NFL Baltimore RavensCincinnati Bengals

Predicting the Final Score of Ravens vs. Bengals

Fresh Videos

By

Steve Smith Baltimore Ravens

Getty Images

The Baltimore Ravens bring an offense into the Week 8 matchup that’s clicking on all cylinders, having scored at least 23 points in five of its last six games with the lone exception being a 20-13 loss at the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 5. Not surprisingly, all five of those games have been wins.

The Ravens rushing game hasn’t suffered much from the loss of Ray Rice, as Justin Forsett (71.9 yards per game), Bernard Pierce (39.2 yards per game) and Lorenzo Taliaferro (28.4 yards per game) have combined to account for the league’s seventh-leading rushing attack.

That ground presence has helped ease some of the burden on quarterback Joe Flacco, who has already thrown for 1,854 yards and 14 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions. Newly-acquired receiver Steve Smith has been a big reason for Flacco’s success, hauling in 38 catches for 640 yards, both numbers being twice as many as any one else on the team.

The big offensive numbers have Baltimore (5-2) out in front of the AFC North race ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals (3-2-1), which seems to be trending in the opposite direction of late. After a hot 3-0 start, including a season-opening 23-16 win at Baltimore, the Bengals have gone 0-2-1 including blow out losses at the New England Patriots (43-17) and at Indianapolis (27-0) last week.

Cincinnati’s defense was stout earlier in the year, but they have been exposed lately, giving up 107 points over the past three games. They shockingly now rank 27th in pass defense (270.3 yards per game) and 30th in run defense (146.3 yards per game).

Last week’s shutout loss to the Colts was particularly embarrassing as the Bengals were dominated across the board. The Colts held a 27-8 advantage in first downs, a 506-135 advantage in total yards and Cincinnati was an abysmal 1-for-13 on third downs. Making matters worse, wide receiver A.J. Green and running back Gio Bernard are both questionable again this week. If both miss Sunday’s game, it will make things even tougher on quarterback Andy Dalton.

This game simply comes down to whether or not the Bengals can rebound against a potent Baltimore attack and while anything and everything does happen in the NFL, there have been few signs of life from Cincy’s defensive unit over the past two weeks. Even at home and with its back to the wall, it’s hard to pick a beat-up Cincinnati team that will be facing a hot Ravens team that is eager for a shot at revenge.

Prediction: Ravens 30, Bengals 16

Ryan Pritt is a NASCAR writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @RPritt, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on