Red-Hot Cincinnati Awaits Baltimore
After the Baltimore Ravens had to travel to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 18, they will have to do it again in the Wild Card game for Sunday Night Football. Last week, the Bengals (12-4) beat the Ravens 27-16 in the regular-season finale, which had the potential to decide where this AFC North rivalry playoff game was held.
The Ravens (10-7) rested some key players last week, though they had a potential shot at the AFC North, but winning big games has been challenging without Lamar Jackson, who has been out since Week 13. The Bengals did not rest as many players, but after jumping to a 24-7 halftime lead, they looked sluggish in the final two quarters before holding on to win their eighth straight.
Let’s check the latest NFL odds, stats, injury reports, and NFL lines for Ravens vs Bengals. We’ve plenty of Vegas NFL odds for NFL Wild Card Playoffs Games.
Ravens vs Bengals Betting Lines
Quarterback Issues for Ravens
It’s nearly impossible not to talk about this upcoming playoff game without the question marks surrounding the starting quarterback for the Ravens. The uncertainty of who that will be can make this game complicated.
Jackson has been out since suffering a knee injury in Week 13 and hasn’t practiced since, meaning if he plays, there will be some rust. The second option is Tyler Huntley, who missed last week’s game with a shoulder injury and is questionable. The final option is last week’s starter, Anthony Brown, who threw interceptions on two of his first three drives.
That will make the ground game extremely important if the Ravens want any offensive success. J.K. Dobbins rested in Week 18, having struggled with injuries all season and playing in just eight games. However, he has looked good while playing, leading all running backs in yards with 520 and scoring two touchdowns. Having him healthy is crucial since the Ravens did find some rushing holes last week, finishing with 110 yards.
Most of the pressure to win falls on the Ravens’ defense to perform in this game. They have been solid all season, holding opponents to the third-fewest points. But last week, especially in the first half, the Bengals moved the ball on them every which way, scoring 17 points one minute into the second quarter. Seeing the Bengals in back-to-back weeks might help them a little.
Bengals Keep Foot on the Gas
The Bengals opened the season with two straight losses and closed with eight consecutive wins, capturing their second straight AFC North title. The tragic event against the Buffalo Bills and Damar Hamlin kept them from pushing for possibly a better seeding in the playoffs, but last season they won two road games on their way to the Super Bowl.
While the offense for the Bengals gets a lot of attention and deservingly so, for being top-10 in points and yards, the defense should not be overlooked. Last week, it forced four turnovers, two interceptions, and fumbles. The two interceptions came in the first quarter, which led to an easy touchdown, and one fumble was recovered in the end zone. It probably helped to be facing a third-string quarterback making his first career start. Still, the Bengals’ defense came up with big plays, and no matter who the quarterback is, they are a team that can come up with those plays.
It was not an overly impressive day for Joe Burrow, who finished the game with 215 yards on 42 attempts and only one touchdown. However, it seemed they slowed down a little with the game in hand before halftime. Furthermore, knowing the Bengals would have to play the Ravens again just a week later, maybe they saved some plays not to tip their hand.
Ravens vs Bengals Game Injuries
Ravens vs Bengals Head-to-Head
These AFC North rivals have split their games this season. In their first meeting in Week 5, the Ravens won on a game-winning field goal by Justin Tucker. With so much time between games and last week being more about preparing for the playoffs, it is hard to gauge the value of each one headed into the playoff matchup. However, in a divisional playoff game, there are usually few game-plan secrets that haven’t already been exposed.
Ravens vs Bengals Game Information
- Game: Ravens vs Bengals
- Date: Sunday, January 15
- Time: 8:15 p.m. EST
- Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
- How to watch Ravens vs Bengals? ESPN
Ravens vs Bengals Live stream: NFL Game Pass
Ravens vs Bengals Game Weather Conditions
It looks like it will be a cold night in Cincinnati, with temperatures at 38 degrees Fahrenheit around kickoff and staying around that till the end of the game, but no sign of rain.
Ravens vs Bengals Picks & Prediction
Predicted score: Bengals 24, Ravens 13
- Worth betting on the Moneyline?
This is going to be a challenging game for the Ravens to win. Their quarterback situation is unknown, and if Jackson does end up playing, there is a good chance he is rusty. You could bet on the Bengals, but they are such massive favorites, not making them great value.
- Worth Betting ATS?
Last week, this game was a push on an 11-point spread. Taking the Bengals to cover on a spread now sitting at 10 points is a good choice since the offense is not likely to take the second half off this game. Plus, there are the possibilities of defensive scores, just like last week. However, it is essential to note the game opened up at 6½ points, favoring the Bengals, and may keep moving in that direction given the Ravens’ quarterback situation.
- Worth Betting on the Totals?
This is going to be an AFC North playoff game in the cold. There is a good chance there won’t be a lot of offense, along with the Ravens’ quarterback questions. However, it could be a tricky bet on the under because the Bengals’ offense could do enough to hit the over.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
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Ravens vs Bengals Game Summary
