Top takeaways from Ravens dominant win over Bengals: Marlon Humphrey for DPOY

The Baltimore Ravens improved their record to 4-1 and won their second straight game since losing their first to the Kansas City Chiefs by using an explosive first quarter from their offense and a phenomenal performance by their defense to dominate the Cincinnati Bengals 27-3 in Week Five.

Here is one of the top takeaways that I observed from the Ravens second blowout over an AFC North opponent by more than 20 points:

CB Marlon Humphrey is in DPOY conversation

After a breakout season in 2019 where he established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the league and earned First-Team All-Pro honors, the Ravens’ first-round selection of the 2017 draft out of Alabama was rewarded with the second richest contract ever given to a player at his position.

In the two games since signing his five-year extension worth $98 million and $66 million guaranteed, he has not given the Ravens any reason to second guess extending him.

He has established himself as arguably the best overall defender in the league regardless of position and according to his current and former teammates, has officially entered the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year.

Against the Bengals on Sunday, Humphrey had another stellar all-round performance from coverage, tackling, pass-rushing, and playmaking standpoints.

He recorded five total tackles including one for loss, his first full career sack, and forced his third fumble in the last four games that resulted in the defense’s second touchdown of the season after rookie inside linebacker Patrick Queen scooped the loose ball off the turf and returned 53 yards for a score.

“Marlon is great. I didn’t know he was this great,” Queen said. “This is like something I’ve never seen before. … He should be Defensive Player of the Year at the end of this year with how he’s playing.”

Humphrey seems to have perfected the art of punching the ball out of the grasp of pass catchers. It is a beautiful thing to watch with the way he often baits receivers into turning the ball over by allowing them to make the catch and establish possession while he secures the tackle with one arm before punching it out with his opposite hand.

In the rare instances where he does give up a reception even then the ball is never safe from his patented ‘fruit punch’ because he is still able to get a hand around to dislodge the ball while the receiver is running in stride or is in the process of switching hands or attempting to put the ball away.

In the Ravens’ last two games, both wins, he made a pair of skill position players pay dearly for fighting for extra yards or not immediately getting down once he had them wrapped up.

“When you see Marlon, why do you still run the ball? Just get down!” Queen said. “It doesn’t make any sense because he does this over and over again. They’re just trying to get yards, but Marlon is Marlon.”

Last week in the team’s win over the Washington Football Team he ripped the ball out of the clutches of running back JD McKissic after stopping him for a loss behind the line of scrimmage on a check-down pass.

On Sunday he had Bengals receiver Mike Thomas wrapped up after making a reception for a first down and before he swung him down to the turf, he got his fist in there to punch the ball out.

“Man, I had a lot of fun today,” Humphrey said. “We don’t really care who makes a play, and I think that’s what makes it so fun. Whoever makes a play, it seems like we all celebrate, like we made it.”

Humphrey’s forced fumbles aren’t just timely turnovers, they are game-changing plays that either provides the Ravens all the momentum they need to pull ahead, helps seal a victory, plunges the final dagger of defeat into the hope of a comeback for the opposition, and sometimes even result in points on a scoop and score or sets the offense up with a short field and in prime scoring position.

Through the first five games of the 2020 season, the Ravens’ and possibly the league’s top cornerback has recorded 28 total tackles including 22 solos and one for loss, three forced fumbles including two that were taken back for touchdowns, one interception, three quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, and five pass deflections.

Only 11 defensive backs have ever won Defensive Player of the Year and six were cornerbacks with the most recent being the New England Patriot’s Stephon Gilmore last season. Linebackers have won the award more than any other position with 16 recipients in its 49-year history.

However, if Humphrey keeps churning out game-altering splash plays and turnovers at his current pace, he’ll be the clear cut option to bring home the hardware by seasons end.

“Marlon, I feel like he should be up for Defensive MVP,” said Ravens quarterback and reigning league MVP Lamar Jackson. “If not, give it to him early.”

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