The Cincinnati Bengals have played well the past two weeks, but the Ravens still hold advantages in most areas heading into a game they must win to guarantee another playoff berth. Here’s who has the edge in each phase of the game:
RAVENS PASSING GAME: Quarterback Lamar Jackson has vaulted to eighth in ESPN’s QBR rankings, throwing eight touchdown passes versus two interceptions over the past four games with a passer rating greater than 100 every week. Tight end Mark Andrews has excelled in the same stretch, with 16 catches on 22 targets for 220 yards over his past three games. Marquise Brown has caught a touchdown pass in four of the past five games and leads the team with 728 receiving yards. Gus Edwards has emerged as an unexpected threat out of the backfield the past two weeks, with four catches on four targets for 73 yards. He caught just four passes in the first 13 games. The Ravens rank 31st in passing and 22nd in yards per attempt.
BENGALS PASSING GAME: Quarterback Brandon Allen went off last Sunday in Cincinnati’s 37-31 victory over the Houston Texans, completing 29 of 37 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns. This was an easy career peak for Joe Burrow’s stand-in, who’d led the Bengals to just 31 points in his previous three starts. Cincinnati’s receiving corps remains dangerous. Tyler Boyd (78 catches on 107 targets for 840 yards) has produced another solid season, and Baltimore fans won’t soon forget his touchdown catch that ended the Ravens’ playoff hopes in 2017. Tee Higgins has been the team’s top downfield threat as a rookie, averaging 13.6 yards per catch with six touchdowns. Veteran A.J. Green has come on with 12 catches over the past three weeks after an erratic season. The Bengals have allowed a whopping 48 sacks, including seven in a Week 5 loss to the Ravens.
EDGE: Ravens
RAVENS RUNNING GAME: The Ravens rolled up 249 rushing yards against a New York Giants defense that had held opponents to 3.9 yards per attempt going into Week 16. The Ravens lead the league in total yardage (177.8 per game) and yards per attempt (5.3). Jackson (908 rushing yards) and running backs Edwards and J.K. Dobbins make for a deadly three-pronged attack. Edwards has added an outside dimension to his running, while Dobbins brings vision and balance the Ravens have not seen since Ray Rice’s peak. They’ve combined for 542 yards on 87 carries over the past four games.
BENGALS RUNNING GAME: No. 1 running back Joe Mixon (foot) has not played since October. Giovani Bernard has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry as his primary replacement, but fourth-year back Samaje Perine had a breakout game (13 carries, 95 yards, two touchdowns) against the Texans. Allen is not much of a scrambling threat. The Bengals rank 25th in rushing and 29th in yards per attempt.
EDGE: Ravens
RAVENS RUSH DEFENSE: The Ravens held Giants running back Wayne Gallman to 27 yards on six carries as defensive end Calais Campbell returned from his calf injury to supplement nose tackle Brandon Williams and defensive end Derek Wolfe. Safeties Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott have delivered sturdy run support all season. The Ravens rank ninth in run defense and have allowed 4.4 yards per carry.
BENGALS RUSH DEFENSE: Cincinnati allowed the Texans to gain 166 yards on just 17 carries, another poor performance from a defense that ranks 25th against the run. The Bengals linebackers have not played well, and they miss nose tackle D.J. Reader, who suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury against the Ravens. Their safeties, Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III, excel against the run, ranking first and second on the team in tackles.
EDGE: Ravens
RAVENS PASS DEFENSE: After a six-week pass-rushing drought, the Ravens have produced 11 sacks over their past two games, jumping to fourth in the league in quarterback knockdowns and eighth in total pressures, according to Pro Football Reference. As usual with Don “Wink” Martindale’s blitz-happy defense, the sacks have come from everywhere. Rookie defensive tackle Justin Madubuike tallied the first of his career against the Giants while linebacker Chris Board picked up two. Outside linebacker Matthew Judon has closed strong with four sacks and eight quarterback hits over his past five games. At cornerback, Anthony Averett has filled in ably for Marcus Peters (calf) over the past two games. Peters and Jimmy Smith returned to practice in preparation for the Bengals. The Ravens have held opposing quarterbacks to 5.7 yards per attempt, fourth best in the league.
BENGALS PASS DEFENSE: Opposing quarterback have torched the Bengals for 6.9 yards per attempt with 29 touchdown passes. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson completed 24 of 33 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns in Week 16. Bates is a star, and cornerbacks William Jackson III and Darius Phillips have combined for 23 passes defended. But the Bengals rank second to last in sacks and total pressures, so Jackson should have plenty of time to probe for open receivers.
EDGE: Ravens
RAVENS SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Justin Tucker has made 25 of 28 field-goal attempts, with only one miss inside 50 yards. He was selected for his fifth Pro Bowl. Punter Sam Koch’s status is in doubt after he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday. Tucker averaged 40.5 yards per punt during his college career at Texas, so he would likely step in for Koch. Rookie Devin Duvernay averaged 18 yards on two punt returns as he subbed for James Proche II against the Giants, adding to his excellent season-long work as a kickoff returner.
BENGALS SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Randy Bullock has made 21 of 26 field-goal attempts. Punter Kevin Huber ranks seventh in the league with a net average of 42.7 yards and has put 18 of 64 inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Bengals returners have performed well, averaging 25.2 yards on kickoffs and 9.8 yards on punts.
EDGE: Ravens
RAVENS INTANGIBLES: The Ravens have won four in a row and will make the playoffs for a third straight season if they defeat the Bengals. With Jackson performing near the peak of his powers, they’ve regained a collective confidence that seemed to waver in the middle of the season. Coach John Harbaugh’s teams have always excelled as heavy favorites and with their playoff hopes on the line, the Ravens won’t take anything for granted against the Bengals.
BENGALS INTANGIBLES: The Bengals appeared dead in the water, scoring just 40 points in their first four games without Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. But they’ve rebounded to win their past two, including a shocking upset over the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Monday Night Football.” They would enjoy spoiling another playoff push by their AFC North rival.
EDGE: Ravens
PREDICTION: The Bengals aren’t quite the pushovers they appeared to be a few weeks back. They actually moved the ball against the Texans and could give the Ravens a few scares. But the Ravens’ ground game is back to full steam, as is their pass rush — bad news for an opponent that struggles to stop the run and protect its quarterback. With a playoff berth on the line, the Ravens will take care of business. Ravens 37, Bengals 20.