NEWSLETTER
Wild Card Weekend continues with a nightcap in the Queen City as the Bengals host the Ravens. The Ravens come to town without Lamar Jackson, giving Joe Burrow and the Bengals a sizeable advantage.
The Bengals and Ravens will meet for the third time this season, with the two splitting the previous two games. Baltimore beat the Bengals in Week 5, but Burrow and the Bengals got the victory last week to seal the division.
Game Info
Baltimore Ravens (10-7, 2nd AFC North) at Cincinnati Bengals (12-4 1st AFC North)
Kickoff Time: 7:15 p.m. CT – TV: NBC, Peacock (Mike Tirico, Chris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark)
Site: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Oh.
Referee: Clay Martin
Odds: Bengals -8.5, O/U 40 (via DraftKings Sports Book)
Ravens Projected Starters
Offense
• QB Tyler Huntley
• RB J.K. Dobbins
• WRs Demarcus Robinson, Sammy Watkins
• TE Mark Andrews
• LT Ronnie Stanley, LG Ben Powers, C Tyler Linderbaum, RG Kevin Zeitler, RT Morgan Moses
Defense
• LDE Justin Madubuike, NT Travis Jones, RDE Calais Campbell
• WLB Jason Pierre-Paul, LILB Roquan Smith, RILB Patrick Queen, SLB Tyus Bowser
• LCB Marcus Peters, RCB Marlon Humphrey
• FS Marcus Williams, SS Chuck Clark
Specialists
• Justin Tucker (kicker), Jordan Stout (punter, holder), Nick Moore (long snapper), Justice Hill, James Proche II (kick and punt returns)
Bengals Projected Starters
Offense
• QB Joe Burrow
• RB Joe Mixon
• WR Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd
• TE Hayden Hurst
• LT Jonah Williams, LG Cordell Volson, C Ted Karras, RG Max Scharping, RT Hakeem Adeniji
Defense
• LDE Sam Hubbard, LDT D.J. Reader, RDT B.J. Hill, RDE Trey Hendrickson
• WLB Logan Wilson, MLB Germaine Pratt, SLB Akeem Davis-Gaither
• LCB Eli Apple, RCB Cam Taylor-Britt
• FS Jessie Bates III, SS Vonn Bell
Specialists
• Evan McPherson (kicker), Kevin Huber (punter, holder), Cal Adomitis (long snapper), Trent Taylor, Chris Evans (kick and punt returns)
Players to Watch
Tyler Huntley will make his first career postseason start tonight, and he’ll have his work cut out for him against the Bengals. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Ravens lean on J.K. Dobbins and the rushing attack tonight. Dobbins has been hot lately, racking up 90-plus scrimmage yards in three of his last four games. In Dobbins’ only game against the Bengals (1/3/21), he ran for 160 yards and two scores.
Roquan Smith had 16 tackles and a tackle for loss in the Week 18 loss to the Bengals. Smith is a tackling machine (and an All-Pro first-teamer) who will play a big part in sealing up the middle of the field while the Ravens’ defensive line tries to get to Joe Burrow. Smith logged 116 tackles and three interceptions this season.
Joe Burrow is a perfect 3-0 in the AFC playoffs, and he’s on a mission to get back to the Super Bowl this season. Burrow put on a clinic through the air all year, and the Ravens’ pass defense ranked 26th in passing yards allowed this season.
