BEREA, Ohio — Heading into the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, there was a different energy in the locker room. In fact, that energy had started to shift the week before heading into the Ravens game. A foundation had been growing, fostered by a disdain for the record in which the team holds—and nourished with a little throwback playlist blaring as they got ready for the game.
It may have been in jest, but Bitonio and Garrett might be on to something. Maybe it didn't need to be 90s rap specifically , but rather just a moment for everyone to get on the same page. Feel the same energy. Have fun and let loose. Garrett confessed that with it being a must-win game and knowing the success they'd had against the Bengals in recent years,"if there’s a game we should start to make the step forward, this is the one."
On the other side of the ball, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt may have described it best, knowing that how they played against the Bengals is exactly what they need to take into the game against the Dolphins Sunday and every game after that.