NFL Preview and Prediction: Baltimore at Cincinnati



The Bengals look to get back in contention for AFC North with victory over Ravens.

Preview and free pick for Ravens at Bengals

This isn’t necessarily a be-all/end-all game in the AFC North, but there's a fair amount at stake when the 2-2 Baltimore Ravens travel to the 1-3 Cincinnati Bengals Sunday afternoon. These teams have combined to win five of the last six division titles.

Baltimore was complete in every facet last Sunday, drilling the visiting Buffalo Bills, 35-10. A second consecutive win after a pair of close losses has seemingly righted the ship, especially after outgaining Buffalo by a near 2-to-1 margin.
AFC North Ravens Bengals preview
Cincy wasn’t pretty in downing the Carolina Panthers, 34-24, last week. However, the team was in desperate need of that first win of the season. Carolina sliced a 17-point deficit to a touchdown, ultimately falling short.

Back to the Ravens, where receiver Zay Flowers (77 receptions last season) has only caught four balls over the last two games. That two more than tight end Mark Andrews, which ought to be of some concern.

However, Derrick Henry has turned back time in first season with the Ravens (league-leading 480 rushing yards, five touchdowns, franchise-record 87-yard score last Sunday). Baltimore (220.3 yards/game) is far and away the leading rushing team in the league.

What's of concern to the Queen City guys in the striped uniforms is surrendering 88 points in the last three weeks,

Baltimore is a field-goal favorite (total at 50.5), according to NFL odds.

Baltimore is leading the all-time series (dating to the birth of the Ravens in 1996 and including postseason), 30-27. As a side note, both games went over last season.

The AWOL Andrews

As was mentioned, Baltimore Ravens’ tight end Mark Andrews has caught just six passes (65 yards) this season. With the renaissance of newly-acquired Derrick Henry, Andrews has assumed more of a blocking role, thus hasn't been a big part of the offense.Ravens Bengals preview prediction

The injury-plagued Andrews caught 45 receptions (10 games) last season, then was involved in a car accident this offseason. He won’t be the 180-catch stud of 2021-22, but don’t expect quarterback Lamar Jackson (858 passing yards, five touchdowns, one interceptions) to totally ignore him as the season progresses.

Coach John Harbaugh claimed Andrews’ lack of production has been situational, though after watching Andrews drop a perfect ball last week, one has to wonder.

Beggars Can't Choose

It was nice of the NFL to throw the previously-winless Cincinnati Bengals a life preserver in the form of the woebegone Carolina Panthers in Charlotte last week.

Bengals Ravens predictions free pickCincinnati was a 34-24 winner in a game that was dead-even statistically (Carolina had 375 yards to the Bengals’ 373). Quarterback Joe Burrow (978 passing yards, seven touchdowns, one interception) is slowly regaining his rhythm after a wrist injury ended 2023, but now draws a much better defense than the league-worst Panthers.

While on the subject of defense and as was mentioned, Cincy’s no prize in that area. It surrenders 26 points per game (T-27th in league), which doesn’t bode well against a Ravens’ team that scored five touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday.

Give the Points

Baltimore is the odds-on 4-5 (-125) choice to win the AFC North, Cincinnati at 7-2 (+350), as per NFL division odds.

Cincinnati hasn’t proven anything to start the season (26 surrendered points and 145 rushing yards per game). That isn’t a good stat against the Ravens and their high-octane ground game.

There’s no viable pass rush, either, so Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson can chill in the pocket.

What about Cincy? Its need to win didn’t cease completely, because a 1-4 start (even with very ‘getable’ road games against the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns ahead) is not good.

It’s difficult to take the road team (especially when favored) in a rivalry game, but the signs point that way. Go with the visiting Baltimore Ravens -3 Sunday afternoon.


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