The NFL playoffs have arrived with Wild Card Weekend, but not every matchup is fresh or unusual. The familiarity the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals have with each other should only add to the intensity of their playoff game, though. The Ravens have made the playoffs despite a lengthy absence of quarterback Lamar Jackson, while the Bengals will feel they have a statement to make as the defending AFC champions. Our expert has picks, predictions and best bets for this crucial Ravens vs Bengal s matchup.
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NFL Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals expert predictions
This would have been one of the games of the weekend if Lamar Jackson was able to make his return after a knee injury, but that has looked increasingly likely as the week has worn on. Tyler Huntley now seems most likely to start for Baltimore, as he has done for most of the last month or so, with Anthony Brown and Brett Hundley the team’s other options. The Ravens got in as a wild-card team with a 10-7 record, but rather backed into the playoffs, losing 3 of their last 4 games with Jackson on the sidelines.
The Bengals, by contrast, are one of the hottest teams in the league. After shaking off a slow 2-3 start to the year, they have won 8 straight games, including a 27-16 win over the Ravens just last week, which avoided the need for the venue of this game to be decided by a coin flip. Cincinnati will be keen to get through this first playoff test without too many issues, but looking too far ahead to possible matchups with the Bills and Chiefs could lead to trouble.