Cincinnati Bengals (4-5) will take on the Baltimore Ravens (6-3) in a primetime matchup on Thursday, kicking off at 8:15 p.m. EST, and can be viewed on Amazon Prime. The Ravens are favored by 6.5 points according to BetMGM NFL odds. When it comes to betting against the spread, both teams have performed relatively similarly; the Bengals are currently 5-4 while the Ravens stand at 5-3-1. Historically, the Ravens lead the series with a record of 31-27, having triumphed in their most recent encounter with a 41-38 overtime victory in Cincinnati on October 6, 2024. Last week, the Bengals decisively defeated the Raiders 41-24, while the Ravens also had a convincing win, overpowering the Broncos 41-10.
Breaking down their performance statistics, Cincinnati’s offense ranks 17th overall, with a 27th place in rushing, 7th in passing, and 7th in scoring. Defensively, they rank 19th overall, 18th against the run, 17th against the pass, and 25th in scoring defense. Conversely, Baltimore boasts the top offense overall, excelling in rushing (1st), passing (3rd), and scoring (2nd). However, their defense is ranked 21st overall, 1st against the run, but a lowly 32nd against the pass, with 23rd in scoring defense. In terms of turnover differential, the Bengals sit at plus-1, while the Ravens have a slightly stronger plus-3.
Key players to watch in the matchup include Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who had a stellar showing last week with four sacks, bringing his season tally to an impressive 11, the best in the NFL. The Bengals will hope he can disrupt Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson. For Baltimore, wide receiver Zay Flowers has been a standout in his second season, surpassing 100 receiving yards in four of his last five games, making him a player to keep an eye on.
An essential clash will be between Ravens running back Derrick Henry and the Bengals’ front defense. In their previous encounter, the Bengals managed to contain Henry well for most of the game, but he broke free for a crucial 51-yard run that ultimately set up the overtime-winning field goal.
Looking at injuries, the Bengals are dealing with several significant absences. Wide receiver Tee Higgins is sidelined with a quad injury after missing earlier games due to a hamstring issue. Offensive tackle Orlando Brown has recently been out with a knee injury, and tight end Erick All Jr. has landed on injured reserve due to a knee injury sustained last Sunday. On the Ravens’ side, Lamar Jackson missed some practices last week due to a knee issue but performed well against the Broncos and is expected to take the field against Cincinnati.
In terms of recent trends, Baltimore has prevailed in the last three matchups. Both defenses struggled during last month’s game, with Cincinnati scoring touchdowns consecutively before a late interception allowed the Ravens to force overtime. Notable stats showcase the Bengals achieving their first home victory against the Raiders recently, with quarterback Joe Burrow turning in an adept performance, completing 27 of 39 passes for 251 yards and throwing five touchdowns, marking his second five-TD game this season. Additionally, Cincinnati’s Chase Brown recorded a career-high of 120 rushing yards.
As for the Ravens, they have an impressive home prime-time record under Coach John Harbaugh, sitting at 21-3. They have also averaged at least six yards per play in every game so far, aligning them with the 2000 St. Louis Rams for the longest streak of this achievement in a season. Their rushing game has also been consistent, with 42 consecutive games of at least 100 rushing yards. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is continually making history, achieving a perfect passer rating multiple times and standing out as a dual-threat quarterback.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, any offensive player from this matchup is a solid pick, but Derrick Henry has consistently been a star contributor this season, scoring in each game so far, making him a valuable asset in fantasy leagues.