Ravens-Bengals Preview
Despite a demoralizing defeat in Week 16, there are still a
number of ways the Baltimore Ravens can earn the final AFC playoff
spot.
The simplest scenarios require the defending Super Bowl
champions to march into Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday and hand the
AFC North-champion Cincinnati Bengals their first home loss of the
season.
A win by the Ravens (8-7) and a loss by either San Diego or
Miami is the most likely path to extending their season, but
Baltimore can also clinch regardless of the outcome if Miami, San
Diego and Pittsburgh all lose. If the Ravens, Dolphins and Chargers
win, Miami will claim the wild-card spot.
The Bengals (10-5), who still have a shot at a first-round bye,
will not be making things easy on the Ravens by resting their
starters.
“We’re used to these guys,” hobbled Baltimore quarterback Joe
Flacco said. “They’re a good defense. They have been for a few
years now. It’s always a good test to play a division opponent in
their place. They have a lot to play for. We have a lot to play
for. It’s going to be a good game, a good test.”
The Bengals need to win and have New England lose at home
against Buffalo in order to hurdle the Patriots for the No. 2 seed
in the AFC.
“We want to defend home and make sure we win,” Bengals
cornerback Pacman Jones told the team’s official website. “If it
was my choice, I don’t want Baltimore to make it. We’ve got to make
sure we defend the house and play all four quarters.”
The Ravens made things more difficult on themselves with
Sunday’s 41-7 home loss to the Patriots.
Flacco, who is working through a left knee injury suffered
against Detroit on Dec. 16, went 22 of 38 for 260 yards with two
interceptions. He wore a knee brace, but said the injury had no
impact on his performance. He plans to wear it again this
Sunday.
“I’m going to do it the same way,” Flacco told the team’s
official website. “I really just want to make sure I can be as safe
as I can moving forward so nothing crazy happens. I’m pretty
comfortable with it. It’s not ideal, but it is what it is and it’s
not that big of an issue.”
After the Ravens beat the Bengals 20-17 on Nov. 10 in Baltimore,
the change of venue for this one is significant. The Ravens are 2-5
on the road this season, while the Bengals are 7-0 in Cincinnati.
The Bengals have averaged 43.5 points over their last four at home,
including Sunday’s 42-14 division-clinching win over Minnesota.
Andy Dalton threw for four touchdowns and 366 yards against the
Vikings, connecting with wide receiver A.J. Green on two of the
scores. Green had seven catches for 97 yards, and both are in
position to set single-season franchise yardage records this
week.
Dalton needs 117 yards to pass Carson Palmer’s 2007 mark of
4,131. With 76 receiving yards, Green will break Chad Johnson’s
record of 1,440 set in the same season.
“The goals are good, but we’re fighting for a bigger picture,”
Green said. “When I’m done with this game, maybe it will (mean
something), but right now I’m trying to continue to get
better.”
Dalton, who has 31 touchdown passes, could also establish a
single-season record if he throws at least two Sunday. Palmer had
32 in 2005.
“It shows what we’ve been able to accomplish this year. I think
that only happens if we’ve been winning games and doing some good
things,” Dalton said. “Personally, it’s cool to be close to those
records, but like you said, wins are what ultimately matters.”
The Ravens’ offense hasn’t been nearly as effective, scoring one
TD over the last eight quarters. However, coach John Harbaugh’s
team has always responded after lopsided losses. Since 2008,
they’re 4-0 under him in games following defeats of 20 points or
more.
“I think that’s part of who we are,” Harbaugh said. “If you’ve
been watching us all year, you would know that. You would
understand that about us. It’s a one-game season as far as we’re
concerned.”
Baltimore is up against a Bengals defense that is ranked sixth
in the NFL against both the run and the pass despite losing key
players to season-ending injuries. Cincinnati has been without
defensive tackle Geno Atkins (torn ACL) for the last six games and
cornerback Leon Hall (torn Achilles) for the previous eight.
Baltimore ended last year’s regular season with a 23-17 loss to
the Bengals – the Ravens’ fourth straight defeat in Cincinnati.