Ravens vs Bengals NFL Handicapping
The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens will face off at Paul Brown Stadium in Week 17. The Ravens would need a lot of help to make the postseason, while the Bengals look to close out their home schedule without a loss.
Baltimore Ravens (8-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (10-5)
Date: Sunday, December 29, 2013
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Venue: Paul Brown Stadium
City: Cincinnati, Ohio
O/U Odds: 44.5
Spread: Cincinnati -6
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While the Bengals have been rock solid at home this season, without a blemish on their home slate, the Ravens have continued their woeful play on the road, racking up a 2-5 record thus far. The Bengals won their last game in their own building by a comfortable margin, 42-14.
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Cincinnati’s passing offense was functioning in high gear against a vulnerable Minnesota pass defense. Quarterback Andy Dalton completed 27 of 38 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Top receiver A.J. Green brought in seven balls for 97 yards and a pair of scores.
Emerging wideout Marvin Jones continued his development, catching six passes for 85 yards. The team need to have that kind of success through the air as their ground game never did get going. The team ran the ball 37 times for 81 yards, good for an average of just 2.2 yards per carry, although running back Giovani Bernard added 47 yards on two receptions, and fellow back BenJarvus Green-Ellis added a four-yard score.
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The team’s defense held the Vikings to just 209 yards of offense, including a meaningless 35-yard touchdown run after the game was already decided. The unit got to Matt Cassel four times for sacks, one of which resulted in a fumble, and picked him off three times.
Baltimore’s last game also produced a blowout, but one they were on the wrong end of as they fell to New England 41-7.
Quarterback Joe Flacco’s knee injury didn’t appear to be much of an issue, but he didn’t really accomplish much in spite of it, completing 22 of 38 passes for 260 yards and two interceptions. The unit had two fourth quarter turnovers that both went the other way for six points. On the ground, Ray Rice carried the ball 11 times but picked up only 40 yards, while Bernard Pierce’s 10 carries generated just 31 yards.
Despite the ugly site on the scoreboard, the Baltimore defense didn’t have a terrible day. The unit held the Patriots to 300 yards of offense, allowing Tom Brady to complete just 14 of 26 passes for only 172 yards and a score.
There isn’t a lot to be excited about in Raven-nation right now. The team needs a lot of help to get to the playoffs, and taking care of their business won’t be easy. The Bengals have been dynamite at home and there’s no reason to expect any less from them in this one.
The Bengals are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 home games.
The play: Cincinnati -6
