Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
The Ravens and Bengals will run back their Week 18 game with a lot more on the line — and possibly the return of a previous NFL MVP. It has been said that Lamar Jackson has a strong chance to return this week and give Baltimore the best possible opportunity to upset Cincinnati and move on to the divisional round. If Jackson can’t go, Tyler Huntley should be able to return, so it won’t be Anthony Brown starting at QB once again.
Jackson and the Ravens have been at a financial impasse that has cast a dark cloud over the season, and yet another late-season injury hasn’t helped his case for a long-term deal. Nevertheless, bygones will be bygones if he can return this week because he is a far more dynamic player than Huntley and one who has accumulated more than 3,000 yards in just 12 games. Jackson is still Baltimore’s leading rusher by 244 yards, despite not playing since Week 13.
Even if Jackson returns, the Bengals have been displaying their true stripes for a while now. This is a top-five team in EPA per play on offense and defense for the season and they’ve lost just twice since Week 2. Three of Cincinnati’s four losses have been by a combined eight points, though one of those defeats was at the hands of the Ravens in Week 5.
From Week 1 through Week 12, the Ravens offense was seventh in EPA per play. From Week 13 through Week 18, they were 26th. The difference that Jackson makes is almost immeasurable, especially when taking on one of the league’s elite teams. Betting this game before knowing Jackson’s status is tricky. The question is whether or not you think Jackson, who would be shaking off five weeks’ worth of rust, is enough of a difference-maker when the Bengals look capable of repeating as AFC champs.