Former Cincinnati Bengals coach admits difficulty in preparing for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson
The Cincinnati Bengals are preparing for the 2026 season by upgrading their defense to better withstand elite offenses across the league. The team lost key pass rushers Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai in free agency while Cam Sample signed with the 49ers. In response, Cincinnati signed edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract and added veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen on a two-year deal.
The secondary gained depth with safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger. The Bengals are also expected to invest heavily in the unit in the upcoming draft, with eight picks, including No. 10 overall.
One of the primary tests will come against the Baltimore Ravens, who remain anchored by quarterback Lamar Jackson. Cincinnati will see its AFC North twice next season and will look to improve on their poor record against Baltimore in recent years.
Former Bengals senior defensive assistant Mark Duffner, who coached with Cincinnati from 2019-2024 after earlier stints as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator, recently described the challenge of preparing for Jackson.
“I prayed first. I prayed hard,” Duffner said. “Defending that cat is a tough, tough deal” (via Glen Clark Radio).
In 14 career games against the Bengals, Jackson holds an 11-3 record. He has completed 228 of 365 passes (62.5 percent) for 2,868 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions, posting a 101.9 passer rating. On the ground, he has rushed for 837 yards and added 22 rushing touchdowns across those matchups. Overall, he averages 204.9 passing yards and 59.8 rushing yards per game against the Bengals.
In the 2025 season, the two teams split their matchups with mixed results for Jackson. Jackson went 17-of-32 for 246 yards with no touchdowns, one interception and two fumbles in a Ravens loss in November. In the second meeting, he completed 8 of 12 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in a 24-0 Ravens victory that included a pick-six. Across those two games, Jackson posted a combined passer rating of 83.1 with 396 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing for limited yardage.
Jackson’s dual-threat ability has repeatedly stressed Cincinnati’s front seven and secondary. His mobility forces linebackers and safeties into uncomfortable run fits, while his arm talent exploits over-pursuit.
The Bengals’ new pieces under defensive coordinator Al Golden target those exact vulnerabilities. Mafe brings elite pass-rush win rate and run-stop metrics from his time in Seattle. Allen adds proven interior disruption and gap discipline. Combined with returning pieces such as Myles Murphy and the restructured secondary, the unit could perhaps stand a chance to limit Jackson’s scramble yards and force him into predictable dropbacks.