through the 2022 season as well.

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Tua Tagovailoa injury alters 2020 first-round QB conversation

The Tua Tagovailoa injury appears to alter the draft.

“Tank for Tua” was a common theme surrounding the 2020 NFL draft. After benching Andy Dalton, perhaps no team was more linked to the idea than the Cincinnati Bengals.

As always, the draft outlook can change in a matter of moments. Saturday, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a serious hip injury against Mississippi State.

Tagovailoa was quickly ruled out for the rest of the season, which changes the complexion of the College Football Playoff dramatically. Conversations about whether Tagovailoa should’ve been in the game at all while up 35-7 take center stage.

Aaron Suttles of The Athletic provided the initial information on the extent of the injury:

Word of a full recovery went out later:

Tua himself wasn’t far behind in going public:

With immediate concerns out of the way, it’s worth looking at how the unfortunate circumstance impacts the top of the 2020 draft.

Tua, alongside LSU’s Joe Burrow, was one of two favorites to come off the board first overall. That figures to change now. The path to the draft for Tua is massive — he has to get healthy, show he’s healthy via medical checks, go through the normal draft process and then convince NFL teams he can stay healthy.

With a big question mark there now, the focus fully shifts to Burrow. But remaining slotted with the first pick, no matter how bad things seem, isn’t guaranteed. For now, the only other quarterback with a surefire first-round slotting is Oregon’s Justin Herbert, but he’s had problems keeping pace with Tua and Burrow in the national mindshare.

Maybe another passer emerges during the draft process after the collegiate season. But the potential constricting of first-round options for teams in need of passers is unfortunate. Obviously, the hope is Tua recovers enough to get back in the conversation, but the medical questions NFL front offices were set to put him through just became all the more daunting.

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Ravens vs. Texans Week 11: Time, TV channel and how to stream online

The Baltimore Ravens host the Houston Texans in Week 11. Here’s the NFL stream information, TV channel and more so you can watch live.

The Baltimore Ravens are in a prime position just after the midway mark in the 2019 season. They sit at 7-2, in first place in the AFC North standings and in the second seed in the AFC playoff picture. Things seem to be coming together perfectly for this team after a rocky start but they’ll have to continue answering questions about just how good they are.

In Week 11, Baltimore will get another tough test in quarterback Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans. In a game that features two of the best offenses in the league and two of the best young quarterbacks, it’s the matchup of the week.

If you’re interested in watching the game live, check out the information below, including the television channel, NFL stream link and more.

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Game information:

Houston Texans (6-3) at Baltimore Ravens (7-2)

Sunday, Nov. 17, 1:00 p.m. ET

M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD

Streaming:

Live stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Television channels:

CBS – WJZ Ch. 13 (Baltimore)

Broadcast map

TV broadcasters:

Ian Eagle (Play-by-play)
Dan Fouts (analyst)
Evan Washburn (field)

Radio:

WBAL (1090 AM/101.5 FM)
98 Rock (97.9 FM)

Radio broadcasters:

Gerry Sandusky (play-by-play)
Jarret Johnson (analyst)
Kirk McEwen (field)

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Bengals vs. Raiders: How to watch, listen and stream Week 11

Here’s how to watch Bengals vs. Raiders.

The Cincinnati Bengals take to the west coast for a late kickoff against the Oakland Raiders in Week 11.

The hosts have won two in a row and have a winning record as they hope to stick behind the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. A strong ground-based attack continues to deliver.

Those visiting Bengals remain winless and risk 0-10, one of the worst starts ever for the franchise. Rookie passer Ryan Finley will make his second start, though he still won’t have playmakers like A.J. Green or John Ross on the field.

 

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Oakland Raiders on Sunday, November 17 (4:25 p.m. ET)

TV info: CBS

Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Radio: Cincinnati – WCKY-AM (1530), Cincinnati – WEBN-FM (102.7), Cincinnati – WLW-AM (700)

Location: RingCentral Coliseum

Forecast: Cloudy, 48 degrees

Referee: Shawn Smith

Odds: Oakland -10.5

[Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.]

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