Bengals vs. Ravens: 10 Things to Watch as These AFC North Foes Duke It out

The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens are both 6-3 this season and are in a three-way fight with Pittsburgh for the lead in the AFC North.

That makes this weekend's Bengals-Ravens showdown one of the biggest games of the NFL season to this point.

Here are 10 things to watch as the two divisional foes do battle on Sunday.

Can Andy Dalton Keep His Cool?

The Bengals' rookie signal-caller has been impressive this season, but he looked rattled last week when he took on the elite defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Baltimore will present the young QB with a similar challenge this week, and the way he responds to the pressure will go a long way toward determining the game's outcome.

Can Kelly Jennings Step It Up?

Leon Hall has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an Achilles injury last week, so it will be up to second-stringer Kelly Jennings to fill the gaping hole left in the Bengals' secondary. 

Nate Clements will be locked on Anquan Boldin, so Jennings will be responsible for Torrey Smith and the rest of the Ravens' receivers.

Keep a close watch on Jennings all game long.

Can Cedric Benson Finally Get Things Rolling?

It has been a long five weeks since running back Cedric Benson has posted a 100-yard game, and that's awfully concerning for the Bengals' offense.

The Bengals' passing attack has been able to carry the load (for the most part), but Benson will have to step it up in a big way for the Bengals to have a chance against Baltimore this weekend.

The Ravens boast the No. 3 rush-defense in the NFL, so Cincinnati will likely approach the contest with a pass-heavy game-plan, but Benson will still have to get the most out of his touches in order to balance out the Bengals' offensive attack.

Who Will Step Up If Green Is a No-Go?

Rookie wide receiver A.J. Green is questionable for Sunday's game after coming down awkwardly after a touchdown grab last week, so Cincinnati will look to Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell and tight end Jermaine Gresham to carry the load if Green can't suit up.

Andy Dalton was able to spread the ball to several of the Bengals' lesser-known receivers in the second half of last week's matchup with Pittsburgh, but he certainly missed Green during a last effort, fourth-quarter drive that ended with a turnover.

How Will Bengals Respond to Baltimore's Pass-Rush?

Cincinnati has done a relatively nice job of protecting the quarterback so far this season, but they have yet to face a pass rush as dominant as Baltimore's.

If the Bengals are going to have a chance, they'll have to slow down Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis and the rest of the Ravens' stout defense.

Pay close attention to the play of tackles Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith, as they will be responsible for keeping Andy Dalton safe and sound in the pocket all afternoon.

Can Flacco Get It Together?

Baltimore's offense has been remarkably inconsistent the past several weeks, and quarterback Joe Flacco has been at the root of their problems.

Flacco hasn't been making game-ruining mistakes per se, but his accuracy and decision-making have been awfully questionable.

His play on Sunday could almost directly dictate the outcome of this ballgame.

Can Ray Rice Pick It Back Up?

Ray Rice is a sensational running back, but he too has had some serious issues over the past several weeks.

Four games have passed since Rice racked up 100 yards on the ground, and that is almost unheard of for a back of his caliber. 

Unfortunately for Baltimore, Cincinnati stuffs the run as well as anyone in the league, so Rice will most certainly have his work cut out for him this week.

Who Will Be Anquan Boldin's Partner in Crime?

Anquan Boldin has been putting up monster numbers the past several weeks, but he can't do it alone.

Cincinnati will undoubtedly focus on stopping Boldin in passing situations, so someone else will have to step it up for the Ravens if they hope to move the ball through the air.

Look for rookie Torrey Smith and tight end Ed Dickson to draw a ton of looks from Flacco as the Ravens attempt to take advantage of Cincinnati's banged-up secondary.

Can the Baltimore O-Line Deal with Cincy's Front Seven?

Baltimore's defensive front seven has a reputation for being dominant, but Cincinnati's isn't too far behind.

The Bengals have already recorded 25 sacks this season, including five in last week's clash with Pittsburgh, and their defensive line is quietly developing into one of the NFL's best.

Joe Flacco will have to find a way to make plays outside of the pocket on Sunday as he'll be under heavy pursuit all afternoon long.

Can the Ravens Bounce Back as a Team?

It's never easy to bounce back from a loss, but it's even harder to bounce back from a loss to the lowly Seattle Seahawks.

The Ravens responded to their dismal Week 7 loss against Jacksonville with two consecutive wins over Arizona and Pittsburgh, so it should be interesting to see if they can bounce back in the same fashion this week after falling flat in Seattle.