Two AFC North rivals looking to make a major statement on the national stage meet Thursday night when the Baltimore Ravens play host to the Cincinnati Bengals in a rematch of an overtime thriller earlier this season.
On Oct. 6 in Cincinnati, Baltimore trailed by 10 points three times in the second half but tied the game in the final two minutes. The Ravens then overcame a turnover in overtime to edge the Bengals 41-38.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The Ravens, who have won eight consecutive Thursday night home games, are consensus 6.0-point favorites. That includes at BetRivers, where 51 percent of the spread-line tickets have backed Baltimore while Cincinnati has drawn 55 percent of the total money wagered.
The Ravens have covered the spread in five consecutive games in the series.
The 53.0 total points line has seen the Over backed by 74 percent of the total bets and 65 percent of the money. Eight of Baltimore’s past nine games have gone over the total points line at the book.
PROP PICKS
–Derrick Henry Anytime TD (-420 at BetRivers): The payout isn’t very attractive but the likelihood of this prop hitting certainly is, which is why it leads the way at BetRivers with 4.4 percent of the total player prop bets placed on this game. Henry has scored at least two touchdowns in three consecutive home games, and reached the end zone once in Baltimore’s Week 5 win at Cincinnati.
Henry being the first player to score a touchdown on Thursday night has been extremely popular at DraftKings, where he has drawn 38 percent of the bets and 29 percent of the money at +360.
–Mark Andrews Anytime TD (+170 at DraftKings): With fellow tight end Isaiah Likely ruled out of this game, that should lead to more opportunities in the passing game for Andrews. The seventh-year prop has come on of late, racking up four touchdowns in a three-game span before being held to two catches for 26 yards as the Ravens turned to the ground game early in the rout of Denver.
THE NEWS
The Ravens (6-3) — second in the North, one-half game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) — are coming off a 41-10 rout of the Broncos on Sunday in Baltimore. Star quarterback Lamar Jackson completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns.
The high-powered Ravens, who have scored 41 points three times this season, sport the NFL’s No. 1 offense, averaging 445.9 yards per game. Jackson, a two-time MVP, leads the NFL in passer rating (120.7) and has thrown 20 touchdowns with just two interceptions in nine games.
Baltimore’s top-ranked ground attack is averaging 191.9 yards a game, led by Henry, who leads the league in rushing yards with 1,052 and total touchdowns with 13, (11 rushing, two receiving).
“We have been really good at running the ball for a long time, but Derrick Henry is different,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “He is adding a dimension that we have not had before. You go back to Jamal Lewis, maybe. This is different, and I’m excited about it.”
Jackson looks to improve upon his impressive 9-1 record in 10 lifetime starts against Cincinnati.
“The first game we played (against Cincinnati) this season, they were showing me all types of looks, so there’s no telling what they (are) going to be doing this game,” Jackson said. “Hopefully, it’d be probably the same, because we put up a lot of points.”
The Bengals (4-5) also are coming off a 41-point game, having clobbered the Las Vegas Raiders 41-24 for their first home win of the season.
Joe Burrow completed his first 15 pass attempts and matched a career best with five touchdown passes, becoming the only NFL quarterback with five touchdown passes in multiple games this season. The first was in the loss to the Ravens.
INJURY REPORT
The Bengals’ offense has been hit hard by injuries in the past week. They lost rookie tight end Erick All Jr. to a torn right ACL in the first half against the Raiders, while running back Chase Brown sustained a rib injury and is hoping to be able to play through it.
Running back Zack Moss, who had the bulk of the carries early in the season, is out indefinitely with a neck injury, prompting the Bengals to acquire Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears on Tuesday.
Cincinnati rarely makes trades during the season. But Brown was the only running back on the roster other than Moss, who was placed on injured reserve, with a carry this season. Herbert was at the team facility before the trade deadline in uniform No. 34 and could play Thursday, head coach Zac Taylor said.
The Bengals hope to have star receiver Tee Higgins back after missing the past two weeks with a quadriceps injury, but he was listed as doubtful along with fellow wideout Charlie Jones (groin). Starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. missed Sunday’s game with a right knee injury but is hoping to return.
The Ravens will be without Likely (hamstring) and defensive end Brent Urban (concussion), while cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (knee) is doubtful. While Jackson (knee) returned to full practice, running backs Keaton Mitchell (knee) and Rasheen Ali (ankle) are questionable.
KEY STATS
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson racked up four sacks against the Raiders, bringing his season total to a league-leading 11.
“If they gave out midseason awards, that would be something you could get excited about, but they don’t, so it’s on to the next challenge, and that’s the Ravens,” Hendrickson said.
THEY SAID IT
–“I’m going to have my standard of play, and I’m going to have my idea of the standard of what we should live up to as an offense — the coaching staff, and myself, and everybody,” Burrow said. “When I feel like we live up to it. I’m going to let us know. And when I feel like we don’t live up to it, I’m going to let us know, too. It’s a short week.” –Burrow, who slammed his helmet in frustration despite the Bengals holding a big lead last Sunday.
PREDICTION
The intensity will be high from the opening kick with the Ravens trying to keep pace with Pittsburgh in the AFC North while the Bengals try to claw their way back into the wild card picture. This rivalry typically produces excellent games and Thursday night should be no different. The separate for Baltimore — in addition to being at home — is a superior ground game to set Jackson up to attack a defense allowing an average of 25.2 points per game. –Ravens 30, Bengals 27
