Ravens (10-5) at Bengals (4-10-1)
Sunday, 1 ET, Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
TV: CBS
Danny Sheridan’s line: Ravens by 11 1⁄
2
Ravens’ keys to victory: Baltimore’s ground game, led by RB J.K. Dobbins, should be the No. 1 key. When the Ravens shoved around the Bengals in a 27-3 Week 5 win, it was RB Mark Ingram II rumbling for a 5.2-yard average while the entire offense ran for 161 yards on a 6.7-yard average. That opened up the passing game, which included WR Marquise Brown popping off for 77 yards and a score while averaging 12.8 yards per catch. Cincinnati’s defense has improved in recent weeks, but as long as QB Lamar Jackson avoids risky throws (something Cincinnati’s opponents haven’t done lately), the offense should enjoy smooth sailing.
Bengals’ keys to victory: The defense will have to do the heavy lifting because they aren’t likely to have RB Joe Mixon and will potentially be without WR Tyler Boyd. During Cincinnati’s upset of Pittsburgh in Week 15, the offense limited Ryan Finley to 13 passing attempts compared to 41 rushes, and the formula would have been similar if Brandon Allen had been the quarterback. The offense will need a big day from RB Giovani Bernard to keep Jackson off the field.
Matchup to watch: Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey vs. Bengals WR Tee Higgins. The rookie receiver has been huge all year, and that’s especially the case late in the season. He’ll be the target of plenty of contested catches, so whether guys like Humphrey can stop him from keeping drives alive could decide the game.
Who wins? Baltimore is the more complete team and should have plenty to play for while the Bengals limp to the finish line.
Ravens 27-14