Week 16: Ravens Vs. Bengals Preview, Where to Watch, Prediction

Baltimore underdogs by 7.

Baltimore Ravens (8-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)

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The Ravens are underdogs by 7 points (SI Sportsbook)

How to Watch/Listen

Television: CBS / WJZ Ch. 13 (Baltimore)

Stream: CBS Sports; Ravens Mobile app for iOS and Android; Ravens website

Local Radio: (1090 AM) & 98Rock (97.9 FM)

National Radio: Sports USA Radio

Mobile: Ravens Mobile app for iOS and Android; Ravens website; Ravens Pregame Live: YouTube, Ravens website, Ravens Mobile app, and Ravens TV App for Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV

Coverage Map: 506sports.com 

Series History

The Ravens lead the all-time series with Cincinnati, 27-24. Baltimore has won five of the past six games, while under head coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens are 14-13 vs. Cincinnati.

All-Time Meetings Since 2012

09/10/12 Ravens 44-13

12/30/12 Bengals 23-17 

11/10/13 Ravens 20-17 OT 

12/29/13 Bengals 34-17 

09/07/14 Bengals 23-16 

10/26/14 Bengals 27-24 

09/27/15 Bengals 28-24 

01/03/16 Bengals 24-16 

11/27/16 Ravens 19-14 

01/01/17 Bengals 27-10 

09/10/17 Ravens 20-0 

12/31/17 Bengals 31-27 

09/13/18 Bengals 34-23 

11/18/18 Ravens 24-21 

10/13/19 Ravens 23-17 

11/10/19 Ravens 49-13 

10/11/20 Ravens 27-3 

01/03/21 Ravens 38-3 

10/24/21 Bengals 41-17 

By the Numbers

5 – Tight ends in NFL history to record multiple career games with at least 10 catches, 125 yards and 2 TDs: Mark Andrews (two), Zach Ertz (two), Travis Kelce (two), Shannon Sharpe (two) and Kellen Winslow Sr. (two). Last Sunday against Green Bay marked Andrews’ second such career game, as he reeled in 10 passes for 136 yards and 2 TDs.

Notable

Ravens wide receiver Marquise Brown needs 91 yards receiving to reach 1,000 in 2021. If he hits the milestone, Brown and Andrews (1,062) would become the first Ravens tandem to reach 1,000 receiving yards in the same season since 1996 (Michael Jackson – 1,201 and Derrick Alexander – 1,099).

Rankings

Ravens: Offense: 5; Defense: 19

Packers: Offense: 15; Defense: 15

Ravens Game Plan

Offense

Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley has contracted COVID-19 and will be out for the game. Lamar Jackson is also out with an ankle injury. Jackson has not practiced in two weeks. Third-stringer Josh Johnson will get the start. The Ravens signed Johnson earlier this month. He has spent time with 13 NFL teams, including the Ravens in 2016. The Ravens allowed five sacks in the Bengals 41-17 victory in Week 7. Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson is a game-wrecker with 13 sacks and Sam Hubbard has managed 7.5 sacks. Baltimore managed 390 yards of offense in that first game but was shut out in the fourth quarter. The Ravens need to control the game to keep the Bengals' offense off the field. 

Can’t wait for that ravens game their fans was talkin all that mess last time it’s big smoke for them

— Eli Apple (@EliApple) December 20, 2021

Defense

The Bengals completely dominated the Ravens in that first game, racking up 520 yards of offense. Quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 416 yards and three touchdowns. The Ravens need to keep him under pressure. Ja'Marr Chase had 201 yards receiving against Marlon Humphrey, who has since suffered a season-ending injury. Anthony Averett will be tasked with stopping Chase. The other Cincinnati receivers, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, also can create matchup problems. The Bengals are equally adept at running the ball with Joe Mixon, who has 1,094 yards rushing. Earlier this week, the Ravens were down to 13 defensive players from their 53-man roster because of another COVID-19 outbreak. That does not bode well for them in this game.

Prediction

Baltimore has lost three straight games by a combined four points, falling at Pittsburgh (1), at Cleveland (2) and vs. Green Bay (1). Against the Steelers and Packers, the Ravens were down 1 point and attempted potential game-winning 2-point conversions — both unsuccessful — with under one minute to play. The Ravens are ravaged with injuries and the latest setbacks will be too hard to overcome.

Bengals 27, Ravens 10