Bold Predictions: Going For The Sweep in Cincy

In Week 5, the Ravens captured a thrilling, last-second 19-17 primetime victory over the Bengals when K Justin Tucker connected on a 43-yard FG as time expired in regulation. Tucker was 4-of-4 on the night, also hitting from 37, 58 and 25 yards.

The Ravens lead the all-time series vs. Cincinnati, 28-25. Under Coach Harbaugh, Baltimore holds a 15-14 edge, with a 5-9 mark in the Queen City. The Ravens aim for a season sweep of the Bengals for the third time (2019 & 2020) in the past four seasons.

Will they get the sweep?

Tony Lombardi

This is such a weird game given the league’s decision not to reschedule the suspended game involving the Bills and Bengals. Consequently, the Ravens have no chance to win the AFC North. Meanwhile, the Bengals might opt to rest some of their stars, at least for a portion of the game as they likely settle in as the AFC’s 3rd-seed during the postseason dance. Plus, there’s a good chance that these teams reconvene next weekend in the Queen City. Or maybe not…

(Note: I had previously submitted a score of 19-17 Ravens, believing that there would be no way the league would vote to use a coin flip next week to determine which team will host, the Ravens or the Bengals, should they play each other in the wild card round. I was wrong, again. So I’ve updated my predictions.)

• Joe Burrow will throw for 225 yards and 3 scores in the first half. He’ll then take the second half off with the Bengals holding a 24-3 lead.
• On the receiving end, Tee Higgins will score twice before intermission while Tyler Boyd corrals TD toss No. 3…again, in the first half.
• The Bengals will have more net yards in the first half than the Ravens will have for the entire game.
• Ravens receivers will combine for 6 catches totaling 30 yards.
• Mark Andrews will slam his helmet in disgust at some point
• Down 30-3, John Harbaugh will challenge the spot of the ball and win, enabling Justin Tucker to kick a 55-yard field goal (instead of 56) to end the scoring.

Bengals 30, Ravens 6

[Related Article: Battle Plans Ravens at Bengals]

Darin McCann

This is a hard game to figure, because it’s just such a cloudy week for both teams. The Bengals are coming off an emotional and confusing abbreviated performance against the Bills, and have already clinched the AFC North title. The Ravens are the, well… the Ravens are just baffling all across the board, and there is no telling who will be behind center when the game starts. Let’s look at some predictions:

• Run, Ravens, run. The Ravens will figure out a way to produce some yards on the ground, largely through chunk gains, and post more than 200 yards.

• The passing game, however, will see less than 100 yards of output on the day.

• Tee Higgins goes off for more than 160 yards, as Marlon Humphrey keeps most of his attention on Mr. Chase.

• Odafe Oweh registers two sacks, as does Tyus Bowser.

Bengals 27 Ravens 9

 

Rob Shields

Late Thursday the NFL announced that it’s possible the Ravens will be able to host Cincy in a playoff matchup.  If they win this week and they are set to play Cincy in the first round, the league will flip a coin as to who gets the home game.

With that said, that tells me the teams will be trying to win, so it will be all hands on deck and both teams will do their best.

The Ravens are possibly looking at starting Anthony Brown this week, which may actually be a good thing. He has a better arm than Huntley and may be the better bet although I doubt he will be as protective of the football.

But still, even if Lamar Jackson was playing this week and both teams were trying to win, I would take Cincinatti.  I don’t see how Baltimore stops the Cincy offense or keeps up with their own.

Bengals 34 Ravens 16

Derek Arnold

My prediction? Pain. The Ravens defense will do their thing and keep things close early on, but this anemic offense will again eventually result in the dam breaking. If it’s Tyler Huntley it will be 3-and-outs. If it’s Anthony Brown it will be an interception or two that ends a promising drive. Personally, I’d rather see Brown get a chance to sling it, but we know John Harbaugh will go into the game hoping to win 17-13 as he does every week, no matter who is under center.

• Halftime score: 6-6

• Dobbins and Gus combine for 130 yards.

• Demarcus Robinson leads the WR with three catches for 40 yards.

• Roquan Smith, Patrick Queen, Kyle Hamilton, and Calais Campbell record a sack apiece.

• Burrow finds Higgins, Chase, and Hayden Hurst once each for TDs in the second half.

• No coin flip needed. Back in Cincy next week.

Bengals 27 Ravens 9

Chris Schisler

In theory, the Ravens winning this game isn’t crazy. In actuality it sounds fairly nuts. The Ravens have no momentum. They just lost 16-13 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in another game they practically gave away. This should be another start for Tyler Huntley. Let’s just say there’s a ton of pressure on the defense. I can see the defense holding on for a while, but eventually the dam is going to break.

What you have to ask yourself is how many points do the Ravens need to win this game? I think it’s more than 20. The Ravens haven’t scored 20 points since the end of November, when they lost to Jacksonville. If they can put up 24 points they have a chance. I’m not buying that they can get there.

Bold predictions

• It’s a 10-10 game at the halftime intermission

• Ravens score a defensive touchdown in the first quarter to strike first.

• Ja’Marr Chase is held to 70 yards and no touchdowns.

• Gus Edwards leads the Ravens with “make-up carries” from last week. Give him 85 rushing yards.

• Mark Andrews has six receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown.

• Bengals pull away in the fourth quarter.

Bengals 31 Ravens 17

Kevin McNelis

It almost feels like complete folly trying to predict anything with the Ravens at this point. Not only are we at the weird time of year where starters are sitting in anticipation of the postseason, but the Ravens are facing the prospect of possibly starting Anthony Brown, and who knows what that looks like? With the Bengals having clinched the division based on the NFL’s decision, do they still play at 100% capacity to try to lock up home field advantage for a Wild Card matchup?

My head hurts.

• JK Dobbins terrorizes the Bengals again as he works early and often. He goes for 100+ and a house call.

• On the opposite side, Tee Higgins bounces back from what I’m sure was an awful week as he goes for 5 catches and 75 yards.

• Fingers crossed for this one: the pass rush starts to look a little better, as the Ravens get home for four sacks on the day.

At this point, the Ravens are pretty much playing for pride, but pride doesn’t fix your offensive playbook.

Bengals 23 Ravens 13

Chad Racine

With less at stake in this week’s game it has relieved some stress as far as watching the game. There is still something to play for but the division title is no longer a possibility. Even before this week’s crazy events did anyone really have faith in beating the Bengals? If the Ravens were to play well and come close to winning it could still provide some confidence heading into the playoffs. I’m just hoping for a competitive game.

• Gus Edwards gets more carries this week but D.J Reader’s return makes running up the middle difficult. He’ll run for under 50 yards with about 10 carries.

• J.K Dobbins finds more success running for 80 yards and a touchdown.

• There won’t be any passing touchdowns by the good guys, whether it’s Anthony Brown or Tyler Huntley.

• Marcus Williams gets another interception to cap off an impressive first season with the Ravens.

• Calais Campbell gets his 100th sack in the final regular season game of the season and maybe his career.

Bengals 20 Ravens 13

Jared Pinder

Making a prediction on this game seems impossible at this point. It looks like it will be another week of no Lamar Jackson for this week, but now Tyler Huntley is hurt and limited in practice. We may be looking at Anthony Brown as QB.

Honestly this game just doesn’t matter much to me, with Damar Hamlin filling up my mind this week, along with the fact the cancellation of the Bills-Bengals game killed any chance of the Division title.

A man’s life is more important that any game ever and that has unfortunately zapped any excitement for this game along with the fact that this game basically means nothing and we don’t even know who the starting QB will be, and well this game is going to get ugly.

• Huntley starts, but is bad and throws 2 picks

• The offense can’t do anything in the air and have a pedestrian day on the ground.

• The defense tries its best to keep the team alive but the Bengals offense gets a few good drives and puts the game way out of reach.

The Ravens just feel like they are going to get beat bad this week – and in the playoffs – without Lamar.

Bengals 27 Ravens 10